Writing Business Letters - Tutorial 1: Letter Format

Everyone in business needs to write letters. It's unavoidable if you want to run your business or just stay in touch with your suppliers and clients. How well ... or not so well ... you write reflects on you and your business. Write poorly constructed letters with unprofessional layout and format and you will look like a rank amateur, no matter how good you are at plumbing, cooking or whatever it is you do.

If you are a seasoned letter writer who has completed a business communication course, this series of articles is probably not for you. It will help, however, if you haven't been educated in communication skills. You will be able to improve your writing very quickly just by following a few simple rules.

Letter Format

Writing Business Letters - Tutorial 1: Letter Format

The easiest, quickest and most efficient letter format is known as "full block" or simply "Block". A block letter has all its text left justified ie, there are no indents. This method is very popular because it is simple to produce. Here's an example using Australian address formats - modify it for your own country:

Parker Morgan Finnigan

Lawyers

PO Box 2345

SYDNEY NSW 2000

29 October 2010

Ms Janette Jameison

PO Box 34687

NORTH SYDNEY NSW 2005

Dear Ms Jameison

CONTRACT WITH ACME FINANCE CORPORATION

I refer to our previous correspondence requesting a copy of the contract between you and Acme Finance Corporation.

If you do not provide us with a copy of the original contract, I'm afraid we will not be able to act on your behalf. We need the contract to accurately assess the claims you have made and to question legal staff from Acme Finance Corporation.

Please send us a copy of the contract at the earliest so we can get this matter under way.

Yours sincerely

Parker Johannson

Principal Legal Consultant

PARKER MORGAN FINNIGAN

Whether you use Letter or ISO A4 paper, this format looks good and saves time. Your paper needs to have a border all round of 2.5cm (1") and you should endeavour to place the total content of the letter so that it is symmetrical on the page ie, don't have more text in the top half of the page than on the bottom half. A balance of black and white and good position on the page makes the letter look good.

You'll see that there is no punctuation except within the body of the letter. This is called 'open punctuation' because the text is open where punctuation doesn't add significantly to the reader's understanding of the letter.

Using Letterheads

Some letterheads I see are poorly designed. While they look good from a graphics and colour perspective, the flow between logo and letters is poor eg, when you run your eye down the left column, there is no, or poor alignment between text and letterhead elements.

If you design a letterhead page that is left or right justified, design it so that the left most portion of the letterhead graphic or text is 2.5cm (1") in from the left or right sides. The best design is one that is centered on the page. This is because it doesn't 'force' a right or left margin allowing users to set margins of any width that still appear balanced on the page. When you have a short letter you can bring your left and right margin in a little to make the text area look larger.

Tutorial two of this series discusses the parts of a letter.

Copyright 2005 Robin Henry

Writing Business Letters - Tutorial 1: Letter Format
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Robin Henry is an educator, human resources specialist and Internet marketer. He helps small to middle-sized businesses and individuals improve performance by using smart technology, smart processes, and personal development. He runs his business Desert Wave Enterprises from Alice Springs, Central Australia and can be found at http://www.dwave.com.au or [http://www.winagovtjob.com]

Technical Writing - The Difference Between a Process and a Procedure

In Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1, Act III, Scene 1, in an argument about how to divide a piece of land, one character says that he'll "cavil on the ninth part of a hair." Cavil means to quibble over an unimportant point. Even better, it's a really annoying and trivial objection. The reason for mentioning this is because there's often a fine line between caviling and getting it technically right. Here at The Tech Writer's Tool Kit, the general view is that every word has a specific meaning and no two words ever have exactly the same meaning. Is it a cavil to insist that there's an important difference between a procedure and a process? They both mean a way to get something done. Is changing a tire a process or a procedure? Did you just go through the (process or procedure) of refinancing your home?

Procedure - The dictionary gives the etymology of procedure as a French word, procédure, from proceder which means to proceed. To proceed is defined, simply, as to go forward and procedure is defined as a manner of proceeding. We have to go beyond simple definition to usage. In American English, the word is used, most often, to designate a unique type of undertaking. So, we have medical procedure and nomination procedure. A procedure, then, is a single activity, consisting of multiple steps, performed to accomplish a specific outcome. - This is the procedure we use to elect our officers.- The doctor said the procedure is simple enough to be done in his office.- It's a long and complicated procedure that must be performed carefully.

Process - Starting with the dictionary for the etymology, we do kind of a loop around to find out process comes through Middle English and Old French from Latin prMcdere that means to advance or proceed. Sounds a lot like procedure. But, the definition of process shows a difference. It says a process is a series of actions that bring about a result. In most cases, that result is a completed procedure. The distinction holds up in general usage in a number of fields. For example, we talk about a hair coloring process, events now in process, and processing an order. In Law, process is defined as the whole judicial proceeding (procedure). In Engineering, the steps in changing iron into steel is a process. In Computer Science, it means performing operations on data, which is done by a processor.

