Business Writing For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Table of contents

1. 1. Cover
   2. Introduction
      1. About This Book
      2. Foolish Assumptions
      3. How This Book Is Organized
      4. Icons Used in This Book
      5. Beyond the Book
      6. Where to Go from Here
   3. Part 1: Winning with Writing
      1. Chapter 1: Make Writing Your Not-So-Secret Weapon
         1. Putting Good Writing to Work for You
         2. Planning and Structuring Every Message
         3. Applying the Goal-Plus-Audience Strategy to All Business Needs
      2. Chapter 2: Planning Your Message Every Time
         1. Adopting the Plan-Draft-Edit Principle
         2. Fine-Tuning Your Plan: Your Goals and Audience
         3. Making People Care
         4. Choosing Your Written Voice: Tone
         5. Using Relationship-Building Techniques
      3. Chapter 3: Making Your Writing Work: The Basics
         1. Stepping into Twenty-First-Century Writing Style
         2. Energizing Your Language
         3. Employing Reader-Friendly Graphic Techniques
      4. Chapter 4: Self-Editing: Professional Ways to Improve Your Work
         1. Changing Hats: From Writer to Editor
         2. Reviewing the Big and Small Pictures
         3. Moving from Passive to Active
         4. Sidestepping Jargon, Clichés, and Extra Modifiers
      5. Chapter 5: Fixing Common Writing Problems
         1. Organizing Your Document
         2. Catching Common Mistakes
         3. Reviewing and Proofreading: The Final Check
   4. Part 2: Applying Your Skills to Business Messages and Documents
      1. Chapter 6: Writing Messages That Get Results
         1. Fast-Forwarding Your Agenda with Email
         2. Starting Strong
         3. Building Messages That Achieve Your Goals
         4. Structuring Your Middle Ground
         5. Closing Strong
         6. Polishing Your Email
         7. Good Letter Writing Techniques
      2. Chapter 7: Creating High-Impact Business Materials
         1. Creating Valued Reports
         2. Fast-Tracking Your Proposals
         3. Writing an Executive Summary
         4. Writing Tips for All Business Documents
   5. Part 3: Writing to Present Yourself Effectively
      1. Chapter 8: Speaking Well for Yourself
         1. Building Your Elevator Speech
         2. Preparing and Giving Presentations
         3. Composing Talking Points for Live Interaction
      2. Chapter 9: Telling Your Business Stories
         1. Finding Your Core Business Message
         2. Finding, Shaping, and Using Stories
         3. Telling Your Story with Video
      3. Chapter 10: Writing for the Job Hunt
         1. Knowing and Expressing Your Value
         2. Writing Résumés That Win the Race
         3. Succeeding with Cover Letters
         4. Networking with Messages
   6. Part 4: Evolving Your Writing for Online Media
      1. Chapter 11: Writing for the Digital World
         1. Positioning Yourself Online
         2. Strategizing Your Platform Choices
         3. Writing for Digital Media
         4. Translating text into visuals
      2. Chapter 12: Creating Your Online Presence
         1. Creating a Website from the Ground Up
         2. Creating a Blog
         3. Networking with Twitter
         4. Writing Online Profiles
         5. Using Social Media Platforms
   7. Part 5: Extending Your Writing Skills
      1. Chapter 13: Writing and the Independent Worker
         1. Writing Persuasively Cross-Media
         2. Introducing Yourself in Writing
         3. Writing to Pitch Your Services
         4. Creating Letters That Sell
         5. Writing Difficult Messages
         6. Communicating as a Virtual Worker
         7. Pitching the Media
      2. Chapter 14: Writing Well to Manage Well
         1. Communicating as a Manager
         2. Writing to Higher-Ups
         3. Writing Backup Memos
   8. Part 6: The Part of Tens
      1. Chapter 15: Ten Ways to Advance Your Career with Writing
         1. Write to Build Relationships
         2. Write a Great Elevator Speech
         3. Write Your Own Long-Range Career Plan
         4. Write an Ad for Your Dream Job
         5. Go Out of Your Way to Thank People
         6. Take Notes to Control the Conversation
         7. Use Social Media Strategically
         8. Know How to Explain Your Value
         9. Profile Your Higher-Ups
         10. Create Talking Points
      2. Chapter 16: Ten Ways to Energize Your Résumé
         1. Don’t Apply for the Job You Have Now
         2. Adopt the Employer’s Language
         3. Write Clearly and Concisely
         4. Communicate What You Actually Do
         5. Write Narratives, Not Just Bullets
         6. Sidestep Jargon and Business-Speak
         7. Use Action Verbs to Prove What You Accomplished
         8. Write in a Confident, Positive Tone
         9. Incorporate Keywords
         10. Make It Look Good
      3. Chapter 17: Ten Steps to Creating Video
         1. Know Your Goal, Know Your Audience
         2. Plan Your Production Style and Content
         3. Write a Word + Picture Script
         4. Create a Shot List
         5. Lights, Action, Camera
         6. Review Your Shoot and Other Resources
         7. Find a Good Lead
         8. Match Picture and Words
         9. Craft the Right Words
         10. Let Me Entertain You
   9. About the Author
   10. Connect with Dummies
   11. End User License Agreement