 ...in
writing for business. We share real-life
examples, techniques, and quick fixes to help
employees write for customers, clients,
and co-workers—not for teachers and professors.
We have
written business letters, articles, newsletters,
ezines, training programs, presentations, proposals,
meeting summaries, and procedures for corporate
clients.
For new articles and ideas each month, sign up for our free newsletter, Better Writing at Work. (See Pat Olafson’s quote at left.)
For talk, tips, and best picks on business writing, visit Lynn’s blog, Business Writing.
The articles linked below demonstrate our fresh ideas and practical tips on business writing.
Delivering bad news is a huge communication
challenge that requires great care. Before you share bad news,
whether it is about the loss of jobs, a change in benefits, or
a denial, read 20 Tips for
Communicating Bad News.
When you write flyers, brochures,
proposals, presentations, and other persuasive pieces, it is not
enough simply to state facts in plain, reliable prose. You need
to engage the reader to inspire a positive response. You need
to add zing! Read Add Zing
to Your Writing.
Without verbs, you cannot write.
Without well-chosen verbs, you cannot write well. Learn essential
facts about verb agreement, wordy verbs, weak verbs, action verbs,
parallel structure, passive and active voice verbs, verb tenses,
and transitive verbs. Read Don’t
Let a Wayward Verb Weaken Your Writing.
Everyone has questions about the
rules of writing: Is it acceptable to end a sentence with a preposition?
Is it okay to start a sentence with but? Read FAQs
on the Rules of Business Writing to find the answers to these
questions and more.
If you write proposals, you want
to win. Winning the bid, the account, the assignment, the budget,
or the client is the goal of the proposal. To increase your wins
and master the rules of the proposal game, read How
to Write Winning Proposals.
Apply your social
styles savvy when writing for business. Learn about
four styles of business readers, their needs, and
ways to recognize them: The Tell
Me Everything Reader, The Just
Give Me the Facts Reader, The Be
Nice to Me Reader, and the Be
Interesting Reader. Read Adapting to Your Readers' Style Differences.
Recognize the power
of analogies in business communication and training
programs. Pick up four tips for using
analogies well. Read Imagine This: Using Analogies.
For Training
and Development Managers: Know
when business writing courses make sense—and
when all you need is writer’s tool kits to
get the job done quickly and effectively. Read Writer’s Tool Kits: Just-in-Time Aids to Effective Writing.
Modesty
has no place in resumes, cover letters, bids,
and other places where we are selling our strengths,
abilities, and experience. Such documents require
us to stifle a blush and write shamelessly about
ourselves. Read Writing About Ourselves: Bragging Without Blushing.
Writing faster is everyone’s goal. But writing effectively is what saves time for individuals, teams, and entire companies. Read How to Write Faster and Get Results to learn nine ways to increase your speed and effectiveness.
Business writing is not all business. Along with the email, reports, and proposals we write, we need to send messages that speak to our human side: thank-yous, congratulations, and condolences. Read The Human Side of Business Writing.
Stories engage readers. They make content memorable, personal, and vivid. Learn ways to incorporate metaphors, quotations, characters, dialog, and other story elements in your business writing. Read Add Story Power to Your Writing.
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