Writing That Works summary

Most people’s inboxes are overloaded, which is why everyone appreciates succinct emails. So, how can you write emails that grab your reader’s attention from the first word?

It all starts with your subject line, which is your only chance to set yourself apart from the rest of the inbox. Regardless of whether your approach here is formal or casual, it has to get the person’s attention, as in the subject line, “Are your customers happy?”

Can you name one reason why people should listen to you?

It’s a harsh question, but one you should be able to answer when putting together a presentation or speech. If you can’t, don’t sweat it; you can ensure that your message is worth listening to by organizing it for clarity.

Love them or hate them, plans and reports are essential to business communication.

For the most part, they’re important because of the action they compel. However, when a plan or report is written in an unconvincing manner, that action is rarely achieved. So, how can you craft a plan that moves people to act?

No matter what your industry, at some point, you’ll have to use writing to sell your ideas. Your recommendations will need to be persuasive. But how?

Well, a good tip to start with is to cut to the chase; state what you want and offer your reasoning after the fact.

Old-fashioned, paper junk mail may drive you nuts, but the truth is, direct-mail marketing works.

Let’s explore how to make it work for you.

There are few pieces of writing that carry as much potential influence as a job application. How can you make yours as powerful as possible?

To start, write a summary in bold font. This should integrate all you have to offer, whether it’s skills, experience or results. For instance, you might write, “12 years of sales management experience, proven ability in leading sales teams.”

You now know how to write your way through all kinds of situations. But before you send out your final draft, you’ll also want to know the basics of editing and formatting. These final touches are indispensable, and during your first revision you should cut out anything you think is not essential.

If you need a little nudge, just consider the famous writer, Mark Twain. He was a firm believer that cutting words adds energy to writing and, because of this, he believed in cutting one in every three words.