Concise Business Writing Tips
If Twitter has taught us one thing, it’s how to be concise. As we watch the countdown on our 140 characters, our creative juices kick in. How can we eke out one more word before we hit the dreaded red negative?*
In business writing, concise is king. I love this definition of “concise” – expressing much in few words. Exactly.
In an age that encourages “write like you talk,” ramblers beware. Rambling text loses readers. Here are 5 tips for concise business writing.
Tip #1 – Know your reader. Before you start writing, think about your reader. Ask questions. Who are they? What’s important to them? What motivates them? What questions do they have? Focus on the answers to those questions. Care about your reader and they will care about your business.
Tip #2 – Organize your thoughts. Even the most seasoned writers outline their thoughts before writing. Start with your questions and answers. Next, identify your key points and list them. Add supporting bullets of information. Your message is lost with too many ideas. Keep it simple.
Tip #3 – Think short. Keep sentences and paragraphs short. Your key points help break up ideas into manageable bits of information. Use headings, bullet points and other highlighting techniques. Read your draft aloud. If you’re reaching for oxygen, break out the edit key. Reading aloud also helps you find text that doesn’t sound right. Keep it short and flowing.
Tip #4 – Share your passion. Be true to yourself. People appreciate others who are passionate about their business. When you believe – they believe. Believe in your business – it shows.
Tip #5 – Ask for peer review. Isn’t it funny how you capture the mistakes of others but not your own? It’s not so funny when the person finding your errors is your client. Whenever practical, ask your peers to review your writing. Would you rather have your feelings hurt or your credibility? Peer review saves.
Keep it simple, clear and uniquely yours.
*Note: For non-Tweeters, a red negative is the number of characters exceeding the 140-character maximum.
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