It has always been said "you only have one chance to make a first impression." This old saying is especially true of Web sites. For many years, I've wished that people would give the same thought and attention to writing and proofing content intended for the Web as they give to print. Sending something to print seems so final and, of course, so costly. It's easy to understand why people want to give due diligence to the task. However, the Web carries with it it's own costs, sometimes terrible, unseen ones.
I've heard a number of people give Web copy a quick pass and and give instructions to post while saying in the same breath they can always change the information if they find it's inaccurate. This may be all well and good for those of us who know that was our intent when we posted it, but, what about the poor unfortunate visitor who happens upon the information between the posting and the discovery that it's inaccurate. This discovery may take place within minutes, or in more serious cases, days or weeks after the information has been published to the Web. While it may not seem like a big deal to some, hundreds of people may have been effected by one inaccuracy.
The Web can make many things happen in what seems like a mere instant. It's too bad not all of those things are good.
