Other providers' ads.....

[Momof4]

Typos due to thumbs on tiny keyboards are perfectly understandable. People who blame autocorrect for the same misspelling daily are just liars. Funny!

[sunnydays]

On the flip side, I don't mind the unprofessional ads too much as it makes mine stand out all the more

After I posted this, I saw one in which the provider put up pictures of the kids skating, with no helmets? Hey, I don't care what you do with your kids (within limits, of course!), but I hope you aren't taking DC kids on the ice without helmets? Some of them were pretty little!!

I would be super ticked if someone ripped off my ad....

And, I know it seems judgy... because it is... but if you are advertising in the written word, it should be correct! English is a second language for many, of course. Then it should be all the more important to have someone else look it over. It only takes a second. Does it tell me what kind of person you are, or if you will be good to my kids? No. But it tells me you are professional, and pay attention to detail. 2 very important things in a caregiver.
I also feel that each ad that says "ill pick up ur kid and wtch him for a few hrs" (yes, I saw that one!) detracts from our profession as a whole. But maybe I am overthinking it too much, LoL.

[Momof4]

Good point sunnydays!

[treeholm]

I can't resist commenting because I teach communications at the third year level at a university. I tell my students that they must proof read all documents, but MOST IMPORTANTLY anything that is going to be their first impression with a potential client. So, in this example, those of you who post with typos in the dark, no problem. We already "know" you a bit, so we'll cut you some slack... or at least, even I will, and I'm a stickler for grammar. I don't expect everyone to be obsessive about grammar in their personal life ie. facebook etc. BUT, if you are placing an ad, and there are grammatical errors, I assume (not fair, I know) that you could not be bothered to take the time to check your ad. I might then assume, that you would "cut corners" in your diligence in other areas, so I would not call you. If I receive resumes with grammatical errors, they go right into the garbage. It is my first screening step. I've taught dozens of HR professionals, and they say the same thing. As for English as a Second Language people, I have tons of ESL students too. I tell them there is NO SHAME in having trouble with a second language! It is an amazing skill to speak more than one language, so don't feel badly about errors, just make sure to have someone else help you with proof reading... someone who does speak English fluently. In my mind, there is no excuse for an ad with errors. Even John Grisham has an editor... So, if you can't write well (and that probably isn't the primary skill needed for an excellent caregiver) at least take the time to get help so that you don't appear as someone who can't be bothered to get help when needed.
Off my soapbox now, thank you. This is a pet peeve of mine, because I have students turn in shoddy work that gets them a 2 or 3 out of 10, and then they come and play the "I'm an ESL student so I can't write English" card... I ask them if they still want a degree from an English degree-granting institution since they don't seem to think it is important to get help with English.