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Business Letters for Busy People

Business Letters for Busy People

by Jim Dugger
Publisher: Career Press
Release Date: April 2002
ISBN: 9781564146120
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Book Description

Includes Interactive CD Rom with Hundreds of Letters

Free yourself from worrying about the “right” word or phrase, or the “right” format. Get all of your correspondence done quickly and painlessly.

This thoroughly revised and updated fourth edition is a handy, quick-reference guide that not only tells you how to write virtually any kind of business letter, but gives you a wide range of samples you can adapt and use right now.

A best-seller since it was introduced in 1991, Business Letters for Busy People contains concise, easy-to-use learning resources that get results. Packed with the most concrete information, useful techniques, and practical tips available, it also includes a CD-ROM containing templates for all of the sample letters included within the text. This guide will cut the time you spend on letter writing in half.

Some example letters presented are:

• Sales and promotional letters

• Community activities letters

• Customer relations letters

• Personal business letters

• Media letters

• Letters about employment.

• Goodwill letters

• Collections letters

• Letters of condolence

• And many, many more.

The letters can be copied, modified, and customized to fit your requirements. Business letter writing has never been so easy!

John A. Carey has been a professional writer for over 20 years. He has written articles, research papers, speeches, grant applications, educational materials, and correspondence for clients. He has been asked by corporations and politicians to compose correspondence addressing broad issues and situations that could easily be customized for efficiency. He has also been on the faculty of New York University and Baker University