Technical Writing - The Difference Between a Process and a Procedure

Based on general usage, then: - a procedure is a total operation - the complete set of actions - that results in some desired outcome- a process is the series of individual steps within the procedure that is followed to achieve the outcome The difference is that you must follow a process in order to complete a procedure. That would mean that saying, "The process of getting a haircut is boring" doesn't mean the same as saying, "The procedure of getting a haircut is boring." It depends on whether you're saying that the individual steps are boring or the whole operation boring. Two different words: two different meanings? We think so. What about you?

Technical Writing - The Difference Between a Process and a Procedure
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If you can write a simple sentence and organize your thoughts then technical writing may be a rewarding field. You can easily make it a second income stream in your spare time.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, the average salary for technical writers is ,380. Freelance technical writers can make from to per hour.

The field of technical writing is like a golden city. It's filled with wealth, rewards and opportunities. After learning technical writing you can branch out into business writing, marketing writing and communications writing. All of these can become additional income streams.

But to succeed you must learn how to market yourself to clients. You have to prove to them that you are an invaluable asset. That's where ProTech - Your Fast Track to Becoming a Successful Technical Writer can help. It's a technical writing course that does two equally important things:

1. It teaches you the skills to become a technical writer in the shortest time frame. You'll learn to create manuals, procedures, tutorials, processes, proposals, spec sheets and other documents that businesses need.

2. It shows you how to market yourself to clients so you can start your income stream as soon as possible.

In fact, you'll get a complete marketing toolkit which has templates and technical writing job sites to get started immediately!

You can download two sample lessons by clicking the link below.

This could be your chance to create a prosperous future.

Click the link below to download your two sample lessons.

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What is Content Writing & Why Has it Become So Popular?

What Is Content Writing?

Content writing is a serviced offered mainly to website owners and businesses, and many countries in the world have seen the benefits of this service, using it positively for their company. Content writing itself can come in many forms and companies that offer it can write about one specific category or a broad range, usually the ones that target a certain niche such as sport will be more focused and knowledgeable on that area than those that try to write about every possible category, so you will be getting your money's worth.

Why Is Content Writing So Popular?

What is Content Writing & Why Has it Become So Popular?

Its main use is to save webmasters a lot of time by writing out content for the websites, so instead they will produce a brief and outsource the job to a professional content writer who will research the given subject and complete the assignment for you. Content writing itself is quite cheap but with so many people offering this a service you do need to make sure the company or person is legitimate and that there prices are reasonable. As a guide, £7 - £10 for 250 words of content for web copy, articles and blog posts/news pieces is an excellent price and if you are going to a company that specialise is one certain area of expertise then you may pay a little more, but then you will know the quality and experience on that subject will be higher than elsewhere.

What Types Of Content Writing Is There?

Content writing isn't just for website copy though, a lot of business and individuals will ask for articles, blog posts, press releases and many more forms of the service.

For example if you wanted daily news pieces on topical subjects consisting of 150 words a day, these will be classed as blog posts and at many content companies they will gladly do this every day of the working week for you and in some instances offer an attractive price if you are passing work their way for a long period of time. Press releases and articles are quite similar, the first holding more editorial quality than the latter but still, you can expect 350 - 600 words for a good article.

What is Content Writing & Why Has it Become So Popular?
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For more information on the different types of Content Writing Services available feel free to take a look at Finance Talks Limited who offer web content writing for the financial sector. Here you will find a detailed write up of the services available and a competitive pricing structure.

Copywriting - 20 Tips For Writing Great Marketing Material

Ask 20 copywriters for their top 20 tips and you will probably get many different lists. What follows is based on five years as a freelance copywriter in Gloucestershire, UK, preceded by years as a copywriter, technical writer and PR writer. New ideas will come and go. But, from experience writing online and offline marketing materials, there is a hard core of gems that will never disappear. Here, in no particular order because they are all important, are 20 that have worked for me:

1. Write regularly (every day).
2. Interview thoroughly before writing marketing materials.
3. Know your subject. Research, research, research!
4. Ask your client what they want: then listen to what they say.
5. Read widely: background matters for great marketing material.
6. Copy good copywriting (for practice, NOT to use).
7. Prepare a thorough (it needn't be long) creative brief.
8. Emphasise customer benefits: it's at the heart of excellent copywriting.
9. Tackle the subject from a new perspective.
10. Encourage constructive criticism from your clients.
11. Get your hands dirty to understand tangible products before you write.
12. Identify your best writing time and try to work to it.
13. Use the end effect. Set a timer and write...
14. Understand your media: the web is not the same as a brochure.
15. Always include a call to action.
16. Engage your brain before picking up your pen.
17. Mind-map the document you are writing.
18. Understand what the writing has to achieve: good copywriters do.
19. Write for your reader; address them as a friend.
20. Love your work. If you don't, you will never write the best that you can.

From experience as one of Gloucestershire's freelance copywriters, I firmly believe that you can apply these tips and gradually evolve into a better writer. Of course it helps to have a natural ability, but with education, practice and honest feedback, it's possible to improve your skill at writing great marketing material. Why not take a few of the above tips and try using them today. I'm sure that you and the people you write for will see the difference they make to your written marketing materials.

