Top Business Writing Tips

Here are some of our most valuable business writing tips we've learned and shared with marketing and comms teams over the years. All are musts for today's (mobile, digital, skimming, short-attention-span, busy) reader.

1. Give the answer(s) fast

Long setups lose interest. If a reader doesn't know what they're getting within the first 2-3 paragraphs, they'll move on.

2.  Use subheadings

If you followed the previous tip, you would have told the reader they'll learn 1, 2, 3 or find ways to x, y, z. Make it easy to jump to these ideas by calling attention to them with subheadings.

3. Keep it short I: sentences

Aim for no more than ~25 words (which is long). This improves readability, comprehension, and overall flow.

4. Keep it short II: paragraphs

We often see LinkedIn posts with one HUGE paragraph taking up the entire phone screen. It’s always an immediate pass. If you can't make your point in one short 4-line text block, keep editing.

5. Plain-speaking language

Jargon and complex words don't make the author seem smarter. It makes reading harder. Write what you mean in direct, simple, easy-to-understand language.

6. Connect your ideas

Make it easy for people to jump on your logic train from phrase to phrase, sentence to sentence, and paragraph to paragraph. A non sequitur confuses the reader and kills flow.

7. Avoid hyperbole

When you write about customer growth "taking off like a rocket ship" an editor will rightfully ask, "What the heck does that even mean?" Evidence in this case (i.e. number of new customers) would be more impactful.

8. Watch repetition

Avoid repeating words, phrases, and ideas too often. Find another way to say it.

There are many other tips to consider (audience needs and interests, choosing topics and why it matters, headlines, keywords for SEO, story vs. messaging, etc.), but these are some of the most common, easy-to-fix writing pitfalls we typically see.