Business Writing Training Programs

Despite the ample access to virtual face-to-face conversation, written communication is still an integral part of every professional’s workday. For emails, proposals, articles, and reports—business writing is a key skill that every professional should have.

According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers and reported by Inc.com, 73.4% of employers seek candidates who possess proficiency in writing skills. And our business writing courses can help you level-up your written communication skills. 

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Business writing encompasses any written communication to express business ideas and concepts. Typical effects of business writing include persuasion, entertainment, or transfer of information.

Good business writing employs some of the following practices, but isn’t limited to:

• Conciseness
• Error-free writing
• Knowing your audience
• Deep understanding of your subject matter
• Accurate and relevant information

Informational

Informational writing gives a record of business practices or procedures. It provides accurate and relevant information that the audience will absorb. Think of a report or meeting minutes—the purpose is to transfer knowledge from one party to another.

Transactional

Transactional writing can take many different forms. Typically, it describes some type of exchange but doesn’t always have to deal with money. For instance, day-to-day communications between employees about tasks count as transactional. It also includes invoices, forms, or official letters.

Persuasive

Persuasive writing is the practice of writing to affect someone’s decision-making or to convince them to take some action. Marketing communication is the most common type of persuasive writing. Additionally, it includes presentations, proposals, press releases, or business letters.

Instructional

Instructional writing pertains to any written communication that directs a reader through a series of tasks to complete a goal. User manuals could come to mind when thinking of instructional writing. However, memos, guidebooks, or instructional pamphlets may also fall under instructional writing.

There are many skills that you can learn to become more proficient in business writing. In our business writing training courses, we will cover many of these skills; however, we have compiled a list of universal business writing tips that can help any professional improve their writing.

1. Be concise. Readers don’t want to waste their time with unnecessary information
2. Practice error-free grammar. Mistakes can distract the reader from your main point and may even confuse them.
3. State your thesis. Remember in grade school when your teachers made you write a thesis statement to describe the main point of your writing? It’s also good practice in business writing.
4. Use active verbs. Try to incorporate active verbs, meaning that the subject comes before the main verb. For instance, “we design our training programs to improve your skills” rather than “our training programs are designed to improve your skills.”
5. Know your audience. Do some research before writing your piece to ensure that you’re speaking to your core audience. If you deviate from your reader, they will lose interest.
6. Understand your hierarchy of information. Structure your writing to communicate your main idea first, then supplement it with supporting details.
7. Keep to the facts. Business writing can suffer when you inject too much of your own opinion.
8. Spare your reader the jargon. Colloquialisms or slang terms can be effective in certain forms of writing but may distract or dissuade your reader in business writing.
9. Format your writing. Your reader will appreciate the time you take to format your writing in a way that’s clear to understand.
10. Practice consistent voice and tone. Many organizations employ a company voice and tone—in other words, a manner in which it communicates. Varying tones in one piece of written communication can jar your reader.