Teaching a Modern Business Communication Course

Here are ten of the most important things to keep in mind when writing for the web:

Keep it Simple: Writing for the web should be concise and straightforward, using short sentences and paragraphs to make content easy to read and quickly consumable.

Write for Scanning: Most web users skim through content, so organizing your information into digestible headings, subheadings, bullet points, and lists can improve the readability and enhance user experience.

Use Strong Headlines: Strong and meaningful headlines help grab the reader's attention and give them an insight into the content and structure of the post.

Understand Search Engine Optimization (SEO): Having relevant, focused, and keyword-rich content can improve your visibility in search engines and engage your audience.

Use Active Voice: Writing in active voice creates more engaging and compelling content than writing in passive voice.

Make It Relevant: Focus on creating content that adds value and provides solutions to your readership's needs, problems or concerns.

Be Authentic: Writing should reflect the personality and tone of your brand's culture, and reflect authenticity and transparency.

Use Visuals: Including appropriate and engaging visuals in your content can increase readership, enhance the readability, and make your message more memorable.

Edit Thoroughly: Editing your content through multiple rounds of review, spelling, and grammar checks, checking for redundancy or clarity issues can result in a more polished, professional, and error-free final draft.

Focus on Engagement: Encourage engagement with your readers through a comments section, a call-to-action, or well-placed social media buttons, which can increase your visibility, spread your message, and have your content be useful and shareable with a broad audience.

By keeping these essential principles in mind when writing for the web, you can improve user engagement, build your brand and thought leadership, and increase the effectiveness of your website and online presence.

Emotionally secure people are confident and comfortable in their own skin. But it takes work to get there. Dr. Cortney Warren, a Harvard psychologist and bestselling author, reveals the phrases that the most emotionally stable people say every day.

"People tend to say what they mean, but our challenge is deciphering the meaning beyond what they say."

Think you're impressing everyone with your vocabulary? This study shows that using certain words can make you sound less intelligent.

"Which sentences are used by annoying people?"

Like it or not, words, spelling, and punctuation can leave a lasting impression on others. But even the most educated people often unknowingly make these common flubs.

"The first step is recognizing the errors you're making, and this list will make you aware of even the smallest mishaps. Hopefully, you won't make these cringeworthy mistakes ever again."

"Have you ever heard someone say, "I was literally scared to death?" That's impossible because the dead can't talk. Even educated people make these common mistakes—make sure you know the real meaning of these words."

As the only business communication series with three distinct textbooks, the Bovée-Thill series offers you more choices for a better fit with your unique needs. No matter which Bovée and Thill title you choose, you can count on three enduring advantages.

First, this series has been leading the market with one innovation after another for more than three decades. Bovée & Thill have consistently led the way with every major revolution in business communication, starting with the shift from print to digital, followed by the growth of social media, the rise of mobile communication, and now the emergence of artificial intelligence and intelligent technology.

The digital transformation sweeping through business is creating a host of new communication tools and techniques that students will encounter during their job searches and in the workplace. Much of the new coverage in this text has necessarily focused on technology, but Bovée & Thill take the wide view of how employer expectations and contemporary practices continue to evolve. This also embraces developments ranging from ethics and etiquette to the shift toward a more casual tone in workplace writing.

Second, even as they evolve to align with changing business practices, Bovée and Thill texts maintain a solid foundation of communication skills. This approach starts with an efficient writing method that helps students build confidence while producing better writing in less time. The method is applied to every major type of business message and illustrated with numerous model documents that show students the specific writing choices that make messages effective or ineffective. These core writing skills are expanded with practical advice on communication topics that today’s employers view as critical, including collaboration, ethics and etiquette, diversity and inclusion, and the productive use of technology.

Third, Bovée & Thill textbooks are backed by an unmatched selection of resources for instructors and students, many of which were pioneered by the authors and remain unique in the field. All these resources are free to instructors and students, and many are available exclusively to Bovée & Thill adopters.

Order examination copies today.

If you're smart, or at least want to sound smart, remember that some things are better left unsaid.

Over the years, a simple handwritten letter has become a unique way to communicate, and we have to ask if handwritten letters are still relevant.

Recent research has shed light on various aspects of written business communication. Here are 15 things that have been learned:

Personalization enhances effectiveness: Personalized business communication, tailored to individual recipients, tends to be more effective in achieving desired outcomes.

Concise messages are preferred: Research suggests that concise and to-the-point messages are more likely to capture recipients' attention and be remembered.

Clear subject lines are crucial: Subject lines that are clear and specific can significantly increase the open and response rates of business emails.

Positive tone influences outcomes: Using a positive tone in written business communication, such as expressing gratitude and using polite language, can improve rapport and enhance outcomes.

Visual elements enhance understanding: Incorporating visual elements like charts, graphs, and infographics can enhance the comprehension and retention of information in written business communication.

Responsive emails yield better outcomes: Responding promptly to business emails and inquiries demonstrates professionalism and fosters better relationships with clients, colleagues, and stakeholders.

Proofreading is essential: Research emphasizes the importance of proofreading written business communication to eliminate errors, improve clarity, and maintain a professional image.

Active voice is more effective: Using the active voice in business writing tends to be more engaging and persuasive than the passive voice, as it creates a stronger sense of accountability.

Clear calls to action are necessary: Including clear and actionable requests or calls to action in written business communication can increase the likelihood of recipients taking the desired actions.

Email length affects response rates: Studies suggest that emails with shorter lengths (around 50-125 words) receive higher response rates compared to longer, more detailed emails.

Politeness and empathy foster trust: Demonstrating politeness, empathy, and understanding in written business communication can foster trust and strengthen professional relationships.

Tailoring to audience preferences is important: Research highlights the importance of understanding the preferences and expectations of the target audience when crafting written business communication.

Formatting matters: Proper formatting, including headings, bullet points, and subheadings, improves the readability and organization of written business communication, enhancing comprehension.

Authenticity enhances credibility: Authenticity in written business communication, such as using a genuine and sincere tone, can enhance credibility and build stronger connections with recipients.

Emotional intelligence matters: Incorporating emotional intelligence in written business communication, such as understanding and addressing the emotional needs of recipients, can positively influence outcomes and relationships.

It's important to note that these findings are based on recent research, but individual preferences and contexts may vary.

With influences from Latin, Greek, and many other languages, English pronunciation isn't easy. Here are some tricky words people often get wrong.

Do not let these common word mistakes trip you up.

Not sure if you're spelling even the most commonly used words correctly? You're not alone. Here are the most misspelled words in every state.

We offer 21 words to steer clear of if you don't want to alienate or offend your audience. We also suggest how you can better connect.

It's espresso, not expresso.

In its annual Banished Words List, the faculty of Lake Superior State University also suggests removing from your vocabulary overused phrases such as "Does that make sense?" and "It is what it is."

Not sure how to say espresso? What's the difference between desert and dessert? Find out here."

"We all know how to email, right? But with so many of us heavily using email for work, there are bound to be some things that annoy us. You can find out what they are here."

20 years ago, friend was used as a noun, and profile meant a side view. Here are 20 words, the definitions of which have changed in the last two decades.