Sample Research Paper On How Different Types Of Businesses Need Certain Types Of Writing

Writing is the cornerstone to effective business communication. In business it is one of the primary lifelines by which a company survives or dies. There are all kinds of writing that businesses use to promote their products and services. The type of business tends to determine what writing style proves most successful to meet their communication objectives. Various writing styles will be explored, why they are paramount to business success, and how they are considered the main premise of business communications.
Businesses spent a great deal of time, attention, and money to promote their products and services. In order to do this, communication has to be creative, effective, and memorable in order to pique interest among consumers, acquire and retain customers, and share a business brand message. Traditionally, business communication was done via phone, print, radio and television advertising, and typewritten letters and correspondence. Although these mediums of communication are still used, they have given way to other forms of writing such as email and computer-generated Word documents that can be distributed manually or uploaded in various formats to social media and the internet.
Social media has become the latest, innovative medium businesses are using to communicate with established and prospective clients. All correspondence done via social media requires writing. In this manner, writing for business goes beyond spreading messages and taglines that promote business aims. In a 2013 study (Hodgson) it was concluded that every business using social media should have a social media policy that serves as a guide for employees to follow that determines how they interact and represent a company’s brand while online. This comes after the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) released its findings into an investigation as to the validity of social media policies that were reviewed to determine their effectiveness. The policies were checked for any violations of the First Amendment, the Civil Rights Act, and/or the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). All serve as protective measures that limit what a company can do to an employee in the event of a social media mishap. There has been great concern as to how effective social media policies are due to the nature of their complexities and inability to adequately monitor users.
According to research conducted by Alison Scammell (2006), the level of basic working knowledge of literacy and writing skills in the workplace is alarming. It has been predicted that lack of good literacy and writing skills will cost United States businesses upwards of $3 billion per year in training costs. Companies look for above average writing skills in prospective employees, but oftentimes find them to be well-below average. Scammell’s research shows that business professionals should possess above-average level of writing proficiency in order to write in different formats and to meet the ever-changing needs of social media outlets. It is no longer an option for business professionals to be proficient writers, but a necessity. Employees need to be honed in the craft of writing in order to analyze and disseminate content and be able to communicate that to their clients and prospects in a matter that is befitting to all parties connected to the organization.
In his 2014 article, Nate Kreuter, discussed the importance of thinking about what and how something is written and for whom it is written. He considers writing to be a social activity where it is always done with someone or something else in mind, and yet it is done within the confines of oneself. Writing is always done with an intended recipient in mind. How thoughts are conveyed to those who read them is vitally important to ensure they are presented in the way in which they are proposed. The way something is written can be interpreted differently, therefore, all the more reason why paying close attention to detail in wording is imperative.
According to Christopher Grey and Amanda Sinclair (2006), writing is a necessary evil that predisposes the validity of an individual’s purpose, status, and notoriety within society. To be published as an author in an article, publication, or book, conveys a message all on its own of having arrived and achieved great success. They surmise that writing is something that comes from within and is presented to the world to be explored, analyzed, and critiqued accordingly. Their research suggests that writing should be done in such a way that can be fully grasped and understood. If not executed correctly, it runs the risk of only being comprehended by a limited number. They answer the question of why do people write and conclude that there is an inherent need to be heard and to articulate thoughts into written words. Writing gives power to words. It breathes life into thoughts and makes them real in the quest of their truth and meaning.
An organization’s website is perhaps their most viable communication tool. According to a 2006 study (Scammell), in some instances, the first point of contact between a business and a prospective client is through their website. Scammell recommends that content should be professionally written and consist of a high-level of writing, including editing and proofing, that is accurate and flawless. Writing should be short and to the point and easy to read so that readers do not get bogged down in the process of navigation. Studies show that websites that present content that is concise tend to have higher usability rates.
One of the newest mediums businesses are using as a communication resource is blogging. Blogs work similar to websites in that they are a place on the internet that users can go to in order to obtain information that is updated on a regular basis. In recent years, blogs have grown in popularity among businesses as a primary form of communication. Unlike a website that is all-encompassing, blogs focus on a particular topic of interest and provide extensive written commentary regarding. In a 2007 study (Drucker) found that blogs hold much promise as a recruitment tool for new business. They have the capability of generating leads and provide a personalized, informal touch to communicating with the public, thus making interactions instantaneous and streamlined.
According to Michael Egan (2007), bad writing can sink a company. Its effects can be quite costly and detrimental. Good writing skills are highly regarded and employees can reap the benefits of perfecting the art of writing not only for themselves but for the companies they work for. Customers perceive the technique of writing found within correspondence and can gauge a company accordingly. In most cases, the first point of contact is written correspondence in the form of a letter, email or advertisement to introduce the company to a prospect. If it is poorly written, it can be a bad reflection.
First impressions are everything, especially in the world of business. It is important for businesses to make a potential or existing client feel as though they matter. The first step is taking the time to think about what is written, how it will be perceived, and what impression it will leave. Proofreading is equally important to the writing process. Being clear and concise in the message being conveyed is also key. Writing is an essential part of all business dealings. It is a critical determinant of the success or failure of a company’s efforts to communicate its brand message. Writing has evolved to new heights through websites, social media, and blogging, providing numerous ways in which businesses can communicate with their clients and the public for increased exposure and revenue generation.

Works Cited

Drucker, David J. "Blogging for Business." Research (New York) (2007) ProQuest. Web. 16 Mar. 2015.
Grey, Christopher, and Amanda Sinclair. "Writing Differently." Organization 13.3 (2006): 443-53. ProQuest. Web. 16 Mar. 2015.
Hodgson, Cheryl. "Social media." The Licensing Journal Apr. 2013: 24+. LegalTrac. Web. 16 Mar. 2015.
Kreuter, Nate. "Writing Environments." The Education Digest 80.2 (2014): 32-5. ProQuest. Web. 16 Mar. 2015.
Scammell, Alison. "Business Writing for Strategic Communications." Business Information Review 23.1 (2006): 43-9. ProQuest.Web. 16 Mar. 2015.