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Posts Tagged ‘Business’

Aug
25

The Truth About the New Rules of Business Writing Review


“The Truth About the New Rules of Business Writing” is an excellent book for those wanting to learn about how to be more efficient in their writing, communicating with clients and even on social media sites.

Writers Natalie Canavor/Claire Meirowitz (Founders of C&M Business Writing Services) write about “52 Truths” when it comes to writing and the chapters are broken down into the following:

PART I: The Truth About What Makes Writing Work

Examples: “Me” Focused Messages Fail, Forget Yesterday, Write for Today, Tone Makes – or breaks – your message, etc.

PART II: The Truth About Self-Editing

Examples: The best writers don’t write; they rewrite, Less can be a whole lot more, passive thinking and jargon undermine clarity

PART III: The truth about successful e-mail

Examples: Know your e-mail do’s and don’ts, use e-mail to communicate in the fast lane-powerfully, etc.

And then you get into the more important chapters such as..

PART IV: The Truth About Letters

PART V: The Truth About Reports and Proposals

PART VI: The Truth About Web Sites

PART VII: The Truth About New Media

PART VIII: The Truth About Writing to Self-Market

PART IX: The Truth About Tricks of the Trade

And also the ability to access more materials by registering your book online.

JUDGMENT CALL:

Personally, “The Truth About the New Rules of Business Writing” could be a useful tool in college curriculum. In college, having taken writing classes that dealt with Associated Press writing, it was ingrained in our heads by our professors to write a certain way, to use words that most people don’t use in their vocabulary and to write intelligently.

But when I took a business class which emphasized “Chicago” writing style, it was what we learned to write memo’s, e-mails and business communication writing.

But as more and more people communicate via E-mail, chat, Twitter or utilizing social media, most people are in a hurry and don’t bother to rewrite. And how many times have you had people take a message you wrote out of context. Sometimes good writing requires repetition, good etiquette and for the most part, both Canavor and Meirowitz do a good job in showing people how to write effectively.

Overall, “The Truth About the New Rules of Business Writing” is an excellent resource for business writing and communication and for those who know they are having problems with communicating via memo, e-mail, tweets, etc.

The Truth About the New Rules of Business Writing Feature

  • ISBN13: 9780137153152
  • Condition: New
  • Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

The Truth About the New Rules of Business Writing Overview

“From everyday letters, e-mails, and reports to Web site content, proposals, and new media, you’ll discover what it takes to make every written word count.” –Jerry Allocca, President, CORE Interactive

 

Business writing that packs a punch: Make the most of your message to get what you want!

  • The truth about supercharging your business writing
  • The truth about writing directly, clearly, and convincingly
  • The truth about writing in today’s varied business formats

 

Simply the best thinking

THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH

 

This book reveals 52 proven, bite-size, easy-to-use business writing techniques that work.

 

Natalie Canavor launched four national magazines for business and professional audiences and directed communications for New York’s largest educational agency.

 

Claire Meirowitz, an award-winning author, has served as project manager and copy editor for leading business publications. Natalie and Claire own and run C&M Business Writing Services.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Aug 25, 2010 14:30:09

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May
17

Effective business writing skills can help you win that million dollar contract, earn a promotion, resolve a dispute, or generate a significant increase in new business leads. Poor business writing, on the other hand, can never be undone; it can cause you to lose business to your competition and even cost you your job. Here are 7 easy ways you can improve your business writing skills:

1. Before you write a word of copy, make sure you know who your target audience is and what specific result you’d like to achieve. If it’s an important business communication, take five minutes to visualize yourself in the shoes of the recipient and imagine what this person’s world is like.

2. Avoid using acronyms and buzzwords. Avoid using academic language like ‘ergo,’ ‘henceforth,’ or ’so to speak.’ Simplify big words: write use instead of utilize, send out instead of disseminate, fair instead of equitable, etc.

3. Use an active instead of passive voice. “The meeting agenda could be discussed further” is passive. “Let’s discuss the meeting agenda” is active.

4. Write in a conversational tone instead of alienating your readers by being too formal and bureaucratic – unless you’re writing to a bureaucrat or someone who prefers formality. Know your audience!

5. Replace hyperbole with solid facts and reputable testimonials. Phrases like, “We’re #1,” “We’re the leader in our field,” or “We provide the best service,” aren’t going to get you anywhere. Instead, use a fact such as stating that the President of a leading association ranked your company with the highest quality score out of 500 certified companies.

6. Be clear, concise, and to the point. Don’t assume readers will know what to do. Guide them by including a specific call to action: “click on the link to get your special report” or “call me to set up a no-cost 15 minute consultation.”

