Why Are Business Writing Skills Important?
- One of the most critical benefits of strong business writing skills is the ability to get a job. Especially in a tough market, candidates who can pull together an organized, effective resume that clearly shows their strengths, experience and suitability for the job have a leg up when it comes to hiring. An impactful cover letter is just as important as a strong resume. Busy employers appreciate a candidate that can come quickly to the point and demonstrate his potential value to the company in correct, clean prose.
- If the business doesn't have clients, it doesn't have anything. Businesses need employees who can write strong sales letters and presentations that gain client confidence and drive sales. They also need employees who can write marketing and advertising messages that stand out in today's ad-laden environment and catch a potential buyer's attention. Employees who can master the art of writing for online audiences are in high demand. Websites, blogs and social media sites require short, punchy text that is inviting and intriguing, yet still professional and well written. Even businesses that rely heavily on phone agents to manage their sales activities must have strong business writers. Someone needs to write the script that the telemarketers use, develop the contract, create marketing materials and manage the company's online presence.
- In the business world people are constantly negotiating: contracts, deadlines, extensions on deadlines, purchase prices, selling prices, salaries, time off, use of shared services--the list is endless. Business writing is often key to effective negotiation. Those who can state their position clearly and calmly, and can enumerate the benefits of their position to all parties involved, have the best chance of getting the solution they want. Correct grammar, punctuation and spelling paired with easy-to-comprehend sentence structure, proper form and a professional tone are critical components of creating a strong bargaining position. A badly written contract or proposal may lead the other party to believe that the writer doesn't care, does not feel strong in his position or is inexperienced--all perceived as signs of weakness in the negotiation.
- Business writing is not just about sales and marketing activities and negotiating contracts or deals. The most-used purpose for business writing skills is day-to-day communications. This includes letters, emails and interoffice memos to clients, colleagues, supervisors, suppliers and more. Those who can write clearly worded, grammatically correct communications that get the message across in a professional but pleasant tone and can be easily and quickly understood by the recipient will spend less time and effort clarifying information and soothing upset feelings. Those who can request information or action with the same skill may find that their requests are answered more quickly because the recipient perceives the request to be easy--even if it isn't.
- Few business employees are hired into jobs that they want to keep forever. Most want an opportunity for promotion and everyone wants to earn a pay raise at some point. Employees who have demonstrated the ability to represent themselves and the company in a clear, compelling and professional manner are more likely to be chosen for advanced positions. Higher-level jobs are more visible, require the ability to communicate in writing with a broader range of individuals and, usually, pay more. Because pay increases must often be approved by multiple parties, those seeking pay raises in their current positions are more likely to succeed if they can provide well-written documentation of their contributions and can clearly state their reasons for requesting an increase in writing.
