So the training starts with goal setting.
Training recommends that you:

Define  the essence of what you are communicating
Identify the mindset of the audience, to know how to address them
Define  goals  for the objective of the communication.

Once that is done, then   writing training then  sets about the process of explaining  effective communication  by presentation in  a logical, and clear manner.

Presentation has a number of aspects which form a core of business writing training.

The first key is structure. As an old communications lecturer of mine once said, in a rather prosaic fashion:

Tell them what you are going to tell them
Tell them
Then tell them what you have told them

That in essence Identifyies the need for setting a framework for the communication .

First a road map, and at the end a conclusion

As part of the structural issues , it is also clearly important to identify clear actions expected from the audience or participants, and a time and monitoring framework

Beyond the structural level  a writing course then focuses on some of  the grammatical, spelling and so on.

But In a way all of this misses the point.

The fundamental objective of almost every and any communication is PERSUASION.

Information is impotent unless it demands action, and that action is the essence of the goal in providing the information.

The persuasion issue is the most fundamental skill of all.

    First you have to persuade them to read the document at all.
 Then you have to persuade them to read the critical parts
 Finally you have to persuade them to take the actions needed

This starts with the TITLE itself. Which is rarely addressed properly in any training

“Take a document entitled: “marketing report and strategy 2014”

Given a choice would you rather read that, or this one:

“Three simple changes to marketing – that will add 23% to the bottom line in 2014”

The fact is the title in  presents the conclusion, but in doing so makes the reader wonder what the changes are!!, and that makes him to read on.

It is also important to make the reader carryon reading, and given a choice of writing styles, the use of English in a conversational style. That style makes the reader think that he and the writer are the only people in the conversation. In addition you need to exercise the readers  imagination – and make an  emotional appeal.

Words like “shocking” will arouse more interaction than the word “disappointing”

So which would make you read – a dull and typical third person.

“The statistics clearly contain anomalies. The increased consumer satisfaction survey seems at odds with the declining sales -  and all participants in the process need to consider reasons for this, in addition to those below”

Or a conversation held with the reader such as:

“Can you think of an explanation for this?  I am struggling to work out why the customers seem happier but still are not buying more from us.  So  please do give it some thought and tell me if you have other ideas not mentioned below, which were all  the ideas I could think of.”

Persuasion is THE key skill –which requires the writer to explain to the reader why it is in the readers interests to do what is needed.

So all business writing training must focus on persuasion as well as effective communication

Many people have started to use flyer templates – and most of these templates have a serious problem
They are long on good graphics , but short on what makes flyers convert to customers.

Bad flyers all seem to have the form

BIG COMPANY NAME
Here is what we do or sell.
A couple of standard remarks such as..
Established such and such a date, Family Company, Free Quotations
Please call us BIG TELEPHONE NUMBER or WEBSITE.

The problem with that is…it is all about them, and not the customer, and what he expects from the advert.

And that’s the problem.
Because when the flyer arrives it is interrupting the customer, who really does not want the intrusion, and is about to bin the flyer , unless you GRAB him or her with a reason to read it at all.

So A good advertising message or flyer starts out by grabbing attention with a PROMISE and some and preferably all of.
Something to draw attention

A big promise – that forces the reader to look further…
An irresistible offer, and a simple action to take.
Proof of the value of the offer is so much more than the price.
A lot of benefits to deal with us.
Proof of the credibility of the seller…why should the customer trust you?
A reason why it has to be now.
And asks them to take the action!

Would you like to see an example?

So a bad flyer – (many of them) which has pretty graphics for sure may be

N. CRUNCHER LTD , Chartered Accountants
Tax – Consultancy
Audits – Payroll
Bookkeeping – Credit Management.
Family company Established 1974
BIG TELEPHONE NUMBER AND WEBSITE.

Assuming the reader gets past “N.Cruncher ” his answer must be “So What?” – why should he read and why should he act?

On the other hand if they said…

Small Business Owner? – Do you know about these tax loopholes?
FREE – Tax Reduction Guide for ordinary business – our top three tips for 2010

Don’t give them a penny more in tax than you have to!! So Come to our website and download our five point check that saved our clients over £1400

By the way – not all accountants are the same.
As you see – we send great ideas out to our customers!
We tell you in advance – how to keep audit fees down to a minimum.
A 24/7 helpline when you need it.
You can try us for a day – see our five point plan for credit reduction.
You love the service or your money-back
What have you got to lose?? – Go to the website and download the guide.

That way you have captured the customers details.

Which advert would prompt you to act.

The point is – you don’t tell them who you are……until you prove you have something they want.The message is far more important than graphics.

So don’t use these pretty flyer templates until you have written a compelling message and made sure it. Fits on the flyer.

• 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

powered by Yahoo answers

powered by Yahoo answers

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

powered by Yahoo answers

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!

powered by Yahoo answers

Doing one's own homework is good for the character (and future grades).

.

powered by Yahoo answers

Several colleges and junior colleges have writing courses on line. If there is a Junior college nearby most have creative writing as continuing education or allow anyone to take any classes they want to.

writers digest has several courses. Their site is www.writersdigest.com

Local libraries have writing groups that will help critique. How much help they are varies widely by the level of leadership.

The best online writing group is http://museitupclub.tripod.com/
To Join:

Writers who are interested in joining this community and have their fellow peers critique their work in a small and friendly group can email Lea Schizas at:

museitupeditor@yahoo.ca

with the subject heading 'Membership' . In the body of your email, please provide the answers to the following questions:

1- YOUR NAME

2- YOUR WRITING GENRE

3- WRITING STYLE: FLASH FICTION? SHORT STORIES? NOVELS?

4- ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A MEMBERSHIP OR MODERATOR POSITION?

5- BRIEF BIO (IF AND WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN PUBLISHED)

6- WHICH GROUP(S) ARE YOU INTERESTED IN JOINING? (NO MORE THAN TWO GROUPS.)

7- PLEASE SEND IN A SAMPLE OF YOUR WRITING, NO MORE THAN A FEW PARAGRAPHS. THIS WILL ENABLE US TO PLACE YOU IN THE APPROPRIATE WRITING GROUP.

powered by Yahoo answers

powered by Yahoo answers