9 Tips + a Checklist

Strong writing skills are essential for effectively communicating your message and selling your ideas.

In this article, you’ll learn the different types of business writing and how to use them to engage your audience. And you’ll get a free 22-point checklist to check your content before publishing.

What Is Business Writing?

Business writing is a style of writing meant to deliver a message to a professional audience. It tells readers about business ideas and concepts with clear, effective language.

Well-written, professional communications position you as a trustworthy and knowledgeable source, increasing people’s confidence in and respect for you and/or your company.

People use business writing in a wide range of formats, including the following:

• Emails
• Proposals
• Reports
• Business letters
• Memos
• Company handbooks
• White papers
• Policies
• Marketing materials (e.g., website product pages, press releases, articles, etc.)

You use business writing inside and outside your company to engage stakeholders, employees, customers, and clients.

Effective business writing nails two main components:

1. Audience. It addresses the needs and expectations of the right people, using the right titles, format, language, and tone
2. Purpose. It prioritizes clarity and concision to achieve the main objective (e.g., inform, direct, explain, or request an action)

In other words:

Business writing focuses on what matters. And delivers it clearly and concisely. Good business communication should keep...