WHAT IT TAKES TO WRITE A SUCCESSFUL DOCUMENT
By: Joel Spiegelman

There are three key factors that the writer of a business document must successfully master.  Each is important individually, but more importantly, the successful writer must blend these individual strategies to seamlessly entice the reader to action.

It is important that the business report writer realize that they are always in the process of selling a product, a service, an idea, themselves, or a methodology.  Most people understand the notion of selling a product, a service or an idea, but they do not understand the intricacies of an organized and successful business report or document.  I will discuss that, but first, I want to comment on what it means to sell a methodology.

The most typical written methodologies in the business world are the instruction manual, the technical manual, and the training manual.  Yes, even in these instances, the business writer has a sale to make.

When you write an instruction manual or technical manual, you are putting the reputation of your company on the line.  You are selling the notion that your company cares about their customers. In addition, you are selling the concept that your company is smart enough to make it easy for the user to understand and master the usage of the product or the service sold.  When you successfully sell the notions of customer care and your company’s knowledge within its industry, you have set up the environment for future sales.  In addition, a well-written manual avoids many product returns and the extra expenses they cause.

Now, back to the three factors that I previously mentioned.

First you have to meet the objective requirements of the prospect.  This means that the problem has to be defined clearly and accurately.  You must understand the purpose of why you are writing the document and that understanding must be relayed to the reader.  You have to make the reader understand the benefits that will accrue to them rather than just the features you present.

Secondly, before writing the report, you must understand your reader.  What does he/she want to know?  You have to ascertain what emotions might be involved in the decision making process.  You need to write your document effectively so that you will overcome any underlying resistance to your goal.  Will your document be formal, light and breezy, contain humor, induce fear, be comforting, generate trust, or combine a number of these attributes?  These are the subjective aspects of any document, and while they may not be the most convincing, they are extremely important and must be considered.  However, if your document does not satisfy your prospect’s objective requirements, it is unlikely that they will be swayed by the subjective psychological approach.

Finally your document requires clarity, conciseness, completeness, and accuracy.  Your reader will expect no less from you.

Taking into account all three considerations for a top-of-the-line document takes skill.  You might have that skill naturally, or you may have to consult various textbooks to acquire that knowledge.

Some people are great writers and hate to write.  I know plenty of those people and do work for them!

I enjoy writing and being a ghostwriter for business reports and documents.  What we enjoy, we do well! 

If you enjoy writing and write well you do not need our services.  However, if writing is not your thing, then we can help. We are not seen, we are not heard, but we are read!  We are the ghostwriters - the wind beneath your wings.

Believe me, there is no shame in not completely writing your own material.  Top politicians, business leaders, and comedians do it all the time.  They write down their thoughts, their notes, or a rough draft, and a team completes their work.. The real shame is to have false pride and not produce a report or document worthy of yourself and your knowledge. 

businessreportwriter.com has been founded to help you be more productive and to use your time more efficiently.  You do what you do best, and we write the reports, documents, proposals, letters, etc. that amplify your skills and talents.  No one needs to know about us.  We are ghosts and we operate in the strictest of confidence.

It’s easy – just send us what you have written.  We will clarify whatever needs clarification.  We not only work with you, we are working for you. Our product is a well-written document that will get results and make you proud.  Not only proud, but you will feel accomplished as well!

Some helpful Links:

University of Chicago Writing Program - This page describes some of the free grammar and style resources available on-line.

http://writing-program.uchicago.edu/resources/grammar.htm#classic

http://www.rbs0.com/tw.htm

Rice University Rice owl – Fundamentals of Business Communications including additional resources.

http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~riceowl/business_communication.htm

Purdue University Online Writing Lab – Revision in business writing and aiming for conciseness and clarity.  Also includes links to additional resources.

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/pw/p_revisebus.html

University of Washington Foster Business Library – A collection of over 50 business writing data bases.

http://www.lib.washington.edu/business/guides/bw.html

From E.L. Easton, a business writing resource guide with business writing lessons, and extensive university business writing links.

http://eleaston.com/writing.html

A brief guide to business writing from the University of Iowa

http://www.biz.uiowa.edu/faculty/kbrown/writing.html

George Mason University – Business Writing Handbook

http://classweb.gmu.edu/mwasser1/writinghb/writing.htm

Writing is a process.

Understand your reader.

You have a sale to make.

Your reputation is on the line.

Meet the objectives of your document.

Ascertain emotions.

Overcome resistance to your goals.

Be concise, be complete, and be accurate.

Make yourself proud and accomplished.

We are ghostwriters.

Let us be the wind beneath your wings.

Use your time efficiently.