For most of the thousands of Content Producers on Associated Content, writing for the website does not represent their primary source of income. Many are professionals, working outside the home or conducting a home-based freelance writing business. But one thing they all have in common is that they all need to conduct some kind of business writing, whether it’s a query letter looking for work, a memo to clients and/or colleagues, or financial reports about their yearly income. In addition, there are certain characteristics that all of these types of business writing must have in common. The following tips will help your business writing look more polished and professional, increasing your own credibility as well as that of your business.
Good Business Writing Tip #1: Be as brief and concise as possible. All good business writing should be brief, but also contain all relevant information in a way that is easily understood by the audience. Resist the urge to impress your readers by using jargon or “big” words-this will all be lost in the decoding of the message you are trying to send. Use plain English and avoid slang and abbreviations. Always keep your audience in mind. Will they be able to understand this? You should aim for your writing to be easily understood by someone with an eighth or ninth grade reading level. Yes, you can still be professional without flaunting all the four-syllable words you learned in college. The trick to good, brief business writing is to avoid long sentences. This will also make it easier for your audience to pay attention and correctly interpret your message.
Good Business Writing Tip #2: Organization is key. A lot of professionals find that writing a brief outline before you begin writing the actual letter or memo helps them stay on track. It takes no longer than five minutes, and it will help you focus and make your business writing flow while still being professional and informative. Establish the main point of your business writing and state that in the introduction. Then, hit all of your main points and make sure to back them up with evidence. (For example, you can cite a recognized expert that your audience will know.) In your conclusion, be sure to sign off with a request for feedback and action. Most of your business writing will be requesting action on the part of your audience, unless it’s a simple thank-you letter. Use lots of nouns and verbs to create stronger language, and use a conversational tone while avoiding humor and intimacy.
Good Business Writing Tip #3: Proofread, proofread, proofread. Let your business writing sit for a day or two before returning to it with fresh eyes. Carefully proofread and edit your writing quickly, but be as thorough as possible. Let a colleague look at it as well-it will be easier for them to spot grammatical and spelling errors because their eyes have never seen it before. DO NOT rely on your computer’s spell check. It may be able to catch most spelling errors, but it won’t be able to determine if you correctly used their, there or they’re. Errors in business writing will automatically decrease the credibility of yourself and your business, and they will make your audience less likely to respond to your request for feedback and action. For example, I am requesting that you follow these tips for good business writing. If there are many errors in this article, it will decrease my credibility as someone who can give advice about good business writing.
Good business writing should be brief, concise and error-free. Maintaining professionalism at all times is key to running a successful business and correctly sending a message to your audience, which is the main goal of all business writing. Keep these tips in mind to ensure that your business writing is polished and professional.
