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 will teach you the best writing practices for professionals who need to create clear, concise, and effective communication for business.

Our Business Writing Course Online will teach 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 Business Writing Course Online is designed to help writers gain the skills and training to become qualified, professional business writers.

At Courses For Success, our courses are designed by professionals, for professionals. We maintain the highest level of quality courses to ensure your success. By completing our Business Writing Course Online, you will be equipped with the right skill-set to ensure you stand out from the competition!

What will you learn with the Business Writing Course Online 

• Understand the functions/purpose of all the key elements and disciplines of a business writer
• Effectively utilize the tips and techniques provided in the course to create better structured business documents
• Define proofreading, understand it importance and implement the different techniques
• Define peer review
• Rectify common writing issues (spelling, grammar, punctuation)
• List guidelines in printing and publishing business writing

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 this course, 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 course gives you a quick overview on basic writing concepts 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 resource that is very critical in business, and this includes 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 keep in mind 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 in an informal manner, 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

The courses offered by Courses For Success are unique as they are taught in a step by step process enabling students to complete them quickly and easily, so that you can obtain your qualification sooner. All students who complete the course receive a certificate of completion. Courses For Success is committed to high completion rates and therefore 100% student satisfaction.

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