7. Use word pictures to get your point across. Can you imagine the thrill and excitement of driving a rocket-fast, cobalt blue Porsche 911 Turbo as it whisks you to your desired destination? A well-written article or report can be like that Porsche and generate a ton of new business in half the time with more fun! After all, what’s more exciting, cold-calling prospects or having them call you? (If writing is a challenge, consider hiring a professional).

Sharif Khan is a business writer, copywriter, book publishing consultant, and author of the leadership bestseller, Psychology of the Hero Soul http://www.HeroSoul.com If you need help with an important writing project or ongoing assignment and would like a no-cost, no-obligation quote, call 416-417-1259 or send an email to: sharif@herosoul.com “Sharif knows how to write clear and concise copy for business. He is quick, to the point, and a pleasure to work with,” writes Carl Nanni, former VP, Kraft Canada

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May
01

People use the internet for many reasons. Others use it for entertainment, some for communication while others use the internet for business. One of the most common uses of the internet is to gain information. You can get all the information you need from the World Wide Web. There are articles on the internet that are related to various topics, which can be very useful for individuals who want to acquire information and enhance their research.

Most of the time, article writing is known to be an easy and simple task but in fact, when it comes to writing high-quality articles, this is far from the truth. With the difficult competition of different websites, the owners tend to hire writers who have the skill and experience in order to provide them with quality content.

One of the benefits of article writing is generating traffic to websites. Everyday, there are millions of people who are looking for information online. Once the visitor finds a certain website that can give them what they want, they can spread this information to other people and more and more people will then visit the site. This way actually increases the ranking of the website.

Most individuals who do online research are usually very conscious regarding the information they encounter. Benefits of article writing are numerous but remember that the articles should be in high quality in order to be effective. You should write articles that can meet the expectations of people and provide them all the information they need.

There are millions of writers all over the world who publish millions of articles everyday. Therefore, it is important for an article to stand out among those millions. Keep in mind that you are required to write articles that contain useful information, which can be understood by most people.

Confused by article writing and submission, well you don’t have to be. I have helped thousands of people to improve the quality and quantity of their article writing. Download my new free ebook, how to write 10, 20, even 30 Highly Profitable articles a week!

Please visit my website to learn many Article Profit tools.

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Apr
26

Writing for the Fashion Business Review


I bought this book last quarter for my own reading pleasure and then I was pleasantly surprised when it became required for a course I’m taking this quarter. It’s a great, informative book, not your typical textbook. This is the lowest new price I’ve seen anywhere. I used it for one of my projects and it was a great source. It even includes tips for writing a fashion-minded resume. I’ll definitely keep this handy!

Writing for the Fashion Business Overview

Writing for the Fashion Business is an exciting, one-of-a-kind textbook focused on writing
in the fashion industry. Writing is a skill that students need in order to be successful in
the workplace. This text introduces students to the writing process. Then it systematically
addresses the different writing situations students may encounter in the professional
fashion world writing in the context of media such as newspapers, magazines, broadcast,
advertising, public relations, and online media. Writing for the Fashion Business details
other forms of writing as well, including scholarly writing, writing fashion-oriented books,
and writing business and employment communications. Along the way, this textbook gives
students numerous opportunities to practice writing and to develop a writing portfolio
that will give them confidence in their writing abilities.

Available at Amazon Check Price Now!

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Apr 26, 2010 05:30:05

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Mar
13

It’s quite amazing how often business people fail to follow basic guidelines when it comes to writing their business correspondence. That might explain why so many people come to my writing help websites looking for help with their business letter writing. Just as businesses need to be focused and efficient to thrive and succeed, so too does the primary communications tool of most businesses – the business letter.

Following are a number of tips and guidelines that I have compiled while reading and writing many hundreds of business letters over the past 25+ years.

1. Limit Them To One Page

By definition, business letters should be short and to the point, preferably one page in length. Studies have found that busy business people do not like to read beyond the first page, and will actually delay reading longer letters. So, if you don’t want your letter to gather dust in an in-basket, keep it as short as possible.

2. Be Reader-Friendly

Always try to focus on the needs of the reader and make an effort to see things from their perspective. Put yourself in their position and imagine what it would be like for you to be receiving your letter. Anyone can do this, since we are all “customers” of some other business in some part of our lives.

3. Keep The Tone Formal And Factual

Generally speaking, the tone and content of business letters should be formal and factual. Feelings and emotions do not have a place in business letters. So, avoid phrases like “we feel” and use “we believe” or “we think” instead. A cordial, friendly approach is fine. Just keep it businesslike, but avoid overly formal terms like “heretofor”, “as per”, “herewith”, etc.

