Almost every day in business you have to persuade someone to do something in writing, and for most that does not come naturally. It is a learned skill, and that is why everyone needs business writing training and so to attend business writing courses.

Business writing is more than words.
It is the psychology of persuasion.

When used for sales it is called sales copywriting which is the art of salesmanship in print, but there are many other uses for persuasive writing.

How do you persuade staff to do something or not to do something?
How to persuade the boss to back your idea?
How to tell your customer you cannot do it yet?

There are a lot of stages in business writing, the first jon is to get them to read, so the first few words really matter. The headline.

After that there are a lot of stages, depending on what you are trying to achieve: why this, why now , why you , why you , credibility, value, call to action.

Whilst the steps and stages are all important and form the backbone of any business writing course, so is the ability to harness emotion, using the right person, story telling. Engaging the reader.

Beyond that are the psychological forces such as consistency, reciprocality, authority. Of establishing dominant positions.

Finally there are tiny details. A simple character can double the response of a sales letter. How to use and abuse pictures and side scribbles. These are details you just need to know.

The fact is eveyone in business needs business writing skills, and that comes from BUSINESS WRITING COURSES

More than that business writing co

Almost everything you write in business, is aimed at persuading someone to do something.

• The memo to employees
• The note to a supplier.
• The letter to a customer.

All are persuasion in printSo is the production manager, hoping to extract a few more percent effort from employees. And the accounts department hoping to persuade employees to follow the system. The chief who needs to persuade his management team to trim down on costs.

And of course – the sales manager who needs to bring in more sales.

The fact is too, that if you want to succeed on a massive scale, you cannot possibly speak to every customer one by one. There are not enough hours in the day – so your ability to sell will also be in large measure your ability to sell in writing.

To succeed you need the power of salesmanship in print. And that is why Business Writing Courses are so vital.

That skill does not come automatically to most people, as witness that fact that if you scan the yellow pages you will see that most of the adverts break the rules of successful advertising.

So it follows that every business needs to discover the psychology of persuasion

See most poor adverts and business letters, and you will see that they say:

• This is who I am.
• This is what I do.
• This is what I want.

Where the formula that succeeds is:

• Grab attention and give benefit for reading
• If you do what I say, here is what is in it for you to do it
• This is the benefit for doing it quickly so please do it!

The differences…are far reaching – not just content, but also style.

You cannot bore people into reading the message, you can only interest them

Successful business writing speaks in colloquial english, as you would over a coffee – using short sentences – because people react better to a letter which speaks directly to them. A good sales letter gives the reader a feeling that it speaks only to them.

Where formal english is always very hard to read.

This does not come easily to most people. For example one secret to successful sales, is to sell on emotion, and justify with fact – yet most letters are formal and lack emotion entirely.

Over many years the great copy writers have tested many fine details. Single words changed can make a massive difference.

The ability to persuade in writing is one of the most valuable skills in business

So that is why BUSINESS WRITING COURSES are so important and particularly so for small business.

I would like to let you into a secret! – effective writing does not require a degree in English – in fact some of the worlds best copywriters even failed Engish at school.

Effective business writing involves…

• Looking at the world through the eyes of the recipient and explaining in terms of their interests not yours
• Understanding the psychology of persuasion – the key factors needed to persuade – and the seven or eight things you must do to sell!
• Knowing some of the key test results – did you know that simple quotations around a headline will make more people read? – and understanding the importance of testing.
• Understanding the importance of the emotional side of the brain – and that most decisions are made there and justified later by the anaytical mind, not the other way round!

To become a great copywriter is a lifelong quest.

To become an effective writer is something that everyone can aspire to do, if they study the basics in a business writing course.

That small detail – putting a headline in quotations to get more people to read. There are at least another one hundred test results it is well worth knowing to increase the response to any letter.

In the course of the next few posts – I will explore that formula in greater detail, and what it means for different types of situation.

For this my first post, however I would like to leave you with one more thought – effective writing is deeply bound up with the psychology of influence.

So as a background to every business writing course – and before studying the techniques of writing – I suggest every one should study Robert Cialdini’s epic book “Influence” – in which he examines the psychological factors crucial to influencing people. It is scary! – how some of these factors can fly in under the radar, and make you do things unaware!

So please take a look at this!!

Background To Business Writing Courses

This is actually in regards to a friend of mine.

She is an expert in the business of gymnastics. She knows how to start a gym, attract Olympic hopefuls, market the business, plan the courses, everything.

The problem is that she has been hired in title as an instructor but since the owners of the business don’t know anything about running or starting a gym. So naturally, they want all of her knowledge for the price of an instructor instead of paying her what she deserves as someone who is essentially starting the business for them.

What I am trying to help her do is set a foundation with her new employers. I have been thinking of helping her write a business plan so that she can clearly outline what she is bringing to the table or even justifying a specific amount of money for her efforts in the form of a higher salary.

So if anyone has any advice, document templates, meeting ideas to properly ask for more money, I would greatly appreciate it. And unlike most people who ask questions here, I will indeed select a best answer.

I suggest that you tell your friend to tell her employers that since she was hired as and is paid as an instructor all that she is willing to do is instruct.

