Business Writing For Dummies, 2nd Edition

Chapter 6

Writing Messages That Get Results

IN THIS CHAPTER

Understanding why email matters and where it can take you

Writing email messages that achieve immediate and long-range goals

Using strategies and techniques that work — and avoiding pitfalls

Creating effective letters for business purposes

Love it or hate it, you can’t leave it — email is the central nervous system of business life all over the world. Companies may declare “e-free Fridays” or add newer media like instant messaging or social networks to communicate, but you probably still find that your work life centers on managing your email inbox.

The volume and omnipresence of email in your life gives you the opportunity to accomplish your immediate and long-range goals, or screw up both. This chapter shows you how to make the most of this powerful medium and sidestep the traps.

People have been talking for a long time — in some cases hopefully — of email’s imminent demise. But it hasn’t been replaced yet, and in fact, it’s ...