Writing for business is simple! You combine words together in sentences to communicate your thoughts and concepts and you're good to go, right? We wish!
If the goal is to inform, engage, and excite customers with our content, we must take it a step further. Just as a rookie athlete needs to practice to achieve perfection, we as business writers need to practice the skills it takes to connect with our readers. We need to be intentional in order to provide the value they're looking for, and ultimately, present interesting content they will rely on!
Today we will share 6 aspects of writing you can work on to gain the skills to produce polished and appealing content for your business.
1. Know your reader.
Before you write anything, know who it is you are writing for. This may be obvious when writing letters or emails but what about blogs, website content, or newsletters? If you know nothing about your readers, the likelihood that you will get your ideas across is low.
Once you know who your ideal audience is, consider their goals, priorities, and what motivates them. This information will help you construct content to address their main concerns and provide them with more value. Writing with the readers’ needs in mind will result in more engaging content and hopefully will enhance customer loyalty.
Discover tips on how to get to know your audience!
2. Have a conversation.
Very few people are keen on being lectured. Avoid writing dry and long-winded content by maintaining a conversational style. Dig for what you’re most passionate about in your business, and convey that emotion in your writing! Customers are more likely to continue reading if they feel like they are being spoken to directly and feel involved in the conversation. Don’t be afraid to pose meaningful questions. Involving your audience in the conversation will help create and build a personal connection to your business!
Not sure how to write in a conversational tone? Read more!
3. Create an outline to ensure organization.
As much as you may want to, skipping the planning phase of writing isn't a good idea. To create quality and effective content, it is best to have an idea of how you want the final draft to read. What is the goal of what you are writing?
Often, it is better to have an outline to refer to while you are writing, instead of going back to reorganize later. There are many different styles and ways to outline. For you, creating an outline could mean jotting down bullets and taking notes. For someone else, it may mean composing a thorough draft. Find which approach works best for you - it will ease your writing process while creating a more organized piece for your customers.
Learn more about the benefits of outlines and find resources to creating your own.
4. Write better, write less.
When you're trying to get a message across to customers, sometimes it’s better to keep it simple. You are writing content to inform your customers, but including too much information can get confusing. Even if you have some heavy-hitting arguments, people are less willing to stick around to find them if they're surrounded by less relevant information!
Take the time to compose well thought out, quality content that your customers can understand and relate to. Be straightforward while focusing on what your company can provide for your customers and how it will benefit them. Avoid overwhelming yourself and your customers; take it one topic at a time! Ideally, use the minimum amount of words needed to make your point in an appealing way.
Discover tips on how to simplify your business writing.
5. Ask for feedback!
You may know how to communicate with customers about your products and services, but how do you learn what they like or dislike about your business? It’s simple, ask! Asking for customer feedback can provide valuable insight to your company. Not only will this help your business improve its products, it will allow you to learn more about your customers and make them feel involved!
When you put customer feedback to work, it shows you’re listening! Customer feedback will help you constantly tweak aspects of your business to provide the most satisfaction for a customer who feels valued.
Why is feedback critical to improvement? Find out here!
6. Proofread, proofread, proofread!
Some may think they are, but no one is above proofreading! Many believe editing is a waste of time, but one read-through before clicking “submit” can help free your work of careless mistakes. Trust us, this will help you maintain the professional image you have worked so hard to create.
To be sure you have a polished piece, read your writing out loud. Whether it’s each section or the piece as a whole, reading aloud will help you hear how your content sounds and will help identify any awkward sentences or misplaced words that need fixing. Sometimes, one flaw distracts from the entire piece. A simple proofread can ensure clarity, accuracy and quality.
Read more about how to ease the process of proofreading, here!
Even good writers can improve. Don’t settle! Let us know how these writing tips work for your business! If you need a listening ear to discuss your content ideas, we're happy to help!
