• How interested are they in reading this information?
• What is important to them?
• Do they need to respond to or act upon the information? If so, do you need to give them direction?

Always write from the reader’s point of view.

• Use language that is meaningful to your reader.
• Avoid jargon (industry-specific terminology) unless you’re
  How's Your Yellow Page Ad's ROI?
  Let’s assume that you are one of the millions of family-run businesses that form the very core of the typical local Yellow Page directory. Say you’re the area plumber, auto repair shop, electrician, insurance agent, or restaurant owner. You have a YP ad because it seemed like the right thing to do when you opened up a few years back. Your YP rep helped draw up the ad and it looks pretty good. It
  When writing business documents—letters, memos, reports, even emails—one thing to keep in mind is that it is NEVER about you, the writer. It is ALWAYS about your reader: who are they, what do they already know about the subject matter, and what do they need or want to know? Always write from the reader’s point of view.

  Who is your reader?

  • Are they male or female?
  • What is their age?

  While too much focus on gender and age can lead to stereotyping, it is important to understand that basic differences exist in the way men and women and people of different generations communicate. For example, men are usually more direct, while most women like to first build rapport. Regarding age, today’s workplace may have at least three generations of employees: Radio-Agers (born between 1922 and 1945); Baby Boomers (1947-1964); Generation X (1965-1980). Generation Y (1981- 2000) haven’t been in the workforce very long, so they may or may not need be considered. Generally speaking, Radio-Agers have a strong work ethic, lead by directives and communicate formally, via memos. Baby Boomers like to work hard and play hard, prefer a consensual leadership style and in-person communication. Generation X are self-reliant, challenge others (i.e., ask why), and want immediate communication.

  • Where are they in the company hierarchy (job title, department)?
  • What is their educational background?

  What do they know?

  • Do they know less, as much, or more than you about this subject?
  • What do they think they know?
  • Are they familiar with industry jargon and acronyms?

  What do they need/want to know?

  • How interested are they in reading this information?
  • What is important to them?
  • Do they need to respond to or act upon the information? If so, do you need to give them direction?

  Always write from the reader’s point of view.

  • Use language that is meaningful to your reader.
  • Avoid jargon (industry-specific terminology) unless you’re
    Entrepreneurial Failure - Get Used to It
    To be a successful entrepreneur you are going to have to learn to deal with failure. There is no way around it. Thomas Edison tried over ten thousand different experiments before he finally demonstrated the first incandescent light bulb on October 21, 1879. Bill Gates' first company, Traf-O-Data, was a failure. Michael Jordan was once quoted as saying: "I've missed more than 9,000 shots in my ca
    le too much focus on gender and age can lead to stereotyping, it is important to understand that basic differences exist in the way men and women and people of different generations communicate. For example, men are usually more direct, while most women like to first build rapport. Regarding age, today’s workplace may have at least three generations of employees: Radio-Agers (born between 1922 and 1945); Baby Boomers (1947-1964); Generation X (1965-1980). Generation Y (1981- 2000) haven’t been in the workforce very long, so they may or may not need be considered. Generally speaking, Radio-Agers have a strong work ethic, lead by directives and communicate formally, via memos. Baby Boomers like to work hard and play hard, prefer a consensual leadership style and in-person communication. Generation X are self-reliant, challenge others (i.e., ask why), and want immediate communication.
  • Where are they in the company hierarchy (job title, department)?
  • What is their educational background?

  What do they know?

  • Do they know less, as much, or more than you about this subject?
  • What do they think they know?
  • Are they familiar with industry jargon and acronyms?

  What do they need/want to know?

  • How interested are they in reading this information?
  • What is important to them?
  • Do they need to respond to or act upon the information? If so, do you need to give them direction?

  Always write from the reader’s point of view.

  • Use language that is meaningful to your reader.
  • Avoid jargon (industry-specific terminology) unless you’re
    Plastic Loyalty Cards - The Loyal Plastic Card
    Plastic cards. They are not new. But what is interesting is that companies are increasingly seeking new and innovative ways to utilize plastic loyalty cards for a long lasting branding impression, in addition to their provision for specific messaging.Retailers use this concept well. They know that providing an offer on a plastic card instills loyalty, card retention, brand identification
    eneration X (1965-1980). Generation Y (1981- 2000) haven’t been in the workforce very long, so they may or may not need be considered. Generally speaking, Radio-Agers have a strong work ethic, lead by directives and communicate formally, via memos. Baby Boomers like to work hard and play hard, prefer a consensual leadership style and in-person communication. Generation X are self-reliant, challenge others (i.e., ask why), and want immediate communication.
  • Where are they in the company hierarchy (job title, department)?
  • What is their educational background?

  What do they know?

  • Do they know less, as much, or more than you about this subject?
  • What do they think they know?
  • Are they familiar with industry jargon and acronyms?

  What do they need/want to know?

  • How interested are they in reading this information?
  • What is important to them?
  • Do they need to respond to or act upon the information? If so, do you need to give them direction?

  Always write from the reader’s point of view.

  • Use language that is meaningful to your reader.
  • Avoid jargon (industry-specific terminology) unless you’re
    20 Essential Traits Needed For All Sales Executives
    It has long been my conviction that the dominant factor in success is the set of mental habits possessed by the individual. Of no vocation is this truer than that of the salesman. "As a man thinketh . . ." applies to him in an all-important way. The techniques and skills, methods of approach, demonstration and closing are matters of demanding study and practice., These things are cold, mechanica
    i>immediate communication.
  • Where are they in the company hierarchy (job title, department)?
  • What is their educational background?

  What do they know?

  • Do they know less, as much, or more than you about this subject?
  • What do they think they know?
  • Are they familiar with industry jargon and acronyms?

  What do they need/want to know?

  • How interested are they in reading this information?
  • What is important to them?
  • Do they need to respond to or act upon the information? If so, do you need to give them direction?

  Always write from the reader’s point of view.

  • Use language that is meaningful to your reader.
  • Avoid jargon (industry-specific terminology) unless you’re
    Routine Maintenance of High Pressure Hot Water Motors
    If you run a pressure washer business you need complete uptime on your equipment, break downs can be costly if your billing rates are $100 to $150.00 per hour. If you are bidding by the job there are times when it is absolutely a great profession to be in. That is if your equipment is working properly. Here are some preventative maintenance for your high-pressure hot water skid unit.Air C
    they need/want to know?
    • How interested are they in reading this information?
    • What is important to them?
    • Do they need to respond to or act upon the information? If so, do you need to give them direction?

    Always write from the reader’s point of view.

    • Use language that is meaningful to your reader.
    • Avoid jargon (industry-specific terminology) unless you’re sure they understand it.
    • Anticipate questions or objections and address them in the document. Don’t wait for the reader to come to you after they’ve read it.

    You’re probably wondering what you should do if you’re writing to several people—different generations, male and female, at different levels of the company hierarchy, with various educational backgrounds and subject knowledge. In these situations, it’s best to target the middle of the road: relay enough information in easily understood language so that the least knowledgeable reader is brought up-to-speed, without talking down to them or insulting the intelligence of the more knowledgeable reader. If you use jargon, acronyms or abbreviations, define them the first time you use them. Ask yourself how you would relay this information if you were talking to each person individually. Then put yourself in the reader’s place: ask yourself, “If I were this person, how would I want this information communicated to me?