Blogging is the New First Impression
In recent weeks, I have been using examples of dating and attending a party in my writing. Keeping up with the same social theme, today, I am going to talk about first impressions.
First impressions are considered crucial, if not critical in both life and business. Whenever, one meets someone new in biz or anywhere for that matter, one (hopefully) checks his/her breath, looks for food in their teeth, and puts his/her best foot forward. There are basic rules of socialization.
Case in point: At an out-of-town meeting last week, the first thing I grabbed were some Altoids Breath Mints, and I noticed the person I met with was chewing some minty gum.
In a day and age of instant access to information (via that little thing called the Internet), first impressions in business often derive through websites. That is why your website and its copy have to be up to snuff. Your website has to be easy to navigate, read, and find what one is searching for in both a fast and simple way.
Blogging is especially critical because it allows potential customers to get a feel for one’s company/business. Website copy and blogging serve as a first impression, so proofread! (Do not leave that piece of spinach in between your teeth!)
Install a dictionary and thesaurus app on your phone to check spelling and word meanings, subscribe to Grammarly.com to proofread, use your publisher’s spellcheck, and make certain to read your writing before publishing. Just this week, I looked at a marketing company’s website and there was a glaring misuse of the word complimentary when the meaning of the sentence required complementary. Obviously, an enormous turn off.
Read, proofread, and read again. Possibly, have a friend or colleague read? One never gets a second chance to make a first impression.
To meet me for the first or second time, come on over to Back’nGrooveMom.
March 7th, 2012 at 7:41 am
“Obviously, a enormous turn off”
I’m sure you meant AN enormous turn off?
March 7th, 2012 at 7:49 am
Ha! Yes! Proof that I should not add a sentence after using Grammarly! Thanks…
March 7th, 2012 at 12:41 pm
Great stuff Rachel and thanks for the proofreading resources. I like to use the speaking function on my mac to read back to me before I post to make sure it sounds okay. Any type of outside proofreading is an asset.
March 7th, 2012 at 4:45 pm
I have a background in editing, and you should have proofed this article because you placed a comma afer “whenever” in the following sentence: “Whenever, one meets someone new in biz or anywhere for that matter….” A comma does not belong here because it creates a pause. You mention the importance of proofing blogs in your blog, yet you did not do so.
March 7th, 2012 at 4:47 pm
..I just noticed that I did not proof my comment! (”afer” instead of “after.”)…Still, while my comment does create an impression, it is not as important to proof it as it is to proof an article about how blogs create first impressions…
March 7th, 2012 at 4:55 pm
Well — I am being ’schooled’ on my own post — just glad that my readers are like the good friend who would tell me that I have lipstick on my teeth.
March 8th, 2012 at 11:23 am
Hi Rachel, First time over here courtesy of the Duct Tape Marketing Newsletter just FYI
My background is an English degree and 10+ years as a freelance writer, author, blogger.
While I absolutely agree with you that first impressions are key and that more and more are now made at the website/blog level, I will disagree that every comma and word has to be perfect.
Even though I have an English degree, mechanics was never the strongest part of my abilities. It still isn’t. I do better than many, but you will find a typo on my blog now and then though I take time to edit.
I think a key is to know when it really counts and put extra effort there. Static pages (about, services) are easiest because you have all the time you want to review them. Posts are a little trickier because you don’t necessarily have a ton of time to dedicate.
In no way am I saying it’s ok to be sloppy or lazy or anything close to that. We need to present ourselves as professional whether it be in dress, grooming or other places we make an impression.
However, the sad case is that less and less people would have noticed the mistake you pointed out, and even fewer I believe, the issue with the comma. I would be in that group more often than not.
Part of the reason is people skim now more than ever, and with the rise in casual conversation in social media people are growing accustomed to short hand etc.
I think most business owners need to look at the quality of information first, then do their best to edit, but not stress too much if one thing here or there is out of place.
March 8th, 2012 at 12:03 pm
Hi Cheryl — Welcome!
This is actually what I love best about blog posts - the conversation that forms.
I agree - to me, commas and such are not as important as overall meaning, spelling…yet, I am learning something new from this post!
You do bring up an interesting point regarding shorthand and abbreviations - which seem to be taking over! (as in LOL) HA!
March 8th, 2012 at 12:18 pm
Reply to Cheryl’s comment:
I disagree that mistakes in punctuation don’t matter. Yes, to a reader who has not majored in English or who does not have an editing or writing background, these mistakes will most likely go unnoticed. However, many of us do know how to punctuate sentences correctly and know the rules of English grammar. You never know who might be looking at your written material, so why not make the best impression? It all depends on context, and if someone is writing as an “expert,” than, in my opinion, he or she should try to present the most professional impression possible.
March 8th, 2012 at 12:34 pm
Just to be clear, I didn’t mean to say punctuation doesn’t matter. It does as do all the rest of the things that fall in the technical part of writing. However, there is a point where someone has to say it’s done and things may be missed.
Many business owners are very good at what they do, but they’re not always great at the finer points of writing. I think there is a level of forgiveness and acceptance by the general public for great, or even good with a dash of imperfection. I think there are different tolerances from audience to audience and industry to industry too.
If like in Rachel’s case you are looking for someone who might represent you like a writer or marketing company, there could be different expectations than if you’re hiring a landscaper or a plumber. There are lots of subjective elements people consider when choosing to buy/work with someone and I think grammar and how well it is or isn’t handled is on that list.
March 8th, 2012 at 2:24 pm
Well, attention to grammar and punctutation show an attention to detail, even if in a certain context it’s relatively unimportant. What you do or don’t do with regard to anything in life reflects on you, your person, brand, whatever. When someone is not good with this sort of thing (grammar, punctuation, etc.), they usually know it, and if they care about attention to detail, they will have someone look at their work. It makes a difference to me, and as Rachel’s blog pointed out, you only get one chance to make a first impression.
March 10th, 2012 at 5:20 am
Great post and grammar is important but a mistake or 2 is not the end of the world. I get emails from some quite important people in business and find lots of mistakes in their writing, but It does not matter to me that much. My point is don’t break your back over “grammer” it will not make a huge difference.
March 10th, 2012 at 5:24 am
I thought I would add to my last comment, I read plenty of copywriting by the world leaders “Dan Kennedy” to name just one. They make mistakes all the time and if you read their stuff. Yes attention to detail is a factor in business if you are B2B but in B2C you can get away with it.
March 15th, 2012 at 12:18 am
Yes, it is well said that first impression is the last impression therefore when you have writing something make sure it should be in a proper way and in a correct manner.
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