Business Writing Info Blog

Earning more business starts most often with an effective proposal. Preparing a winning proposal means writing for the client and providing a clear, valuable solution to their problem.

Looking for help with your next proposal?

Preparing a proposal is an important but often daunting task. From preparation, to design, to review, there are many stages to achieve a winning bid.

Business emails are a pillar of modern communication. On any given day, the average office worker receives over 80 emails.

Skilled business writing rejects jargon. Yet, industry-specific phrases and buzzwords are very commonly used. Even the best writers can fall into the jargon trap if they’re not careful.

Fortunately, by using the right perspective, you can be revise jargon out of your text or avoid it in the first place. 

A strong business proposal is a top opportunity to win new business. It is the ultimate sales document, a condensed version of all the value your solution brings to a client’s problem.

Yet, not every proposal puts your business’s best foot forward. There are a lot of aspects to consider. Each part of a winning business proposal requires thoughtful planning and development, from the audience to the content to the formatting.

Business writing is such an interesting application of writing. It’s very pragmatic.

Improving your business writing can propel both careers and businesses. It’s the channel that transmits nearly all business work and insight and interaction.

It flows up, down, laterally, internally, and externally to customers. It’s the foundation of business.

The heart-wrenching events of the last few weeks and resulting protests and social reflection have launched a collective awakening about racism in the United States. 

This article will present common phrases with racist origins that have crept into business discourse. Likely, you are unaware of the origin of these terms -- many were unfamiliar to us as well before studying the phrases' etymology.

Language is an evolving organism that reflects history and culture. Words have the power to disarm racism or arm it. Let’s look at terms we all must eliminate: 

Sold Down the River

Today, if someone "sells you down the river" in a business deal, he or she betrays or cheats you. However, the phrase has a much more sinister meaning and literally refers to the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.

During slavery in the US, slaves would be sold at slave-trading marketplaces and "sold down the river" and transported to the cotton plantations in states further south.

With the rise of mobile work, you may have heard the term “asynchronous communication” thrown around strategic planning sessions or the blogosphere. This type of communication is commonly brought up in the ‘future of work’ conversations, but it’s more than a buzzword. It’s a form of communication you likely engage in every day. So, what is it?

A great proposal can make or break a business deal. Your proposal lays out a persuasive plan regarding how you can help your client and why you deserve their business. It is a vital document that must be both comprehensive and concise. Many business writers struggle with the question of length. This article will explain how long your proposal should be based on success rates, and key considerations to ensure your proposal is the ideal length.

First impressions matter. To put your best foot forward, you need to make sure your proposal has a killer cover page. Title pages can often be overlooked because it comes as an afterthought once all the hard work of proposal writing has been completed. Yet, this page should be as engaging as the rest of the document. While each proposal is unique, there are key elements and considerations that apply to all title pages. This article will share the key title page components with examples to help you put the finishing touches on your persuasive proposal.