This "Business Communications" presentation was given at the recent Vancouver Nuts & Bolts Conference organized by Meeting Planners International.
2. Takeaways Know how to adapt your written message to your audience Learn about email guidelines Learn tips for a clear, concise and effective writing style
7. “Business is competition. To give your business the competitive edge, you need to be perceived as the more knowledgeable, competent and professional over those who may be viewed as your direct competitors.”
8. There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception. -Aldous Huxley
9. Perception is the impression given by the presentation and content of your business writing
16. Audience Who is going to read your writing? Know your audience:
17. Audience Analyze your audience: -Who are they? -How big is your audience (does that influence your style/content)? -What do they know about you? -What do they know about the subject already? -What should your audience know? -What do you want the audience to do with the information you provide?
20. Details and Examples How can you support your point? Important role: To provide information, to verify an assertion, to illustrate an idea or concept
25. 25 - 60 emails a day 6,000 – 14,000 emails a year
26. Email Do Interoffice memos Making requests / inquiries Keeping in touch Conducting routine business transactions Providing status and news Seeking ideas or input-Giving simple feedback
27. Email Don’t After previous emails get little or no response To address sensitive issues When you need to resolve concerns and conflicts Sharing business information / contracts of proprietary nature When you are angry or upset
34. 5 Things to Remember Keep it short, specific Write an informative subject line Avoid SPAM words like ‘free’, ‘discount’, ‘!’, ‘50% off’ Personalize when possible Be clear about what is being delivered “Would you open your email?”
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36. Forgetting to adapt the previous Subject: field to reflect the content of your email