Business Writing Basics for Professionals On-Site Training

This on-site training class is also available as Public Schedule Seminar.

Find out just how easy it is to get started, organize your thoughts and present your messages in ways that achieve the positive results you want.

Course Description/Agenda

You’ll learn …

The 3 rules of business writing you simply can’t afford to break
A 3-step approach for getting an immediate response to any written communication
How to overcome writer’s block once and for all!
How to unclutter your messages by eliminating unnecessary words and redundant expressions
And much more!

Find out just how easy it is to get started, organize your thoughts and present your messages in ways that achieve the positive results you want. Learn how to meet the challenge of “putting it in writing”—whether you’re writing letters, memos, proposals or other documents.

Program hours: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

What to know before you write

Testing your business writing savvy—a self-assessment for pinpointing your strengths and weaknesses
The 4 major functions of business writing
The 3 rules of business writing you simply can’t afford to break
Know your subject: Using the library and other resources to become an expert on your topic
Know your readers: 6 questions you must ask yourself about the people who read your memos and letters
How to get an immediate response to all your business writing by applying a 3-step approach professional advertising people use to sell products

Putting your words on paper

Overcoming writer’s block: An easy way to get your ideas down quickly
How to use freewriting to create a powerful and lively first draft
How “thinking small” can help you organize your writing for maximum impact
How to write openings that get to the point and keep your reader’s attention
How to develop your paragraphs to get your ideas across most effectively
Words and phrases that ease the transition between paragraphs—and keep your audience reading from start to finish
End with a bang! How to write closings that inspire your readers to take action

Say it with style

How to take into account your reader’s perspective—and why it’s vitally important
The 2 sentence characteristics that determine whether your reader will comprehend your message
The Telephone Test: Why it’s essential to apply it to every piece of writing that leaves your desk
How to adapt your tone to match the personality of your readers
The 15 worst business writing sins and how to avoid them
How to use personal pronouns to create an instant rapport with your audience
Fresh alternatives to the 10 deadliest business writing clichés
The only time it’s appropriate to use jargon in a written communication
Bullets, underlining, lists and other formatting techniques that make your writing easier to read
Unclutter your messages—how to eliminate unnecessary words and redundant expressions from your writing
When it’s okay to break grammar rules
Techniques for spotlighting your key points
How to free your writing from unintentional bias that can alienate your readers
Putting the power of persuasion to work for you—10 simple rules for getting your readers to “see it your way”

Professional editing and proofreading techniques

The Golden Rule of business writing and editing
Editing techniques professionals use to turn out powerful and effective final drafts
Why it’s important to read to the end of a document before making any changes or corrections
Save hours of rewriting—7 questions for pinpointing the strengths and weaknesses of your first draft
Never-fail techniques for proofreading technical and financial data
How to accurately proofread foreign words
A checklist of key points to review before any document leaves your desk
Why knowing your natural visual span can keep you from overlooking typos and other credibility-robbing errors

Writing that means business

The one important ingredient you must not overlook when writing a business proposal
A 4-step process for writing effective business reports
The 6 main parts of every winning business proposal
9 tips for writing memos that get your point across without wasting your reader’s time
Report-writing do’s and don’ts that every businessperson must know
A 3-part letter design guaranteed to grab your reader’s attention, deliver your message and inspire action
How to structure your e-mail messages for maximum impact
Why it’s important for your letters to do more than just convey information
The 6 essential elements that are common to every report and proposal
Proven tactics for writing a persuasive sales letter
6 guidelines for writing document titles that are accurate and informative
How to write PR letters and news releases that create a favorable image for your company

Writing for special situations

When the message is tough: How to convey bad news tactfully
Style and usage considerations that every person writing international correspondence must know
How to say “No” without damaging relationships
How to recognize and take advantage of each person’s expertise when you’re involved in a collaborative writing project

More Seminar Information