Business Writing Basics for Professionals Training Class

Program hours: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

What to know before you write

Testing your business writing savvy-a self-assessment for pinpointing your strengths and weaknesses

The 4 major functions of business writing

The 3 rules of business writing you simply can't afford to break

Know your subject: Using the library and other resources to become an expert on your topic

Know your readers: 6 questions you must ask yourself about the people who read your memos

How to get an immediate response to all your business writing by applying a 3-step approach professional advertising people use to sell products

Putting your words on paper

Overcoming writer's block: An easy way to get your ideas down quickly

How to use freewriting to create a powerful and lively first draft

How "thinking small" can help you organize your writing for maximum impact

How to write openings that get to the point and keep your reader's attention

How to develop your paragraphs to get your ideas across most effectively

Words and phrases that ease the transition between paragraphs-and keep your audience reading from start to finish

End with a bang! How to write closings that inspire your readers to take action

Say it with style

How to take into account your reader's perspective-and why it's vitally important

The 2 sentence characteristics that determine whether your reader will comprehend your message

The Telephone Test: Why it's essential to apply it to every piece of writing that leaves your desk

How to adapt your tone to match the personality of your readers

The 15 worst business writing sins and how to avoid them

How to use personal pronouns to create an instant rapport with your audience

Fresh alternatives to the 10 deadliest business writing clich??s

The only time it's appropriate to use jargon in a written communication

Bullets, underlining, lists and other formatting techniques that make your writing easier to read

Unclutter your messages-how to eliminate unnecessary words and redundant expressions from your writing

When it's okay to break grammar rules

Techniques for spotlighting your key points

How to free your writing from unintentional bias that can alienate your readers

Putting the power of persuasion to work for you-10 simple rules for getting your readers to "see it your way"

Professional editing and proofreading techniques

The Golden Rule of business writing and editing

Editing techniques professionals use to turn out powerful and effective final drafts

Why it's important to read to the end of a document before making any changes or corrections

Save hours of rewriting-7 questions for pinpointing the strengths and weaknesses of your first draft

Never-fail techniques for proofreading technical and financial data

How to accurately proofread foreign words

A checklist of key points to review before any document leaves your desk

Why knowing your natural visual span can keep you from overlooking typos and other credibility-robbing errors

Writing that means business

The one important ingredient you must not overlook when writing a business proposal

A 4-step process for writing effective business reports

The 6 main parts of every winning business proposal

9 tips for writing memos that get your point across without wasting your reader's time

Report-writing do's and don'ts that every businessperson must know

A 3-part letter design guaranteed to grab your reader's attention, deliver your message and inspire action

How to structure your e-mail messages for maximum impact

Why it's important for your letters to do more than just convey information

The 6 essential elements that are common to every report and proposal

Proven tactics for writing a persuasive sales letter

6 guidelines for writing document titles that are accurate and informative

How to write PR letters and news releases that create a favorable image for your company

Writing for special situations

When the message is tough: How to convey bad news tactfully

Style and usage considerations that every person writing international correspondence must know

How to say "No" without damaging relationships

How to recognize and take advantage of each person's expertise when you're involved in a collaborative writing project

Another great reason to attend

Your trainer Richard Spencer or Janet Bailey

Richard and Janet are first-class business writers and highly sought-after trainers who have taught thousands to write clearly, concisely and confidently. These "old pros" are firm believers in the

power of the written word and have devoted years to perfecting their writing skills on the job, in a variety of industries and settings. Don't feel intimidated by their long list of credentials or their many successes as business writers. They, too, have struggled with the "right" ways to format documents,

structure paragraphs, begin letters and get their points across. Now, in this unforgettable day of learning, they'll boil down all they've learned over the decades into a collection of powerful

rules that will make writing easier and more enjoyable. It's not often you get the opportunity to

spend close-up time with writing "coaches" as capable as these. The day will fly by as they show you how to finally take control of your keyboard or pen and write documents that inspire, inform, persuade, sell-or achieve whatever your goal is. It's high-energy training, delivered by professional writers whose mastery of the English language is flawless. All you have to do is say "Yes" and they'll gladly reveal their time-saving and stress-reducing secrets to writing business documents that make you and your company shine