What you will learn

Study Business Writing Course Online and learn how to write effective emails, letters, reports and more

Get that much needed edge and learn basic and advance skills to write persuasive business correspondence. Our Business Writing Course Online is ideal for professional development and will teach you the best writing practices for professionals who need to create clear, concise, and effective communication skills for business.

Our skilled business writing online course is ideal for improving your writing, teaching you the best writing practices for business communication. You will not only learn how to be good writers but also experts with different business writing disciplines and structures in formal correspondence. 

The skills business writing course is designed to help writers gain the skills and training to become qualified, professional business writers. It will allow you to improve your business operations to ensure effective business management.

At Courses For Success, our online business writing classes are designed by professionals, for professionals. We maintain the highest level of quality courses to ensure your success. By completing our popular courses and writing training, you will be equipped with the right skill-set to ensure you stand out from the competition!

Business Writing Course Online Requirements

The Business Writing Online Certificate Course is designed for people who would like to acquire the skills and knowledge to become a professional business writer. The course is delivered 100 percent online 24/7 and only takes 6 to 8 hours of study to complete. 

To complete these business writing classes, a student must:

• Have access to the internet and the necessary technical skills to navigate the online learning resources

• Have access to any mobile device with internet connectivity (laptop, desktop, tablet)

• Be a self-directed learner

• Possess sound language and literacy skills

Business Writing Course Online - Outline

Module One: Getting Started

This part of the online business writing class course gives you a quick overview on basic writing concepts, writing design and presentation, and the different types of documents (business, letters, reports, proposals). It also contains the objectives and what can be accomplished after completing the course.

Module Two: Working with Words

Words are the building blocks of writing. This section discusses the proper use of words, spelling, and grammar with the use of a cheat sheet.

Spelling

The use of correctly spelled words is critical in any form of writing especially for business writing.

Grammar

Grammar refers to the proper use of language syntax. Like misspelled words, grammar violations can have a negative effect on your image as a professional writer.

Module Three: Constructing Sentences

After getting a basic understanding of the proper use of words in business writing, this module helps you construct sentences.

• Parts of a sentence

• Punctuation

Types of Sentences

• Declarative

• Interrogative

• Imperative

• Exclamatory

Module Four: Creating Paragraphs

The next step after learning how to construct sentences is to create a paragraph by combining several sentences. In this module, we will discuss the basic parts of a paragraph and tips on how to organize paragraphs. We will also learn about the three basic parts of a paragraph, which are:

• Topic Sentence

• Supporting Sentence

• Closing Sentence

Organizing Paragraphs

• Identify, create your main idea. Keep your writing focused and eliminate information that does not support this main idea

• Create a writing strategy that best explains or supports your main idea

• When possible, create an outline before writing. This will give you an outline for writing

Module Five: Writing Meeting Agendas

Time is a very critical resource in business, including time spent in meetings. Without a proper agenda, meetings could quickly spiral out of control. In this part of the Business Writing Online Certificate course we discuss the basic structure of agendas, and techniques on how to write an idea.

The Basic Structure

• Date, Time, Location, and Estimated Duration of the Meeting

• Purpose of the Meeting

• Advanced Preparation Guidelines

Selecting a Format

There are several variations of a meeting agenda. But these are basically like the basic structure shown above. The agenda format may vary according to:

• When the attendees are going to view the agenda

• The context of the meeting

• The purpose of the agenda

Writing the Agenda

• Priority of items. Rank topics according to importance and urgency

• Logical Flow. Combine items that are similar and allot time for each part of the agenda

• Keep it within 30 minutes to 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Module Six: Writing E-mails

Emails have become an indispensable part of business communication. It has replaced letters as the most popular method of correspondence. In this module, we discuss how to create a professional email message.

Addressing your Message

You will learn the difference among the To, Cc, and Bcc fields.

• ‘To’ field. This field contains the persons who are the direct recipient of the e-mail

• ‘Cc’ or Carbon copy. These are the people (managers, executives) who need to be furnished by the email but are not the direct recipient.

• ‘Bcc’ Blind carbon copy. This is used when there is an issue of privacy. This is done when you are sending to multiple recipients but do want to disclose anyone’s email address.

