A business writer focuses on business topics. And you’ll attest that business has a wide scope that cuts across diverse industries. It starts with startups and ends with conglomerates.
He may choose to get stuck in an office space or become a freelance writer cum consultant.
The services of a business writer are always required by organizations. Just be sure to have the required expertise that fits every aspect of business writing.
This article will walk you through what it means to be a business writer, the skills and responsibilities of a business writer, the salary, and the steps to become a business writer.
Who is a Business Writer?
Basically, a business writer is someone who writes articles relating to businesses. These may be proposals and plans for a company, reports on the stock market, financing, or other economic happenings for publications.
They write reports about economic trends and often have the expertise to offer financial advice based on their market observations.
Business writers carry out research, and this can involve individual businesses as well, digging into corporations or emerging industries to deliver informed information to their readers.
Types of Business Writers
Primarily, there are two types of business writers.
The first type is a business writer, who may be a freelancer or contractor hired to write business proposals, reports, and business plans.
The second type is a business researcher who researches and writes stories about economics and businesses for publications in print or on the Internet.
Whichever type of business writing you wish to begin, a bachelor’s degree in either business, journalism, or communication is expedient to kickstart the career.
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Principles of Good Business Writing
1. Purpose clarity
Before starting a note, email, or business paper, there are two main things one should consider:
Who is the reader?
What message do I want to get across to the reader with my writing?
Writing gains direction and develops its tone, structure, and flow when its aim is clear.
2. Clarity of thought
Writing becomes less ordered, repetitive, and wandering when one thinks while writing as opposed to prior. Concise, understandable sentences must be written instead of long, meandering ones in business writing. To write clearly, one must distill the important information.
3. Communicate relevant and accurate information
Communicating important information is the main objective of business writing. The goal of the document is impacted by content that is untrue or irrelevant. Comprehensive and value-adding information is essential for good business writing.
4. Avoid jargon
A clear and concise writing style helps the reader understand the content much better. Avoid producing grandiose articles that are overflowing with acronyms and keywords unique to your sector. If not, the reader can find it difficult to understand or become disinterested in it.
5. Revise and edit
After finishing the texts, reading them aloud can highlight the arguments’ weaknesses and holes. It is advised to review the document for improvement and to welcome helpful criticism from colleagues.
6. Practice
It is possible to become proficient in business writing with consistent practice. Developing the same instinct when writing can be facilitated by observing the terminology, sentence structure, and writing style used in the written word.
7. Be direct
In business writing, it’s a good idea to sum up the passage in the first 150 words or less. It makes the argument stronger and saves the reader time.
8. Avoid verbosity
It is not necessary to extend the meaning to five words if it may be expressed in three. Verbosity hinders the reader’s ability to become interested in the writing. For instance, state that the article is verbose rather than that it “uses more words than are necessary.”
9. Correct sentence structure and grammar
Grammar mistakes can give the impression of being unprofessional, but proper grammar demonstrates skill and attention to detail, two qualities that are highly regarded in the business world.
Grammar and standards in business writing change over time. For instance, corporate writing is starting to tolerate emoticons when used sparingly. To improve their craft, a skilled writer must remain current with norms.
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10. Easy to scan
Executives in business appreciate documents that are easy to read and understand quickly. Clear headings, succinct paragraphs, numbered or bulleted lists, and the sparing use of bold style to draw attention to keywords are all ways to improve business documents.
What are the Skills/Roles of a Business Writer?
In order to accomplish tasks and responsibilities, a business writer needs to have certain skills.
After reviewing the resume of different business writers, here are the reoccurring skills we took note of. These include market research, detail-oriented, business development, and technical and communication skills.
A professional business writer has the following roles/responsibilities to fulfill;
- Write and submit proposals to clients.
- Proofread and edit team members’ proposals, and offer constructive feedback and suggestions.
- Provide marketing and sales pitch writing
- Create summary business plans
- Research and write articles on a variety of topics
- Maintain company blog; update posts, perform SEO, monitor and approve visitor posts.
