Doesn't Have A Clue

This is a real life story, so bear with me as I give somebackground information.We have a "free ad" section at our web site where people canplace a free ad for their business. Ads are submitted weekly andpublished on the web. Now, to place an ad, someone has to visitour web site and fill out a form containing their email addressand the copy of the ad. We try to make it as easy as possible,but the bottom line is many people are not serious, and don'thave a clue as to how to run a business on the web.When the ads are received, we send an automatic response to theperson who sent it. Perhaps one out of ten has an incorrectemail address and the response is returned as undeliverable.What a waste of time.How do these people think that people can respond to their ad iftheir email address is incorrect?Going through our archives, I found some real gems - what do youthink about these offers?"Join our MLM and earn beg income". This is either a typo orthey are promising very little in the way of earnings. Thisperson obviously didn't proof their copy before submitting thead.Another ad promised huge earnings, but gave no contactinformation. Not a web site URL or an email address to befound. Guess they figure it is so powerful an offer, we willfind them - another waste of time."Make Money! Turn $10 into $40,000 CASH like I did" - but wait -this guy is using a free email account. If he's making all thatmoney, wouldn't you think he could afford one for ten bucks amonth - maybe he is saving all those $10 bills so he can earn$40,000 CASH with each one."You can make 500% Profit without investing any money" - need Isay more!"Tired of the "Rat Race"? Free online training and no capitolneeded!" Did this guy mean "capital"? I'll hang on every wordhe has to say."Exciting,EasyandProfitable" - guess this person never learnedhow to use that big bar on the bottom of the keyboard. I thinkyou see where this article is going.If you are going to advertise a business on the web, and youpresent less than a professional image - you're not going to dobusiness. If you present yourself like the above examples, enjoyyour "walk on the quiet side". Most people are not idiots, andI'm sure the authors of the above ads are not either. But whygive that impression? I sure wouldn't do business with any oneof them.I read another ad for Web Design and the HTML coding in his adwas wrong. That sure built a lot of confidence.Most people scan poorly constructed ads and simply "click away".Guess they feel like I do. If you don't care enough to write acredible ad, why should I think you'll care about me if I buyfrom you?Many people rely too heavily on the spell checker on theircomputer. This is a mistake. After you do spell check, getsomeone else to read it. When writing something, many times youget so close to the article, you miss mistakes that someone elsewould quickly find. Many words that are being used incorrectlywill pass spell check.Remember - you usually only get one "shot" when a person seesyour ad. If it is well written, and has an attention gettingheadline, you just might make that sale. If you want to dobusiness on the web, get serious or people will come to theconclusion that you are someone who "Doesn't Have a Clue" andlook elsewhere.