Grammar and Acronyms

The introduction of online messaging has brought about the development of its own unique vocabulary. Using these in day-to-day online messaging is accepted but when it comes to business emails, the use of basic grammar and acronyms is a must.  A few to remember when writing business emails include:

• Practice the rules of good grammar. Refer to English writing style guidelines

• Use full sentences and words following proper sentence structure

• Follow the rules on proper capitalization and punctuation

• Avoid text speak and informal abbreviations

Module Seven: Writing Business Letters

Correspondence via letters is still plays a major role in business communications. Compared to emails, letters offer a more formal touch to corresponding with another party. It helps build rapport, clarify work expectations and encourage co-workers. This part of the Business Writing Online Certificate course discusses the basic structure of business letters and selecting the most appropriate format for business letters.

The Basic Structure

A formal style is still the standard for most business correspondence. It exudes courtesy, professionalism, and knowledge of protocol.  A formal letter is structured:

• Sender’s full name and address

• Addressee’s full name and address

• Date the letter is sent (or assumed to fall into the hands of the receiver)

• Formal Salutation e.g. “Dear + Formal Address”

• A Subject Heading e.g. “Re: Job Opening for Quality Control Officer”

• Letter Body

• Formal Closing e.g. “Respectfully yours, Sincerely yours,”

• Name and Signature of the Sender

Lay-out on Page

There are two types of layout pages used for business letters; the block and semi-block.

Choosing a Format

Selecting which format to use for your business letter depends on:

• The level of your working relationship with the letter recipient

• The seniority of the recipient

• Your letter’s privacy

• One rule is to respond accordingly to how a person responds to you. if they respond informally, then you can respond in the same tone

• You can also refer to your company culture or standard protocols on writing business letters

Tips on Writing the Letter

• Stick to the purpose of the business letter

• Write in a positive tone

• Follow standard spelling and grammar rules

• Personalize your business letter

Module Eight: Writing Proposals

Submitting a business proposal requires above average professional business writing skills. In this module, you will learn the basic structure of a proposal, format, and tips in writing a proposal.

The Basic Structure

A business proposal is usually written to another organization with the purpose of soliciting a bid for business. At its very basic, business proposal addresses what the other party needs and how a company can address this need. Below is the basic structure of business proposals:

• Company Overview

• Statement of the Problem (also referred to as the Need Statement)

• Background and Benefits (mostly used for unsolicited proposals)

• Scope of Services/ Deliverables

Choosing a Format

Business proposals generally have no basic format. A business proposal’s structure depends on its intended recipient.

The scale/ scope of the project:

Large project requires more detailed proposals while smaller proposals are simpler. You can also base your proposal on how the request for proposal is structured.

Writing the proposal

When writing your business proposal, make sure that these are:

• It must contain what the other party needs

• Well-substantiated. this must be filled with evidence to support your project

• Always include your strengths and what makes you better than the competition

• Organized. A well planned and organized business proposal is easier to evaluate. Place yourself in the evaluator’s shoes and check if this is something that you would consider

Module Nine: Writing Reports

Writing reports makes it easier for supervisors to keep track of the quality of work. It is also an excellent method of evaluating the best and worst practices. In this part of the Business Writing Online Certificate course, we will discuss the basic structure of writing reports.

The Basic Structure

The nature of a business report is to provide a written record of the different business processes. Below is the basic structure of a business report:

• Overview

• Background/ Project Scope

• Main Body

• Conclusions

Choosing a Format

Just like all format correspondence, a business report should follow a basic format. The structure or format are based on:

• The purpose of the report

• The seniority of your readers

• Your readers’ technical knowledge

• The scale of the project

• Standard protocol in your company

Tips on Writing the Report

• Always keep in mind the purpose of the report

• Be objective unless a section is provided for voicing your personal opinions

• Know your audience and write in a style that is best suited for them

Module Ten: Proofreading and Finishing

As a professional business writer, you must ensure that your writing is of the highest quality. And this is the reason proofreading is critical in keeping your business correspondence free from errors.

Proofreading Primer

Proofreading involves spelling, grammar, and punctuation checks. This should not be confused with checking for consistency and accuracy checking. You must learn how to allocate time for proofreading and make this a habit.

Tips on Effective Proofreading

• Let the materials rest for a few hours before proofreading

• Proofread in a slow deliberate manner

• Search for one error at a time

Peer Reviews

This refers to submitting your work to another writer for review. The goal is to get constructive feedback and check for any errors in writing.

• It gives the writer an objective insight into how readers consider the overall quality of their writing. This can help them improve their future writing or keep best practices

• Peer reviews can help the reviewer polish their proofreading skills and help them identify possible weaknesses in their writing

Printing and Publishing

There’s a big difference between having your manuscript displayed on your computer screen and having it in its final published version. As a business writer, you must be able to anticipate printing and publishing issues.

• Make it a habit to check the ‘print preview.’ Ensure all tables, tests, and graphics are properly aligned and laid out.

