Thursday 14 July 2011

Spelling mistakes ‘cost millions’ in lost sales

In an article on the BBC website, businessman Charles Duncombe claims that poor spelling on websites can cut sales in half, and costs the UK millions in lost revenue. However, his claims are based on the analysis of the sales figures for just one web site www.tightsplease.co.uk whose revenue per customer was doubled following the correction of a spelling mistake.

Even if there is evidence to prove that it was the spelling mistake which led to the lower sales for this company, it is entirely reckless to make a statistical analysis of the entire UK on-line economy based on just one website.

How does Duncombe know that the sales were permanently lost to the UK economy? Drawing statistical conclusions from a miniscule sample size is just as heinous a crime as poor spelling.

Hat-tip to @SueWalder for the link to the You Tube clip below on the the impotence of proofreading.