Do Grammar and Spelling Count in Marketing?

Pop quiz: Do grammar and spelling count in marketing?

?!

Penelope Trunk, a career expert for Gen Y up-and-comers and a serial entrepreneur, recently posted a blog entry titled: "Good Grammar Is Old Fashioned, Unnecessary and Bad for Your Career."

That's a rather controversial assertion. It's not a very long piece, so please go ahead and click to read it, then return to my blog so we can discuss. I'll wait.

 *  *  *

Here's one quote from Ms. Trunk's message:

Are you writing the copy for a billboard in Times Square that is only three words? Don’t have a typo.

This last is the one point of Ms. Trunk's with which I agree. Here's what I think, in a nutshell:

• Incorrect spelling, non-standard grammar, and plain old misteaks--oops, I mean mistakes--can distract your target audience. 
• If your communication is sloppy, why should customers trust that your product will perform as expected or that your service will be satisfactory?
• If marketing is all about communication, and you want your audience to understand what you're conveying, don't have a typo. Don't leave any room for misinterpretation by misusing words or punctuation.

In short, get it write...err, right.