Anyone can write, right?

Good writing conveys a message as it was intended to be understood. I worked with cryptology in the Navy. We had to recognize activities and analyze significance, and — and this is a critical “and” — report that information to people who made decisions based on our reports.

Your company probably isn't involved with cryptology. However, you have to communicate accurately and understandably to a variety of individuals and audiences. If you don't, serious things may happen. Even if a single miscommunication doesn't apparently damage your interests seriously, a series of small, seemingly insignificant miscommunications can wreak havoc on your operations and directly affect your profitability.

Where do you use writing?

Policies & Procedures

Your staff and officers must understand your company's policies and procedures. Otherwise, chaos may result. If yours is a publicly-traded corporation, federal law (the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002) places special importance on these documents.

Marketing Materials

How do you induce potential clients to look your way if your marketing materials—your brochures, product sheets, Web site, and so forth—are not well designed and written?

Proposals

Your proposals will move clients to buy your products and services … unless the client cannot understand what you're trying to say or what you say doesn't correspond to the client's stated needs.

Product Guides

You may wind up spending more for customer service if buyers don't understand the user and administration guides you provide for your products. Worse, the quality of your guides may cost your customers time and money as they try to figure out how to use your products.