What is Business Writing?
A Guide to Business Writing and the Job of the Virtual Assistant
Apr 16, 2009
There are a great variety of business writing assignments for freelance writers. There is even the possibility to work from home on a long-term contract by taking a job as an administrative assistant or “virtual assistant” since good business writing skills are an advantage in this field.
Business writing assignments for the freelance writer can involve an element of expertise just as technical writing does, but often, all that is required is some background work or research.
What Does Business Writing include?
A wide range of different writing jobs and formats come under the umbrella term of business writing, including both internal communications within the company and external communications interfacing with the public or other organisations on behalf of the business.
- newsletters
- memos
- letters
- proposals
- reports
- power point presentations
- press releases
- marketing brochures
- copywriting
- technical writing
- web copy
- blogging
- resumes and job applications
Newsletters
Newsletters for the company employees, clients or customers, require a journalistic style. They should be interesting and informative; and should couch the management’s message or promotions in entertaining and readable articles.
Memos and Letters
Memos and letters require a professional tone with clear, precise, and unambiguous language.
Proposal and Reports
Proposals and reports have strict formats which should be adhered to.
A Proposal can be as short as one page, or can run to a hundred pages, but the basic structure comprises:
- Introduction: explaining the background to the problem and why it needs to be solved.
- The Proposed Solution: explaining how the problem can be solved.
- Costs: explaining what is required financially or in terms of manpower or facilities, to see the solution though successfully
- Statement of Request: the specifics that the person making the proposal is requesting.
Reports can cover many different areas, with different purposes:
- Progress Reports
- Feasibility Reports
- Research Reports
All reports will basically comprise:
- Introduction: outlining the prpose of the report and the areas to be covered.
- Body: including all the facts and figures with details of how the information was gathered.
- Conclusion: an evaluation of the information collated and presented.
- Recommendation: a statement of what has to be done in the future on the basis of what has been inferred from the material gathered and the conclusion.
Power Point Presentations
Power point presentations are often based on proposals and reports, employing a visual presentation of the most striking points of the information to be imparted, combined with a speech delivered by the presenter.
Press Releases
There are many resources online offering in-depth advice on how to write a press release, but in short, press releases adhere to a strict format:
- Headline: an attention grabbing statement of the main point of the story.
- 5 Ws and an H: The first paragraph should condense the whole story by telling Who What When Where Why and How
- Body: Expand on the story, but keep everything on one page.
- Contact details: Don’t forget to give full details about the organisation putting the story out, and the full contact details of the person who can give journalists more information (names, addresses, website, telephone, e-mail etc)
- End: always conclude the press release with ###
Marketing Brochures, Copywriting, and Web Copy
Marketing brochures, copywriting, and web copy all require skills in sales or promotional writing.
Blogging
A new opportunity is available for freelance writers who may be employed as the blog “voice” of a business person. Many companies are realising the potential of blogs for promoting their company or their products, but they don’t have the time to write the blogs themselves. They are therefore employing ghostwriters and giving them daily topics to write their blogs for them.
Resumes and Job Applications
Yes, it is even possible to find freelance writing work writing other people’s resumes and job applications!
Business Writing encompasses many different styles of writing, but offers many different opportunities for the freelance writer. The talents required are a combination or all of the following:
- An ability to write precisely and concisely
- Impeccable grammar and proofreading skills
- Organisational and analytical skills
- An ability to present ideas strategically and diplomatically
- An ability to research
- Marketing and copywriting skills
- Journalistic skills
Find out more about different types of Freelance Writing
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