- Perform internet searches for article content, and references and validate the authenticity and accuracy of articles written.
- Implement strategic search engine optimization (SEO) to content to increase website traffic and search engine placement.
- Proofread and edit administrative documents.
- Edit and update PowerPoint presentations for national meetings.
- Initiate relationships and cultivate new partnerships with corporations using technical expertise by presenting complex data through internet base literature.
- Schedule and conduct interviews, organize quotes into articles, and write for publications while demonstrating reporting and communication skills.
- Post social media and hospital promotional/patient testimonial YouTube videos.
How Much Does a Business Writer Make?
Business writers in the United States earn roughly about $54,000 a year on average.
For example, did you know that a business writer makes an average of $25.67 an hour? That’s $53,391 a year!
Between 2018 and 2028, the career is expected to grow 8% and produce 4,700 job opportunities across the U.S.
Additionally, business writers are known to earn anywhere from $40,000 to $71,000 a year. This means that the top-earning business writers make $36,000 more than the lowest-earning ones.
How Do I Become a Business Writer?
Just like every career field requires certain criteria so also is an educational writer. Meeting up these requirements qualifies you not only to be called a professional educational writer but also to earn higher in any industry or institution you find yourself in.
Both types of writing usually call for research and writing skills, as well as a bachelor’s degree.
So, as a writer who wants to be called a professional education writer, you must meet up with the following criteria;
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#1. Get An Education
If you wish to become a business writer, it is important to complete a bachelor’s in journalism, literature, communication, business, etc.
A very good percentage of business writers also have a master’s degree in any of the stated disciplines.
#2. Get Internship Experience
After your degree, to become a business writer, you need a form of experience.
Trust me, you may not just be ready for writing gigs yet. You’ll need the experience to fit into the role perfectly, especially if you’ll be on a contract to work with a company.
To gain this experience, you can choose to offer it at a startup company that has professional business writers or with a business writer as an assistant. This way, you will learn first-hand all the processes and procedures to obtain and transform information into a business document.
#3. Master Business Writing
The truth is, that business writing is industry-focused. There are certain procedures required in some industries while not necessary in another.
Mastering business writing gives you an edge to fit into industry and function effectively in the freelance world.
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#4. Start Writing
After having practical experience, the best way to begin is to just begin.
Take up your first writing gig and pose as a professional business writer. This exposure is necessary to start a career.
Remember, it is important to take short courses on business writing to keep you grounded.
Lastly, make sure to write an impressive resume. Don’t sell yourself short, include those certifications from the short courses.
In addition, don’t overhype the experience. Many companies are comfortable working with a beginner business writer, therefore, you can be hired with little experience. All that you need is the right attitude to work and be ready to learn.
As a business writer, you need to have a good readability score.10 Tips on How to Increase Readability Score While Writing
How To Find Business Writing Jobs
It is quite easy to find a job as a business writer. Check through the local newspapers, online job platforms, and internship platforms.
However, social media is a great way to get a job nowadays. Linkedin is our go-to place for business writing jobs.
Another important platform to get gigs as a freelance business writer is WritersGig. Fiverr, Upwork, and the likes are other worthy places.
Conversely, try your hands teaching the skills learned by becoming a business writing consultant.
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FAQS on Business Writer
Instructional, informational, persuasive, and transactional business writing.
The term “business writing” describes a variety of professional communication formats, including emails, memoranda, press releases, policy suggestions, and application letters.
#1. Get An Education
#2. Get Internship Experience
#3. Master Business Writing
#4. Start Writing
Memos, reports, emails, letters, proposals, and marketing materials.
Conclusion
Business writing is fun but research-filled. You need to love research to do well in business writing.
The career options are endless, as you can begin a freelance career or join a company if you enjoy the office space. However, gaggle with the passion for writing and your freedom and function as a freelance writer.
Remember, as your portfolio increases, your paycheck increases as well.
We hope you have learned how to become a business writer from this article. Use the comment section if there are questions.
References
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