Category Archives: Business Writing

Writing a Novel and Writing a Business Book

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It’s been ages since my last post. I’ve been writing a book, and it has my attention most of the time. In fact I’m writing two books, one novel and one business book. This week the business book has had my full attention, especially since I bought some ink for my printer and was able to print out all of the pages thus far, so I could start editing and resorting.

I’m planning to self publish the business book, as an ebook. I think that’s one of the reasons why it is flowing out of me so easily. No publisher submission guidelines in my immediate future.

Another reason the book is flowing so well is that I know a lot about the topic I’ve chosen to write about; writing business books. I’ve helped a lot of people who were not writers, to write their own business book, I’ve consulted with many business owners, and I know something about what they want for their companies. I love the idea that I’ll have a book out there in the e-world, to help business owners. They are such hard-working people, with dreams beyond the next payday.

My novel is coming along, too. I spent time last week fleshing out the three main characters and giving them back-story and reasons for behaving the way I have them behaving in the story. I’m enjoying writing these three girls very much. They are very different from one another, and they each have their secrets. It’s fun to write about secrets, to hint at them and leave the reader wondering all the way up to the reveal.

be you xx Rachel

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3 Simple Ways to Use Facebook to Promote Your Business

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  1. Sign in as your business page and then search Facebook for businesses in your local area. Like them all, not only the ones you deal with, or the ones who are in alignment with your products or services. This is one fantastic way for a business to be social on Facebook. After you’ve clicked on their Like button, write a short message on their wall to let them know you’ve been there.
  2. Ask each of your new customers if they’re on Facebook, rather than telling them you’re on Facebook. Ask them to Like your Business Page. If they have a smart phone, they might do it there and then. This is a nice, customer focussed way to introduce the fact you’re on Facebook. It generally works much better than telling the customer that you are on Facebook. It gives new contacts the opportunity to talk about themselves, which will win them every time. Just ask Dale Carnegie!
  3. ‘Like’ businesses in other countries that are very much like yours. For example, if you sell lingerie, find five shops in the US or the UK who also sell lingerie. Watch your Wall Feed for posts by these companies, and Share their content if it aligns with your business. This achieves two things: Firstly, you’re able to share a whole lot of useful information and images with your clients and other Likers, and you will become known as a great, regular content provider. Secondly, you will only be promoting your own business and not another local company who is in direct competition with you.

Let me know if you need help using Facebook for your business!

Happy writing,

x Rachel

10 Ways to be a Better Business Writer

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  1. Tell the truth. What do people want to know about you? The truth. Keep it real, and you’ll have a lot less to explain, a much smoother relationship and loyalty through the good and the bad times.
  2. Be specific. People want to know what you’re about, what you do, how you do it. Learn to express these things concisely and accurately. You’ll be perceived as being open, transparent and worthy of trust.
  3. Name names. If a customer, a colleague or a business partner does something really well, tell the world about it, and don’t skimp on the superlatives! Showing your appreciation by praising good work will warm people’s hearts and make them want to work with you.
  4. Spelling and grammar count. It’s so obvious, but it must be said; spelling and grammar will make you look smart or not so smart. Even someone who is a shocking speller themselves can judge your credibility by the flow of your words. Strong messages are easy to read. They don’t make you pause at the bad grammar!
  5. Be consistent. Practice makes perfect, or at least improves and sharpens your message. Choose the way you want to express what you do, and then don’t be afraid to use those words in all of your marketing. Consistency breeds customer confidence.
  6. Write with an ideal customer in mind. Who is your ideal customer? A guy in his twenties? A woman with kids? Choose an ideal customer, even go as far as finding a photo of someone who looks to be that ideal customer. Every time you go to write a sales letter, a blog post, an email, look at this ideal customer and speak their language.
  7. Be enthusiastic. Honestly, it’s okay to be enthusiastic. You don’t need to use three exclamation marks at the end of every sentence to show your excitement. Smile while you write. Hey, telemarketers are told to smile when they are on the phone because it changes the tone of their voice, and the same applies to writing. Smile and write enthusiastic words of success.
  8. Be respectful. Your customers are real people who want to be treated with respect. They can tell when you’re talking down to them, begging them or trying to flatter them. Give yourself a head start among your competitors and be the company that speaks to their customers in the way you’d like to be spoken to.
  9. Be brave. You can write anything. You can write better than you think you can. All it takes is a willingness to write more than one first draft, hit the save button and think you’re done. Write, rest, rewrite, polish and have the courage to create something you can be proud have represent your business in words.
  10. Be yourself.  What’s worse than someone writing a business email who sounds like a total yobbo? Someone who writes a business email using big words out of context and phrases stolen from movies or speeches. Be you. You’re good enough, I promise! You have a business, you work hard, and you will be taken seriously if you speak like yourself, not like someone you think you ought to sound like.

I hope these help you to write fantastic words for business. Did you relate to one of the points more than the others? Let me know, and I’ll expand the idea into an article of its own.

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Happy writing,

x Rachel