• Make sure that you are using the same word processing software (similar version). Using a different software or an earlier version can result to formatting errors

• Talk with your publisher for guidelines on graphics, photos, pixel count

• Always have a print draft ready for review before publishing the final copy

Module Eleven: Wrapping Up 

Recognition & Accreditation

Upon successful completion of this course and achieving a passing score for the assessment, you will be issued with an international continuing education credit (CEU) certificate.

This Certificate is applicable worldwide, which demonstrates your commitment to learning new skills. You can share the certificate with your friends, relatives, co-workers, and potential employers. Also, include it in your resume/CV, professional social media profiles and job applications.

Other Administration Skills Courses

Looking to work in the Administration field? Why not check out Courses For Success huge range of administration skills courses!

PART ONE – THE BUILDING BLOCKS

Section One: Getting Started

• a quick refresher on basic writing concepts (such as spelling, grammar, and punctuation) – the things that we often miss especially when completing work under pressure; and
• an overview of some the typical business documents – letters, reports, proposals – that you may have to deal with, with tips on structure, style etc. 

Section Two: Spelling and Grammar

• Spelling
• Grammar

Section Three: Language and tone

• Clarity
• Conciseness
• Formality
• Focus
• Tone

Section Four: Sentences and Paragraphs

• Parts of a Sentence
• Sentence Length
• Punctuation
• Paragraphs

Section Five: Organization and Structure

• Organisation Approach

Section Six: Tools and Techniques

• The Reader
• The Requirement
• Write faster – effective writing
• Templates
• Proofreading
• Review/Peer Review
• The Appearance - Printing and Publishing

PART TWO – THE DOCUMENTS

Section Seven: Meeting Agendas

• The Basic Structure

Section Eight: E-mails

• Addressing your mails
• Brevity
• Formality
• Attachments
• Forwarding/replying

Section Nine: Business Letters

• The Basic Structure
• Writing the Letter

Section Ten: Proposals

• The Basic Outline
• Key information
• Sequence
• Choosing a Format
• Proposal Structure and Content
• Executive Summaries

Section Eleven: Reports

• Report Structure and format

Section Twelve: Requests for Proposal

• Requests for Proposals

Section Thirteen: Business Cases

• Business Cases

Section Fourteen: General Documentation

• General Documentation

Section Fifteen: Wrapping Up

Entry requirements

Students must have basic literacy and numeracy skills.

Minimum education

Open entry. Previous schooling and academic achievements are not required for entry into this course.

Computer requirements

Students will need access to a computer and the internet.

Minimum specifications for the computer are:

Windows:

Microsoft Windows XP, or laterModern and up to date Browser (Internet Explorer 8 or later, Firefox, Chrome, Safari)

MAC/iOS

OSX/iOS 6 or laterModern and up to date Browser (Firefox, Chrome, Safari)

All systems

Internet bandwidth of 1Mb or fasterFlash player or a browser with HTML5 video capabilities(Currently Internet Explorer 9, Firefox, Chrome, Safari)

Students will also need access the following applications:

Adobe Acrobat Reader

Entry requirements:

Students must have basic literacy and numeracy skills.

Minimum education:

Open entry. Previous schooling and academic achievements are not required for entry into this course.

Device requirements:

Students will need access to a computer/any device and the internet.

1.  Who are Courses For Success?

Courses For Success was established in 2008 with just 5 courses and has since grown to offer hundreds of online courses across a wide range of subjects.

Our courses span across the following categories:

•Animal    

•Beauty    

•Business    

•Health & Fitness     

•Finance

•Lifestyle    

•IT & Software    

•Personal Development

•Teaching & Academics

2.  Is there a refund/cancellation policy?

Yes, we have a 7-day money-back refund policy. 

3.  What is the FREE 10 Soft Skills You Need Course?

The 10 Soft Skills You Need Course was developed by Courses For Success to help our customers achieve 
success. Currently, we are offering this program for FREE with every 
course or bundle purchase this month. This is a limited time offer! 

4.  Are there any requirements to study this course?

No,
 anyone who has an interest in learning more about this subject matter 
is encouraged to take our course. There are no entry requirements to 
take this course.

5.  Do I require to have finished high school to complete this course?

No,
 you do not require a High School Diploma or to have finished school to 
study this course, this course is open to anyone who would like to take 
this course.

6.  What if English is not my first language?

This
 course is provided in English, however, due to the digital nature of 
our training, you can take your time studying the material and make use 
of tools such as google translate and Grammarly.

