10 Steps to Effective Business Writing

10 STEPS TO SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS WRITING

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WE RECOMMEND READING…

THE 10 COMMANDMENTS…TO EFFECTIVE WRITING!

1. Understand the Demand for Good Writing

2. Know Where You’re Taking Your Readers

3. Be Explicit, Clear, and Concise

4. Grab Your Readers’ Attention

5. Write with Rhythm to Hold Your Readers

6. Organize to Help Your Readers Understand

7. Choose a Tone that Produces Good Results

8. Put Your Best Grammar on the Page

9. Edit, Rewrite and Refine

10. Master the Documents You Use Most Often

WHY is effective writing

important to us?

• A recent survey by Cohesive Knowledge Solutions revealed that working professionals spend 40% of their

day on activities related to email – a 1/3 of which is considered wasted time.

WHY IS EFFECTIVE WRITING IMPORTANT?

KNOW WHERE YOU’RE TAKING YOUR READERS

Get to the point! Have a 60 sec conversation

Make an Outline

BE EXPLICIT, CLEAR, AND CONCISE

• Drop unnecessary words

• Target your audience

GRAB YOUR READERS’ ATTENTION

Did you know?

On a typical day, the average worker is exposed to 3,000+ marketing messages!

The problem-solution-next step approach:1. Problem: what is the problem you want to

address?

2. Solution: What do you recommend?

3. Next step: action items?

YOUR TURN!

CHOOSE AN APPROPRIATE TONE

Know your readers:

Readers who are openbe conversational

Readers who are indifferentBe persuasive

Readers who are hostileFind common ground

GRAMMAR IS IMPORTANT

• Use parallel structure

YOUR TURN!

EDIT, REWRITE AND REFINE

• Take breaks between drafts

• Read from your readers’ POV

The 3 Stage Editing Process: 1. Message

2. Organization

3. Mechanics

Ask yourself:• Is the purpose or bottom line

clear?• Is the action required clear?• Are the major points clear?• Is the tone appropriate?• Is the message written in a

positive way?

YOUR THOUGHTS?