Email Spelling Tips & Proofreading

As a professional business person, how do you want to be perceived? Even something as seemingly insignificant as spelling can determine whether others believe you’re competent or sloppy. Take a moment, and think about that.

Ask yourself, “Are my customers likely to want my services if I can’t be bothered with the details of spelling a word correctly?” The answer is no.

Okay, so your customers may not go running down the street to find someone else at the first sign of a misspelled word. However, misspellings and typos certainly don’t add to your credibility. Recognize that spelling counts.

Computer Spell Check Function
Since the advent of the spell check function on the computer, many people believe (incorrectly) that spelling skills are no longer necessary. Don’t misunderstand. There’s nothing wrong with using the spell checker. In fact, it’s a great device, and should be utilized all the time.

However, the intended use for this tool is for reference, not as your only source for catching errors. There’s only one acceptable tool for that-your brain. (Phooey! You were hoping I had a magic wand to wave over the email screen!)

Verify Versus Correct
Why do you need to know how to spell? Because you can use the wrong word for the occasion and still manage to spell that wrong word correctly. When this happens, the spell checker won’t recognize your error. The checker only verifies that words are spelled correctly. It doesn’t verify that you have used the proper word.

“Little” words in particular are notorious for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. You should pay special attention to these potential hazards when typing.

Here are a few examples of pairs that are often mistaken for each other (and, hence, often missed when proofreading): “for” and “from”; “it,” “is,” and “if”; “you”

and “your.” Because your eyes sweep over them, these little words are easy to miss.

New Words
The spell checker also won’t correct new words. And, computers and technology have created a whole set of new words. You will need to know how to spell them when your spell checker spits them out.

A perfect example is the spelling of the hi-tech word “email.” In addition to that spelling, there are at least two other versions: “e-mail” and “e mail.” For this article, I chose “email” as the preferred spelling. Why?

There are three reasons. One, the word “email” is faster to type since there’s no hyphen and no space. Two, there are fewer opportunities to make typos if you aren’t typing a hyphen. Three, the word “email” simply appears neater and clearer.

If you still have any doubts about using your brain versus the spell checker, read the following humorous poem.

Spell Chequer Poem

Eye halve a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea
It plainly marques four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin knot sea.

Eye strike a key and type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait a weigh.

As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error rite
Its rare lea ever wrong.

I’m sorry to say the source of this delightful poem is unknown. I’ve tried to track down the author. If you have information, please send it to: kelly@keepcustomers.com. Thanks!

In addition to amusement, the purpose of sharing this poem is to remind you to proofread carefully. You can’t leave a positive impression on customers and colleagues with sloppy email messages.

2 Little Words That Work Marketing Magic

In his classic best-seller, How To Win Friends And Influence People, Dale Carnegie’s second chapter is entitled The Big Secret of Dealing With People. The secret is summed up in this principle: Give honest and sincere appreciation.

Carnegie said there is only one way to get anybody to do anything — by making the person want to do it. How can you encourage customers to say good things about you and give you referrals? By giving them what they and all human beings crave: honest and sincere appreciation.

The Two Magic Words

The big secret of dealing with people (or customers) is often overlooked or forgotten. It’s simply saying “thank you” consistently, personally and, above all, sincerely. These two words work marketing magic because customers want to feel important.

Saying “thank you” is an act of kindness, besides. But don’t say “thank you” for the sake of flattery. It must be sincere. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “You can never say anything but what you are.”

“Thank You” Promotes Referrals

The uncertainty of referrals can be disconcerting. Can you control them? No. Can you influence them? Absolutely.

First you must provide a valuable product or service for customers. (You’re already doing this, right?) But perhaps you can make an even bigger difference in their minds by your continued interest after you’ve delivered the product or service.

Each customer has a different level of satisfaction with your products and services. However, all customers to whom you say “thank you” are satisfied that they’re important to you. This can determine whether you’ll continue a relationship with them and get referrals.

“Thank You” as Direct Mail or E-mail

If you’ve never used direct mail and are considering it, start a thank-you correspondence program. If you’ve used direct mail or e-mail but haven’t sent thank-you letters or e-mails, start now.

The thank-you letter or e-mail to your customers is targeted (you know them, they know you), personal and effective. It’s guaranteed to receive a positive response.

Furthermore, it’s a pleasant surprise if it’s snail mail. They see your envelope. They think, this must be something for me to review, to sign, or worse a bill. Surprise! They’re appreciated; they’re important. And you’re the one telling them so.

Write a thank-you letter or e-mail at every opportunity. But don’t send one with an invoice or other correspondence. Always send it separately.

Writing the Thank-You Letter or E-mail

The thought behind a thank-you letter or e-mail may seem simple, but writing one can be tricky. Here are 9 tips for writing a winning thank-you letter or e-mail:

1. Keep it brief. A half dozen lines (or fewer) are sufficient.

2. Make it sincere. This is crucial. If you aren’t careful, it can sound awkward, even when you’re trying to be sincere.

3. Start with “thank you.” Dear Ms. Johnson (or first name, if appropriate): Thank you for …

4. Make the tone warm, but professional. Be friendly, but keep it businesslike.

5. Reinforce a positive. Jog their memory of a positive aspect of the relationship.

6. Offer your continued support. If I can help, please call …

7. End with “thank you.” Thanks again for …

8. Use an appropriate closing. Sincerely, Best regards.

9. No ulterior motive. Make it a pure “thank you,” otherwise sincerity is jeopardized.

Remember: Saying “thank you” is part of building strong customer relationships over time. Use these two magic words consistently and watch your repeat business and referrals grow.

Reaching Local Customers With Online Sales

**Can you sell your product online?**

If you are already in business and you are thinking of promoting your products or services online, one of the first questions you have to ask yourself is “Do I have a product I can sell online?” This question is at the very heart of the decision whether or not to try online marketing.
Read the rest of this entry »

Secrets of Article Publishing Success

When including links to your web site within your article, make sure those links are working! Each directory you submit to may handle it differently. Read the rest of this entry »

Where to Get a Free iPod, Find Other Giveaways Online

Since Apple’s iPod came onto the scene in 2001, tens of millions of the popular music players have been sold. Read the rest of this entry »

Saying A Lot With A Little: Powerful Classified Ads

Classified ads are perhaps the most popular form of small-business advertising available today. The reasons are many, ranging from cost, to simplicity, to effectiveness when seen by the right kind of audience. What you choose to advertise is up to you, but one fact remains: if your ad is going to get big results in a small space, every word has to count.

First, make sure your ad grabs the attention of your readers with a good headline. Asking a question works well (HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO EARN $60K PER YEAR, PART-TIME?), as does telling people what the result of taking advantage of your offer will be (SAVE HUNDREDS ON YOUR LONG DISTANCE BILL!).

Next, try to make your product or service sound useful or exciting, without overdoing the hype or making promises you aren’t going to keep. These tactics will only undermine your credibility, which you can’t afford to do.

Using words like FREE, BONUS, and MONEY will also grab reader attention and make your ad stand out. Highlight or capitalize important words for emphasis, but try to refrain from using lots of exclamation points. Simply yelling at your prospects will get you nowhere!!!! See what I mean?

Once you’ve written your ad, use your spell checker. Even small mistakes in spelling or grammar can make you look careless or unreliable. When you’re reading an ad and see typos, what do you think? Keep in mind the fact that your audience most likely ISN’T full of idiots.

Overall, make sure your ads will get noticed, convey the facts, and tell people what your product or service will do for THEM. A good ad will show people the benefits of your product, get them interested, then give them an EASY way to contact you. If you can do all these things, your classified ad will serve you well.