Check Your Spell Check! Content Writing Techniques
Do I have to?!?!
I have a lovely spelling check
That came with my PC,
Witch plainly marks, four my revue,
Miss takes I can not sea.
I’ve run this poem threw the thing.
I’m sure your please too no.
It’s latter perfect in every weigh.
My checker tolled me sew.
This poem, author anonymous, should show why it’s very important not to rely solely on your spell checker.
The content of your website is a reflection of you. It’s your potential customer’s first impression in a world of seemingly infinite websites. If a spelling error is encountered within the first few seconds of their time on your site, are they going to stay? Or bounce off to the next site? Are you willing to risk it?
Do correct spelling and grammar make a difference to your SERP (Search Engine Results Page)? Matt Cutts, Google’s search engine expert, has been asked this since 2006. At that time he highlighted a banner from a SEO site that read, “Dont gamble with your money. We offer 100% money back garuntee!” SEO Advice: Spell-check your web site
He then challenged whether or not you would trust your money with this business? Much less trust that they “garuntee” your money back?
In 2011 Cutts stated that although spelling was not used as a direct signal in Google’s algorithms for SERP, “I think that it would be fair to think about using it as a signal.” When asked in 2013 if one should correct grammar and spelling in comments posted on one’s website, Cutts replied that although the content of the comments would not directly affect the SERP, he warned, “Just make sure that your own content is fine quality.”
So, once again, should you check your spell check as well as your grammar on your website? This, however, may not be the right question. Does having good spelling and grammar better serve your potential as well as your current customers or users? Does it give them a better experience? Does it keep them from bouncing off before they understand what your website is about or before they click your call-to-action? Does it give them the best first impression that you have to offer? Does it make your site easier to read?
Ode to My Spell Checker
Eye halve a spelling checker
It came with my pea sea.
It plainly marks four my revue miss steaks eye kin knot sea.
Eye strike a quay and type a word and weight for it to say
Weather eye yam 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.
Eye have run this poem threw it,
I am shore your pleased to no.
Its letter perfect awl the way.
My checkerAnonymous
It may be you’re still not convinced. Consider this: After all, wood ewe have continued two reed this if it was al lick this?
Reed moor a boot this ate:
Matt Cutts Explains How Comments With Bad Spelling and Grammar Affect A Page’s Ability to Rank
Matt Cutts Says Poor Grammar & Spelling Can Kill Rankings (page no longer exists)
SEO Advice: Spell-check your web site
Google: Low PageRank & Bad Spelling May Go Hand-In-Hand; Panda, Too?
Don’t rely on your Spell-checker, they aren’t very smart.
A Word about Dumb Spell-Checkers
http://www.steamfeed.com/spelling-grammar-seo-ranking-factors/ (Page no longer exists but want to give credit)
