”As Long As People Understand Can Already la...”

Welcome message intended for Obama.

Parliament's "Scissors salad".

”As long as people understand can already la.” This is a very common line that perpetuates our deteriorating standard of English in Malaysia. Pictured above are two recent blunders that went viral on social media. The welcome message to President Obama, in particular, really made headlines as it caused national embarrassment. We are plagued with many, many more examples that fortunately did not catch similar limelight. Question is, can we really be so nonchalant about grammar and spelling errors?

​WILL errors hurt your business? 

YES, it will! According to Internet entrepreneur Charles Duncome, poor spelling is costing the UK millions of pounds in lost online revenue. Through analysis of website figures, he has found that a single spelling error has the potential to cut sales in half (Source: BBC News).  Another study conducted in 2013 by Global Lingo on 1029 adults found that 59% would not buy from a website with spelling errors.

​As Malaysia rises to be the start-up hub of South East Asia, businesses are popping up more than ever; competition is becoming tough. It’ll be such a shame if these companies are unable to reach their full potential just because of simple language errors. Having 59% of your traffic hit the “close” button because you spelled “SELL” instead of “SALE” will definitely stifle your rise to stardom.

WHY errors hurt your business?

Although the examples above were websites that sell online, the same principle applies to your offline marketing materials as well. A business card with a typo or a brochure with poorly constructed sentences are much less likely to convert a hot lead. Here’s why:

Bad First Impression
Duncome pointed out that websites only have six seconds to capture their audience’s attention. If a spelling or grammar error is obvious, visitors may leave quickly because you have failed to make a good impression. A strong copy is the equivalent to a firm handshake.

Poor Attention to Detail
Trust and credibility fly right out the window if your content has poor grammar. It reflects a lack of care in your business. In a competitive field such as insurance, media management, or printing, clients have a ton of service providers to choose from. The last thing you’ll want to do, is sabotage yourself.

Lacks Critical Thinking
Knowing how to structure a grammatically correct sentence is a sign that you can analyse, explain, and solve complex problems. However, the inability to use the language correctly, may give the impression that you lack the skills and professionalism to earn your client’s business. Clients always appreciate it when you understand their needs and are able to get the job done with minimal guidance. 

Their or they're?

​Check out this advertisement. What is your first impression of this advertisement? Will you have your kids learn from this company? If they can’t even differentiate “their” and “they’re”, you know it is bad idea. So if you are going to spend big on marketing, ensure your copy is solid before you waste precious marketing dollars on advertisements that will turn away customers.

​Whether it is digital or print ads, spelling and grammar errors can severely impact your bottom line. Competition is tough, and if you don’t take the care to present yourself professionally, you may well be losing some important business.

So do you want to remain on the dark side, shrugging off language mistakes and potential clients; or do you want to be the force that awakens, and ensure your business is running at its full potential?