4. Carefully Plan Your Letter

Before writing the letter, take a few minutes to list all of the specific points you need to cover. Sometimes it may even mean a phone call to the recipient or his/her company to confirm a specific point. Remember, the purpose of the letter is to tie up all of the details on the subject at hand, so that more letters won’t have to be written back and forth.

5. Make It Clear, Concise And Logical

Use a clear and direct writing style that uses simple words and straightforward phrases. Make sure that your flow follows a logical progression, first identifying the main subject, elaborating on it, and then drawing the logical conclusion.

6. Accuracy And Timeliness Are Key

By their very nature, business letters need to be accurate and timely. They almost always have financial implications and related impacts on other businesses and/or people. Double-check all of the facts stated in the letter, and make sure that any future dates specified give others enough time to realistically complete what is expected of them.

7. Relegate Technical Details To Attachments

Often it is necessary to include detailed technical information as part of a business letter package. In such cases, use the main letter as a cover letter that lists and briefly explains and references the attached (or enclosed) documents.

8. Use Non-Discriminatory Language

Make sure that you avoid language that is specific to gender, race, or religion in all business letters, either to other businesses, or to customers. For example, use “workforce” instead of “manpower”, or “chairperson” rather than “chairman”. Most style guides contain detailed lists of the offensive terms and some suggested substitutes.

9. Eliminate Redundant Words And Phrases

There are certain words and phrases that one often sees in business correspondence that tend to make the language more complicated and cumbersome than necessary. For example, instead of the phrase “in spite of the fact that” use “although”; or instead of “in the normal course of events” use “normally”. There are many such redundant phrases, so review your letter and eliminate them.

If you are running any type of business in which business letters are important communication tools, you would do well to take careful heed of the above tips and advice. Remember, the business correspondence that you issue is a direct reflection of the overall products and/or services offered by your business. Poorly-written, amateurish, and/or shoddy business letters will surely result in lost sales.

To see some fully-formatted real-life business letter templates, check out the following link:

http://writinghelp-central.com/sample-letters-business.html

Copyright © Shaun R. Fawcett. All rights reserved.

Shaun Fawcett is Webmaster of two of the most visited writing-help websites on the Net and the author of numerous how-to books about practical everyday writing. He is one of the foremost authorities in the world on the writing of business and personal letters. His definitive guide and templates on the writing of ALL types of business letters can be found at: http://instantbusinessletterkit.com

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Mar
04

You launch a new small business blog, and then writer’s block kicks in. What to do? Here are some tips to help you with ideas for new posts to your blog. Your blog writing style does not have to be textbook perfect, so informal writing is suitable as long as you check grammar and spelling. It’s okay to entertain as you provide information, too. Visitors will not expect literary works suitable for a Nobel prize when you create blog posts, so relax.

Write short paragraphs and cover one aspect of what you present in each. Visitors want information quickly; so long paragraphs should be avoided. Short posts of 1-2 paragraphs are fine, too. Most website content is quickly scanned, so headlines and the first few words of each paragraph may be all that most visitors view before deciding to read details, or exit.

Include key words relative to your subject, and place some near the beginning of sentences for each paragraph, so your visitors get the general feel as they scan your post. Search engines will visit and index your blog content, too, so key words are important for attracting the search engine crawlers.

Google Alerts and blog labels are two techniques to help you generate new blog post ideas. Each will be presented in the report Blog Your Way to Fresh Content from my series of free PDF SEO Reports about do-it-yourself small business website promotion that I began to release during 2007. Some of my clients could not wait, so this article is a preview of how to use these two techniques to come up with post ideas for your blog:

1. Google Alerts is a free service that delivers links to content by email. Once set up, you automatically receive a collection of current news stories or related content by email with summaries and links to the information.

2. Your blog labels are the filing system for your blog that cross references your posts by subject category, so visitors may click a label and view all posts about that subject on one page. Use them to brainstorm ideas for posts.

Google Alerts

Search for Google Alerts to find the main page, and then sign up for a Google account if you don’t have one. You don’t need an account to use alerts, but managing your choices is more convenient from one page, and creating, editing, or deleting alerts will be easier.

To begin you create individual alerts for search words or phrases relative to your business, and then your options are type and how often. Type means the source, and the selections are from news, the web, blogs, groups, and comprehensive (all). The how often is the frequency of emails you receive from Google and include once a day, as it happens, and once a week.

Once you create the alert, emails arrive automatically with lists of sources for content related to your selected subject, and a summary of each. Follow the links of interest, and perhaps you will decide to write about the same subject with a different slant. Never copy another author’s content verbatim or claim it as your original writing. That would be plagiarism. However, quoting other sources is acceptable, and snippets or excerpts are often all you need.

