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Business Writing Tips e-newsletter : May 2009

Engage readers with explicit subject lines

Vague

Marketing costs

Explicit

Blast emails can lower marketing costs 20%

Check your anger before hitting "send"

Think twice before sending an email that could be perceived as hostile. Focus instead on getting the reader to take the desired action.

Unproductive

Where's the report? It was supposed to go out 24 hours after the meeting and it's been three days! How are the sales reps supposed to know which leads to call? They need it no later than tomorrow at 10 a.m.!

Productive

You need to distribute the report by tomorrow at 10 a.m. so the sales reps can begin calling the leads. In the future, be sure these reports are distributed within 24 hours after a meeting.

Don't cheat on punctuation

Use proper punctuation so you're perceived as professional rather than lazy.

Lazy

I enjoyed our meeting, I'm confident we can provide a solution to your toughest challenge. IT support. Which is especially important now that you've lost three technicians, and two reps, this year.

Professional

I enjoyed our meeting and I'm confident we can provide a solution to your toughest challenge, IT support. This is especially important given that you've lost three technicians and two reps this year.