The Style Files
My thoughts on design, writing and entrepreneurship.
Photo credit (background): www.pexels.com
Photo credit (background): www.pexels.com
Keep these business quagmires from driving you crazy! Photo credit: www.pexels.com Earlier today, I came across a marketing agency with enough holes in their content to put Swiss cheese to shame. Crappy writing never ceases to amaze me. As someone who takes language seriously, I DO NOT understand how an entire industry can thrive on the sale of garbage.
Unfortunately, that's not even the half of it. Why do these mistakes go hand in hand with businesses charging astronomical prices? The world of writing is filled with bottom feeders so you won't often hear me arguing against appropriate earnings. Still, there's no getting around the fact that some businesses will happily rob you blind for a terrible product. There's no excuse. I thought it only fair to spill the tea when it comes to shady businesses and their trademark practices. While you may not need to work in the industry to know these signs, they're certainly worth some attention. Let's get into it! 1. Missing pages How often have you come across businesses without a 'Careers' page? This one bothers me to no end because it's equal parts obvious and ubiquitous. Granted, smaller businesses don't always have a need for hired help; that's all fine and good. What's not cool is posing as a fully-fledged business without half of the moving parts. Do yourself a favor and steer clear of businesses with questionable gaps in all the wrong places. 2. Poor graphics Most of us aren't graphic designers so we're not expecting miracles. If you come across a website with graphics so pixelated you confuse it for Legos, it's time to hit the road. How hard is it to take a decent picture on your camera phone or use free images from sites like pexels or unsplash to cover your bases? Take this lack as a sign of bigger problems elsewhere and walk the other way. 3. Spelling mistakes Yes, this one's obvious but no, that doesn't make it any less common. There are spelling mistakes like confusing nearly identical words and then there are oversights caused by barely trying. Neither is great. Obviously, I'm more wound up about this than the average person because words are my life. I'd still venture to guess that a business too busy to spellcheck doesn't have your best interests at heart. 4. Grammar mistakes This one is particularly relevant to marketing companies. In essence, marketing is the act of making your product or service look better, not worse. Tons of marketing content is word-based such as copywriting and content writing. Notice that writing is the operative word which necessarily involves an understanding of correct grammar. Let's band together and tell marketing agencies our standards are higher because for crying out loud, the consumer prices are high enough. 5. Sloppiness in any form You might have already gathered that all of the previously listed red flags pertain to quality. Quality matters! We may live in a world obsessed with speed but there's no replacement for the real deal. If you spot anything from extra spaces to shoddy website presentation, note it in big. (Judge Rinder fans, anyone?) Poorly presented businesses aren't about to wow you out of nowhere so you're better off without them. 6. Lack of etiquette It goes without saying but business depends in part on the human experience. How friendly are the employees? How professional are their messages? In case you have any questions about a business, you're always welcome to ask. However, don't be surprised if an iffy business comes with all the attitude you can imagine. No thanks, lady! Final thoughts The bottom line is your time, money and attention are valuable. Be discerning in your business dealings before spending a dime to keep yourself in the clear. Here's to you and your hunt for honorable service providers!
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AuthorHi, my name is Martha Oschwald and I'm a content writer focused on design. This page is meant to give you a taste of my writing style and latest musings. Archives
April 2022
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