Table of Contents

  1. Cover page
  2. Title Page
  3. Copyright Page
  4. Table of Contents
  5. Introduction
  6. 1 Writing From Scratch
    1. Four Considerations of a Business Letter
    2. Organization
    3. The Seven “C’s” of Style
    4. In a Nutshell
  7. 2 Parts of a Business Letter
    1. Letterhead
    2. Date
    3. File Number
    4. Confidential
    5. Inside Address
    6. Attention Line
    7. Salutation
    8. Subject Line
    9. Body of the Letter
    10. Complimentary Close
    11. Signature
    12. Additional Information
    13. Postscript
    14. Mailing Instructions
  8. 3 Format of a Business Letter
    1. Block
    2. Modified Block
    3. Modified Semi-Block
    4. Simplified
    5. Hanging Indented
    6. Memo
  9. 4 Collection Letters
    1. Step-by-Step Guide
    2. Notification
    3. Reminder
    4. Inquiry
    5. Urgency
    6. Final Notice/Ultimatum
    7. Insufficient Funds
    8. Thank You for Payment
    9. Lost Payment/Apology
    10. Checklist
  10. 5 Sales and Promotional Letters
    1. Step-by-Step Guide
    2. Request for Appointment
    3. Prospective Lead
    4. Sales Letter to Client
    5. Sales Letter to Current Client
    6. Letter of Introduction
    7. Follow-Up on Letter Sent
    8. Delinquent Reply
    9. Extremely Delinquent Reply
    10. Requesting Customer’s Assistance
    11. Sales Follow-Up
    12. Confirming Sales Order
    13. Reminder That a Sale Is About to End
    14. Announcing a Sales Campaign, Promotion or Incentive Program
    15. Announcing a Sales Campaign to Preferred Customers
    16. Announcing New Products to a Select Group of Customers
    17. Announcing a Price Increase
    18. Transmittal With Instructions
    19. Transmittal With Request
    20. Transmittal With Suggestion
    21. Transmittal With Information
    22. Transmittal With Sales Information
    23. Transmittal to Current Client
    24. Checklist
  11. 6 Goodwill Letters
    1. Step-by-Step Guide
    2. Recognizing a Suggestion
    3. Appreciation
    4. Official Anniversary
    5. Speech
    6. Invitation — Formal
    7. Invitation — Informal
    8. Congratulations
    9. Thanks for Good Work: Outside Vendor
    10. Acknowledging Accomplishments
    11. Follow-Up After a Sale
    12. Explaining Policy and Position
    13. Encouragement
    14. Announcing New Fringe Benefits
    15. Adjustment
    16. Checklist
  12. 7 Community Activities Letters
    1. Step-by-Step Guide
    2. Solicitation of Funds
    3. Acknowledgment and Request for Funds
    4. Appreciation and Fund-Raising Event
    5. Acknowledgment of Contribution
    6. Acknowledgment of Accomplishment
    7. Thank You
    8. Grant Request
    9. Invitation to Serve
    10. Membership Invitation
    11. Refusal of a Request
    12. Expression of Appreciation
    13. Appointment to Office
    14. Appointment to a Committee
    15. Compliment
    16. Invitation to Speak
    17. Complimenting a Speaker
    18. Letter to Legislator Showing Support
    19. Letter to Legislator Showing Concern
    20. Checklist
  13. 8 Personal Business Letters
    1. Step-by-Step Guide
    2. Congratulations
    3. Congratulations — Social
    4. Birthday Wishes
    5. Holiday Greetings
    6. Birth of a Child
    7. Marriage
    8. Illness — Hospital
    9. Thank You
    10. Apology
    11. Inquiry
    12. Request
    13. Refusal
    14. Checklist
  14. 9 Letters of Condolence
    1. Step-by-Step Guide
    2. On the Death of a Business Associate
    3. On the Death of a Mother
    4. On the Death of a Father
    5. On the Death of a Wife
    6. On the Death of a Husband
    7. On the Death of a Child
    8. On the Death of a Brother
    9. On the Death of a Sister
    10. Checklist
  15. 10 Letters About Employment Changes
    1. Step-by-Step Guide
    2. Reference Request
    3. Waiver of Confidentiality
    4. Request for Meeting
    5. Job Hunter Seeking an Interview
    6. Interview Confirmation
    7. Thanks for Interview
    8. Unsolicited Application
    9. Cover Letters for Resumés
    10. Requesting Appointment
    11. Reply to Unsolicited Application
    12. Job Application
    13. Job Hunter Seeking Job With Contact
    14. Solicited Application
    15. Job Acceptance
    16. Job Rejection
    17. Not Accepting Possible Job Offer
    18. Positive Resignation
    19. Negative Resignation
    20. Response to Job Offer: Covers Terms
    21. Request for Employment Reference
    22. Reference for Former Employee
    23. Letters of Recommendation
    24. Character Reference
    25. Letter of Introduction
    26. Progress Report
    27. Rejection of Application
    28. Responses to Rejected Job Application
    29. Follow-Up After Not Getting the Job
    30. Rejection of an In-House Job Applicant
    31. Rejection of an Unsolicited Application
    32. Rejection of a Solicited Application
    33. Invitation for an Interview
    34. Job Offers
    35. New Employee
    36. Promotion — Congratulations
    37. Announcing a Promotion — Personal
    38. Announcing a Promotion — Internal
    39. Acceptance of Resignation
    40. Recommending a Raise
    41. Rejection of Unsolicited Business
    42. Request for Material
    43. Request for Information
    44. Confirmation to Speaker
    45. Giving Information
    46. Discontinuing Business Relationships
    47. Rejecting a Request
    48. Introducing a New Employee
    49. Checklist
  16. 11 Customer Relations Letters
    1. Step-by-Step Guide
    2. General Appreciation
    3. Acknowledging a Complaint
    4. Following Up on a Complaint
    5. Regaining a Customer’s Confidence
    6. Acknowledging a Complaint — Disclaiming Responsibility
    7. Acknowledging a Complaint — Explaining a Misunderstanding
    8. Correcting an Error
    9. General Apology
    10. Acknowledging an Order — Back Order
    11. Acknowledging an Order — Explaining Shipment Procedures
    12. Apologizing for an Employee’s Action
    13. Notifying Customers of a Move
    14. Holiday Greetings
    15. Notification of Complaints
    16. Checklist
  17. 12 Media Letters
    1. Step-by-Step Guide
    2. Media Event Letter — Sales Campaign Kickoff
    3. Media Event Letter — Recently Published Book
    4. Media Event Letter — Anniversary
    5. Press Release — Anniversary
    6. Press Release — Speaking Engagement
    7. Press Release — Promotion
    8. Press Release — New Employee
    9. Response to Editorial — Positive
    10. Response to Editorial — Negative
    11. Letter Asking to Make a Speech
    12. Letter Asking for a Correction
    13. Checklist
  18. 13 Electronic Mail
    1. Step-by-Step Guide
    2. Announcement of Meeting
    3. Change in Client Status Announcement
    4. Request for Assistance
    5. Request for Materials Ordered
    6. Project Offer
    7. Follow-Up on Project
    8. Compliment to Employee for Work
    9. Checklist
  19. 14 Postcard Correspondence
    1. Step-by-Step Guide
    2. Seasonal Promotion
    3. Acknowledging a Customer for a Special Occasion
    4. Invitation
    5. Reminder
    6. Checklist
  20. Appendix
    1. Professional Ranks and Titles
    2. Federal, State and Local Government Officials
    3. Military Ranks
    4. Military Abbreviations
    5. Diplomats
    6. British Nobility
    7. Clerical and Religious Orders
    8. College and University Officials
  21. Index