Have her tell them that if they want her to take the role of manager that she wants both the title and the pay that goes with it.

Don’t bother with a business plan until either she is hired as a manager or unless the two of you are thinking about finding some investors and opening up your own facility.

Hope this helps
Jerry-the-bookkeeper

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I’m currently a college student who is planning on doing a Masters degree in Business Economics in a few years time. I have to choose between two modules for this year, one that is mathematical and one that focuses on reading, writing essays and critical thinking.

While writing reports, etc, is an important feature of the Business Economics programme, I’m thinking of doing the maths course, because parts of the course are mathematical and I think I could catch up on writing reports etc, but would struggle a bit if I hadn’t done maths before, which does make up a significant element of the programme.

Which would be the best to do?

Personally speaking, having been through a Business Economics course, would agree with your initial reaction. The mathematics element would be much more difficult to learn without the guidance of a tutor; the other course not so difficult.

Suggestion – depending on your institution and your own personal commmitment, is there a way you can attend the lectures for the critical thinking class and just not sit the exam. I know it means you do not get the recognition, but it would be a way of obtaining notes and advice from the experts?

Best of luck either way!

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I’m an artist.. trying to open an art gallery.. and of course, I studied art, not business. I’ve been having difficulties locating templates, etc. I don’t know what needs to be a part of a business plan. This will be a non-profit gallery. Any ideas, suggestions, points in the right direction?

Please, do not suggest that I pay someone to write one. If I had the money for that, clearly, I would not be here.

There are probably a lot of community resources available to help you. Find a local SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) or visit www.score.org to find a location near you.

There might be other community organizations that are able to help you, too. In Spokane, Wash., we have an organization called SNAP (Spokane Neighborhood Action Programs) that offers business planning and financial services to small businesses like yours.

You should also find a free networking group to help you. The one I belong to is called BNA or Business Networking Association. We only pay for our breakfast – there is no cost to attend. I'm sure there are similar organizations available in your city, whether BNA or another networking group.

And, you should join a local Rotary Club or Rotaract Club. There will be other business people willing to help you, and you will learn a lot about your community and its resources, which will help you develop your business plan.

Finally, if you care to e-mail me, I can send you a template of a business plan.

Best wishes and good luck on your venture. Hope this helps!

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I need to "secure" my new job by making a demo advertisment sort of thing for a boutique style store, which also has a cafe along with it. I want to impress the owner and bring it back tomorrow. Any suggestions? It can be anything I want really. Someone mentioned a postcard style, which is good and shouldn't be too hard, but I don't want the lady to think I'm slacking. She suggested special events such as mother daughter brunch and clothing sale, which I think I'm going with. I'm 17 and have never taken an advertising or business course! She appreciated the fact that I've won writing contests (for essays!) and that I'm taking college English courses next year (when I'm a Senior) but advertising just doesn't seem to be up that alley! Still this job is my dream job. I just need some help/tips!

An advertisement or a promotional activity?
if its for promotion…y dont dress up!
show off the things that make ur store special!
and of course, this makes everything more tangible, customers will more be delighted to be able to see the things, rather than just viewing their descriptions…

hope this helps! good luck with ur job and studies!

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I'm in massage therapy school about to graduate and I'm looking to take some business courses and obtain a degree in an area of interest. Like poetry, creative writing, something to that assortment
I love to write and just wanted to figure out some of my options before I graduated school here in able to be ready to travel when I do.

Help?

The University of Iowa is pretty much the premier writing school in the nation. Just about anyone who is serious about writing wants to go there, but it is extremely difficult to get accepted.

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I'm a creative writer, and I have considered going for an English degree. However, I know that English isn't the most marketable degree. I am actually closer to a business degree with the help of many courses I've taken through the military, and I know that's a more marketable degree, so I'm leaning toward getting that busimness degree.

Basically, I'm wondering if going for the Business degree would be a wise decision. I know the English degree would help my writing, but I can still write on the side regardless of what degree I get. I want to also be able to have a marketable degree because I can't exactly count on creative writing as a stable form of income. It would ease my mind a bit if I knew of people that achieved their business degree, and still remained creative.

Any thoughts or info would be appreciated.

A business degree could be used to enter the technical writing field. Technical writers are in high demand and usually well paid for their work. You could then do creative writing in your off hours.

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I have a degree in Business but haven't taken many writing courses that I can add to my resume – but I CAN write. So what would be suggested to get such a position without any "real" experience or formal training in such an area.

Set up a blog, write articles and post on ezine and article directories. You can put your link back to your blog and if you are good, people will find you. Be sure to put some affiliate links on your blog to monitize it.

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Next year I'll be taking Business and Management as a course for my first IB year. What terms would I need to know if I were to be a manager? Problems? Strategies? Etc. Please answer as fully as you can (and not link me to other pages with a ton of writing!).

Thanks in advance!

The bottom line.
Net profit.
Productivity.
Customer service.
Quality product.
Profit ratio.
Supply and demand.
Marketing strategies.
Diminishing returns.
Cost of goods sold.
Spoilage.
Bonuses.
Employee satisfaction.
Turnover ratio.
Product life.
etc.

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