7.  Is this course online or conducted in person?

All our courses are accessible online on any device. You may complete them at your own pace and at your own time.

8.  How do I receive my course?

After
 you have completed the payment, you will receive a confirmation email 
and tax receipt. You will also receive an email containing your course 
login details (username and password), as well as instructions on how to
 access and log in to your course via the internet with any device, 
please check your junk/spam folder in the event that you do not receive 
the email.

9.  When does this course start?

Providing
 you have internet access you can start this course whenever you like, 
just go to the login page and insert your username and password and you 
can access the online material.

10.  What is online learning like?

Online learning is easy, if not easier than a traditional academic situation. 
By studying an online course, the usual boundaries caused by location and time constraints are eliminated, meaning you are free to study where and when you want at your own pace. 

Of course, you will need to be able to self-manage your time and be organized, but with our help, you’ll soon find yourself settling into a comfortable rhythm of study.

11.  What computer skills do I need for my course?

You
 don't need to be a computer expert to succeed with our online training,
 but you should be comfortable typing, using the internet and be capable
 of using common software (such as Microsoft word).

12.  How long will you have access to the online course? 

The majority of our courses have unlimited lifetime access, meaning you can access this course whenever you want.

Please also check the course summary, as a small selection of courses have limited access.

13.  How long will my course take?

Course duration, is listed under Course Summary

14.  Do I need to buy textbooks?

All the required material for your course is included in the online system, you do not need to buy anything else.

15.  Is the course interactive?

Yes, all our courses are interactive.

16.  Is there an assessment or exam?

Yes,
 you will be required to complete a multiple-choice test online at the 
end of your course, you can do this test as many times as you require.

17.  What type of certificate will I receive?

Upon successfully completing your course and assessment, you'll receive a Courses For Success Certificate of Completion.

You can add your certificate to your resume, LinkedIn profile and job applications to demonstrate your skills and commitment to professional development.

18.  Will this course be credited by universities?

No, it is not equivalent to a college or university credit.

19.  Am I guaranteed to get a job with this certificate?

This course will give you the skills you need to help you obtain employment, but it’s up to you if you get the job or not.

20.  How will this course assist me with my career?

Studying
 and completing this course will show employers that you have the 
knowledge in this field, additionally you will gain more confidence in 
this area of expertise.

21.  How long is the certificate valid for?

The Certificates are valid for life and do not need renewing. 

22.  Can I take more than one course at a time?

Courses
 are studied online at your own pace and you are free to study as many 
or as few courses as you wish, we also offer online course bundles that 
allow you to save on additional courses so that you may get all the 
topics related to your training goals in one go.

23.  What are the Payment Methods available? Is there a payment plan?

We accept payments via PayPal, Credit Card and Bank Transfer. 

Payment Plans: We have partnered with Partial.ly, to offer our own in house payment plan. Everyone is Pre-Approved, providing the initial deposit is paid in full. 

To pay via bank transfer contact us info@coursesforsuccess.com

24.  Can I purchase for multiple people?

Yes, you can do this by purchasing individually via website or send us a request via email at info@coursesforsuccess.com

25.  Can I request for an invoice before purchase?

Yes, you can request for an invoice via email at info@coursesforsuccess.com

26.  Purchase for a gift?

Yes, you can purchase this course as a gift, simply send an email to info@coursesforsuccess.com, with the course details and we can accommodate this.

27.  Can I create my own course bundle?

Yes,
 you can customize your own bundle. Please send us the complete list 
with the exact course link of the courses you'd like to bundle up via 
email info@coursesforsuccess.com and we will create them for you. *Each course access, time of completion and certification varies depending on the course type.

28.  How will I contact Courses For Success if I have any questions?

You can contact our support team, at any time through live chat on our website, or email at info@coursesforsuccess.com, or by calling one of our phone numbers depending on which country you are in.  

Choose individual courses or bundles and get more value when you buy more.

• Individual Courses — Save up to 50%

Save More with Bundles 

• 2 Course Bundle — Save up to 58%
• 3 Course Bundle — Save up to 64%
• 5 Course Bundle — Save up to 70%
• 10 Course Bundle — Save up to 77%

Build Your Own Bundle

Mix and match courses to create your own learning pathway. The more courses you add, the more you save

Go All-In with the Mega Bundle--

Get lifetime access to 400+ of our most popular courses with one simple payment

Plus, with any course or bundle purchase, you'll receive the Career Skills You Need Course absolutely FREE!

Click here – Career Skills You Need Course - to explore why these skills matter most and see thousands of positive reviews from other learners!