We understand that being able to write in a clear and professional style is important to your business. That is why we have developed the Business Writing Institute and the Effective Business Writing course. This practice-driven business writing course will significantly improve your ability to write in English, so that your readers will receive a clear, concise, effective message. Most professionals spend at least 15-20% of their time writing for business; emails, memos, business letters, reports and other business correspondence. Our customized approach guarantees an improvement in business communication skills that will increase your productivity, success and job satisfaction.
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business writing courses
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Benefits of business writing training courses:
- learn how to write a business letter
- discover the skills of writing a business letter
- learn to create clear business correspondence
- understand the difference of writing for business
- improve overall business communication
Business Writing Training: Top 5 Mistakes That Kill a Business Letter
Start the letter by writing ''With reference to your letter
dated - - - -."
Did you just hear someone snoring? Yes, that is probably the
guy reading this letter. Yawn. Why start the letter in such a
boring way? How about, 'Thank you very much for writing to us'
and then continue the letter. We are so used to starting the
letter with this line that we don't even realize how redundant
it is. And the person reading this letter has seen this
sentence so many times that it makes no impression whatsoever.
Trust me, the next time you write a business letter, drop this
line.
Addressing the letter to Dear Sir/Madam
This salutation is used by people who are not sure who exactly
they are writing to, and they want to play it safe. But in the
process, they end up annoying whoever gets to read the letter,
male or female. Instead, why not do some research and find
out. Usually, a quick phone or a search on the internet will
answer this question. So make some extra effort to find out
whether you are writing to a Mr or a Ms. Believe me, it will
pay off.
Wheels on the bus Go Round and Round- - -
People like to take refuge in using long words to express
simple thoughts, like playing a game of hide-and-seek.
There is a beautiful example in the book, 'Business
Communication Strategies' by Matthukutty M Monippally. The
book mentions that during the Second World War, a draft of an
order was submitted to President Franklin D Roosevelt for his
approval. Here is the draft:
Such preparations shall be made as will completely obscure all
federal buildings and non-Federal buildings occupied by the
Federal Government during an air raid for any period of time
from visibility by reason of internal or external
illumination. Such obscuration may be obtained either by
blackout construction or by termination of the illumination.
This will, of course, require that in building areas in which
production must continue during the blackout, construction
must be provided that internal illumination may continue.
Other areas, whether or not occupied by personnel, may be
obscured by terminating the illumination.
What?? Were you able to understand what was just said here? Go
back and read it. Still not clear? Well, it turns out that all
the letter wanted to say that because of air raids, Federal
buildings should not be visible at night. So in buildings
which could afford to do, all lights should be turned off at
night. And where this was not possible due to ongoing work,
the windows should be covered with blackout construction.
President Roosevelt wrote this on the margin of the draft:
Tell them that in buildings where they have to keep work
going, to put something across the window. In buildings where
they can afford to let the work stop for a while, turn out the
lights.
Moral of the story? In a business letter, use language that is
simple, clear, and brief.
Using To: and From:
This one has been outdated since long, but you still find it
lurking in business letters. People continue to write To:
before the name of the person who they are writing to, and put
From: before their own name.
I just want to ask: Why? The person or company to whom you are
sending the letter will recognize their own name, and they
will know that the other name belongs to the sender. So why
repeat the obvious!
Stating just the cold facts, with no personal touch.
It is true that business letters are used for professional
communication, but still, they can always be enlivened by a
personal touch. After all, you are still communicating with
humans, and you can always use a human touch. Read this
promotion letter.
Dear Jo:
This is to inform you that you have promoted to the position
of Senior Manager, Logistics. Your promotion is effective from
12 March 2008 and you will be reporting to Ms. Susie.
Regards,
Hey, how about congratulating the guy? Compare it with this
letter.
Dear Jo:
It gives us great pleasure to inform you that you have been
promoted to the position of Senior Manager, Logistics,
effective from 12 March 2008.
You will be reporting to Ms. Susie.
Pease accept our warmest congratulations on this well-deserved
promotion. We are confident that you will bring the same level
of dedication and commitment to this new profile as you have
done in the past.
Congratulations and best wishes for your continued success.
Warm Regards,
Do you see the difference in the two letters? They both
communicate the same information, but the second one is sure
to touch an emotional chord. Business letters that are more
personalised always score over ones that are excessively cold,
and formal. So spend some time personalising when writing a
business letter.
Source: Swati Saxena link
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