Copywriting - 20 Tips For Writing Great Marketing Material

Copywriting - 20 Tips For Writing Great Marketing Material
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As one of the more experienced and versatile copywriters in Gloucestershire, UK, Al Hidden offers more than 25 years' experience in technical sales, marketing, PR, technical writing and creative copywriting for businesses that need to define and differentiate themselves.

http://www.alhidden.com

Copywriting Fees - How Much Should You Charge?

If you're a new copywriter, you're wondering how much you should charge. There's a simple answer: charge according to what your time is currently worth, and according to the client's budget. In this article, we'll look at how to make fee-setting for your copywriting business simple.

My own copywriting career began over 30 years ago. When I started, I was writing copy for other small business people. They were friends, and I knew they'd repay the favor somewhere along the line, so I charged them friends' rates.

As I built up my client list, I charged more for certain kinds of projects: those which required extensive research, and rush jobs, which took time away from my business and other writing, for example.

Copywriting Fees - How Much Should You Charge?

I'm sure that you're thinking that this is all very well, but how do you charge for a project when you're not sure how long the project will take?

There's no simple answer. You can charge your client an hourly rate, or you can charge a fee for the project, and guess how long it will take. If you underestimate the time the project requires, that's not the end of the world. You may have under-charged, but you'll have gained a client, and his goodwill.

Although you put a certain value on your time and skills, what if the client just can't afford you?

Here's a big tip: ask your client what his budget is for the project immediately, before you deliver a formal proposal. Explain to your client that creating scopes and proposals takes time, if he says he doesn't know what his budget will be, or isn't sure.

You should also explain that you charge a fee for creating a detailed proposal. Here's why: some businesses have no intention of hiring a competent copywriter. They merely want some free research. If your prospective client won't pay for two or three hours of your time so you can create a proposal, he's not serious about hiring you.

As your copywriting skills and experience develop, setting fees becomes much easier, and you'll be more relaxed about it. Until then, base your fees on what your time is worth.

Copywriting Fees - How Much Should You Charge?
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Copywriting is highly profitable, and it's fun too. Want guidance? Top copywriter Angela Booth's "Copywriting Master Class - Ten Weeks to Copywriting Genius" at http://angelaswritingclasses.com/Class/copywriting.html helps you to start and run your own copywriting services business and/or write copy for your own business.

For quick results in your copywriting career, Angela's comprehensive package "Seven Days To Easy Money: Copywriting Success" at http://copywritingcashnow.com/copywriting.html takes you from novice to pro copywriter in just seven days. This popular package has been turning writers into successful copywriters for eight years. Packed with information, the guide is totally practical. You could be signing up your first clients within two days.

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Sample Sales Follow Up Letter

The Internet is the right place if you are hunting for a sample sales follow up letter. Sometimes new writers search samples to help them write their own letter. Technically speaking, they are using an example. A writing sample is what writers for hire show their potential clients to illustrate their writing ability.

Unlike a template, a sample is a complete letter. Templates are similar to example letters in that they can help aspiring writers. Templates, however, do not usually include a completed letter. Rather, it helps writers include the various needed components by arranging them in a list or in text boxes. With such aids and with practice and sincere efforts, you can improve your writing.

Copywriting

Fashion To Go Fashion To Go Buy Elite Buying Ideas Buying Tags Cheap Sales Custom Items Daily Corner Daily Item Daily Tags Easy at Home Easy Purchase Ed-Buy Online Elite Market Elite Zone E-Shopping Mall Gift Shopping I-Shopping New Prices New Price Tags Online Grocery Shop for Online Shop In Style Shopping Cart Shopping Day AZ Shopping Cart Brand Sales 24 Hours For Gifts

• The follow up letter is a good way to create awareness about a new product that you have. Customers can be lured into purchasing such items or more of the ones already purchased in the past.
• It generates good will as the ex-customer feels he is important and cared for.
• You can come to know of any loop holes in your dealings earlier and plug them so that the business prospects can be improved.

Sample Sales Follow Up Letter

The options for finding an ideal sample sales follow up letter are many. Examine each and only then decide your strategy:

• Internet - There is a great likelihood of finding a good sales letter offer follow up letter on the Internet. You can download any free template and give it an individualistic touch. You can review the sales offer letter software you are using to see if it has samples of follow up letters.
• A writer - You can approach an experienced sales copywriter to help you write a follow up letter. They have the expertise and the training and can give a shape to your ideas with ease.
• Old mails - Scan the old mails that you have either preserved or used previously to see if there is one that fits your present requirement.

It is your wish to select a good sales follow up letter, make sure you find one of your choice; one that takes care of all your needs. Sample follow up letters are available for you to cut and paste into your document in the computer. The only thing you are required to do is to fill up the information wherever it is asked for. This is essentially for those who lack the skill of a writer. Sales copywriting that is compiled like this are very professional and to-the-point.

A sales follow up letter can be used as a guide if it is found to be useful. Without much ado the letters can be e-mailed to the clients and past customers. You can also provide a link to your website in the letter. This way you can cut on expenditure.

Sample Sales Follow Up Letter

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