Get ahead in your business writing

| November 15, 2018

How many hours a day do you spend writing? Probably quite a few – from proposals to reports, not to mention the hundreds of emails you send. Have you stopped to consider how effective your business writing skills are and if, by improving them, how you could make your working day even better?

There are many ways you can make your writing work better for you. Here we look at some hacks that will set you apart for clear, effective business communication. With a just a few, simple improvements you’ll see big changes in the way your messages are received.

Slow Down

Before you even put your fingers to a keyboard, take a minute. Think very carefully about every word you’re about to write. Think how your words will impact the reader and what the desired outcome will be.

Avoid doing what most people do, which is simply to make it up as they go along. If you want your writing to deliver exactly the right message, then taking a few minutes to think through your words and strategy is really going to pay off.

Consider exactly what you’re asking and if that message isn’t clear then start again. Try and find a balance between being direct and rude. While, it’s perfectly acceptable to ask a colleague to send you a report, it’s also fine to ask how their day is going. It’s not fine to send a massive preamble before making your main point. This just wastes everyone’s time.

Consider Templates

If you’ve never made use before of one of these online tools, then take a look at how they might help you. Templates allow you to follow tried and tested writing strategies that will win you credits for great communication and check that what you’re sending out is right on point.

They don’t just apply to email communication but to every area where your words need to make an impact.

“Templates allow you room to focus on the content of your communication and to check if that content is carrying the messages and action points you need. They can be used to plan marketing strategies, sales calls or even customer contact. Whatever you use them for, they are effective and helpful for adding an extra level of professional engagement”, says Marc Baker, a Business Writer at Assignment Help.

If you’re not confident in presenting your messaging properly, a template will help take some of the doubt away and provide you with a steady framework.

Check And Check Again

Not everyone has a deep understanding of grammar but you shouldn’t let this stop you from creating perfect business writing.  First impressions count, use these tools below to check grammar, punctuation, spelling and style and add that professional touch.

Content Is King

Never use email to deliver multiple pieces of information or calls to action. If you’re keeping your writing tight and concise then readers will always know where they stand and know they haven’t missed any vital information lost in a long, rambling message. If you are going to change topic, then send a follow up message with everything you needed to add.

Use active, clear sentence construction and don’t overuse adjectives or adverbs. Let your verbs speak for themselves. They will be clearer and stronger for taking away all the clutter.

Remember too, that business emails are not the places to share bad news or allow too much emotion in. Readers may find too much personal emotion muddies the clarity of the message and fails to address the key points you’re trying to make. It also requires the reader to give an emotional response in return, something they may not feel comfortable doing.

Harnessing the power of effective business writing will help you stand out from very crowded inboxes and over zealous presentations. Finding the balance between using too many or too few words can be difficult at first but with practice and patience, you will soon find yourself writing exactly the right messages, making your working life and that of those around you that little bit more straightforward.

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