Write an introduction about the piece you will quote, and then give credit to the author including a hyperlink to the source. Next, make sure you are in HTML mode and begin the excerpt with blockquote and italics tags, insert their content using copy and paste, and finally add the closing blockquote and italics tags. View your help files if the [blockquote] or [i] and then [/blockquote] and [/i] are unfamiliar (Note: The [ and ] square brackets must be replaced with , so don’t take my example literally). This formatting will indent their snippet in your post and display the text in italics to make everything stand out as content quoted from another source.

Finally, write a closing paragraph with your take or opinion on the subject matter, and you’re done. Again, your posts do not have to be lengthy, so the opening introduction and closing comments or opinion can each be one paragraph. Busy visitors are more likely to read your content and bookmark your site for return visits if your style is interesting and brief.

Blog Labels

The labels you assign to your posts allow cross referencing of information, and they are another source for brainstorming new post ideas. After all, your labels provide a snapshot of the overall theme of your blog. A review of your list of labels may uncover subjects that are overdue for a new post while alerts make you aware of topical subjects. Reviewing the labels that define your blog allows you to enhance emphasis by writing about what your small business is really all about.

Bonus Tip: Visit technorati.com and near the upper right is a “tag cloud” which displays key words and phrases that represent what the majority of people worldwide have written recently. The most popular tags are displayed in very large text, with others decreasing in size based on total posts tagged with that word or phrase. If you find words that relate to your business, click the tag to see what others are writing, or just start your post and run with it.

Compare physical exercise to writing posts for your small business blog, and each requires discipline. Both are easy to avoid without feeling guilty, yet the benefits are certainly important to your health, personal and business. A large percentage near 25% of all new blogs go offline in less than 90 days. One reason is the lack of fresh content. Use these tips for keeping your posts short and to the point, utilize Google Alerts, and do a review of your blog labels to easily come up with new ideas for posting to your blog.

Jim Degerstrom offers small business advice based on 30 years in management, sales, and marketing, including President or General Manager of small companies in 5 states. He is proficient in website and graphic art design, and runs his online Small Business Resource Center and web design and matching artwork advice blog from Kissimmee, Florida USA.

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Feb
06

Effective business writing skills can help you win that million dollar contract, earn a promotion, resolve a dispute, or generate a significant increase in new business leads. Poor business writing, on the other hand, can never be undone; it can cause you to lose business to your competition and even cost you your job. Here are 7 easy ways you can improve your business writing skills:

1. Before you write a word of copy, make sure you know who your target audience is and what specific result you’d like to achieve. If it’s an important business communication, take five minutes to visualize yourself in the shoes of the recipient and imagine what this person’s world is like.

2. Avoid using acronyms and buzzwords. Avoid using academic language like ‘ergo,’ ‘henceforth,’ or ’so to speak.’ Simplify big words: write use instead of utilize, send out instead of disseminate, fair instead of equitable, etc.

3. Use an active instead of passive voice. “The meeting agenda could be discussed further” is passive. “Let’s discuss the meeting agenda” is active.

4. Write in a conversational tone instead of alienating your readers by being too formal and bureaucratic – unless you’re writing to a bureaucrat or someone who prefers formality. Know your audience!

5. Replace hyperbole with solid facts and reputable testimonials. Phrases like, “We’re #1,” “We’re the leader in our field,” or “We provide the best service,” aren’t going to get you anywhere. Instead, use a fact such as stating that the President of a leading association ranked your company with the highest quality score out of 500 certified companies.

6. Be clear, concise, and to the point. Don’t assume readers will know what to do. Guide them by including a specific call to action: “click on the link to get your special report” or “call me to set up a no-cost 15 minute consultation.”

7. Use word pictures to get your point across. Can you imagine the thrill and excitement of driving a rocket-fast, cobalt blue Porsche 911 Turbo as it whisks you to your desired destination? A well-written article or report can be like that Porsche and generate a ton of new business in half the time with more fun! After all, what’s more exciting, cold-calling prospects or having them call you? (If writing is a challenge, consider hiring a professional).

Sharif Khan is a business writer, copywriter, book publishing consultant, and author of the leadership bestseller, Psychology of the Hero Soul http://www.HeroSoul.com If you need help with an important writing project or ongoing assignment and would like a no-cost, no-obligation quote, call 416-417-1259 or send an email to: sharif@herosoul.com “Sharif knows how to write clear and concise copy for business. He is quick, to the point, and a pleasure to work with,” writes Carl Nanni, former VP, Kraft Canada

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