One of the most embarrassing moments of my life was the result of a typo. I left the “l” out of public relations on my resume. Unfortunately, I learned of this horrifying fact during an interview for a college internship. I wanted to crawl under the table. Suffice it to say, I never made that mistake again. Till this day, 15 years later, I double check the word public for that all important “l.”
While your history with a memorable typo might not be as emotionally scarring as mine is, you probably have your own typo tales to tell. In this social media environment where how much content you can crank out is a measure of your worth as a professional, these stories are becoming more prevalent.
In reading the dozens of blog posts that I consume in a day, I’m constantly running across typos. All the blame cannot be heaped on amateur bloggers either. I recently found typos in the posts of two high-profile professional bloggers.
Ironically, pointing out a typo on someone’s blog, web site, Facebook page, etc., can be a great way to build a relationship. In fact, my mentor, Jeannette Paladino, Write Speak Sell blogger, is meeting face-to-face with a potential client after alerting him to a typo on his LinkedIn profile.
At first, I wasn’t sure how people would react to me telling them about a typo in their post or elsewhere, but I’ve come to find that they are infinitely grateful, especially the professionals. Of course, I’ve never tried delivering the news publicly. I always send a direct message on Twitter or a private email. I have a feeling that people wouldn’t be as open to a relationship with me if I called them out in front of their readers, although I see others do this every day.
Let’s face it. Everyone could use an editor. Until the economy turns around, I think we should watch out for each other in a respectful way. If there are any typos in this post, shoot me an email at amydean@keywordcommunication.com.
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