
Jakki Bendell introduces herself and the course.
Jakki gives an overview of the course and how to approach it. Also tips on how to download the PDFs handbooks and worksheets that are a core part of the course.
This is the handbook that goes with part 1 of the course - planning. Use this alongside the worksheets and videos in this section.
An overview of the characteristics of good business writing, and an easy to remember formula - the 5 'C's of good writing.
An overview of the writing process - a step-by-step framework for managing the writing task, from the brief to publication.
How to write a clear, simple brief for any document. This will help you define both the scope and the audience, and save writing time later on.
How to analyse your audience, and what questions you need to ask, using a couple of examples. This video also looks at how to use that analysis to define your key messages - the points you must get across to your readers.
Having an approved structure before you start writing will save a lot of time and effort later. This is a screen demo that shows how to set up and use the little-known Word Outline tool. This allows you to move entire sections and subsections without having to cut and paste, as well as helping you schedule and cost your work.
This handbook contains the notes for part 2 of the course - writing style and drafting. Use alongside the worksheets and videos in this section.
Tips and techniques for keeping your sentences and paragraphs short. This is important for engaging busy skimming, scanning readers.
Practice exercises for shortening long sentences. See the 'Suggested Answers' at the end of this section to check.
This lecture shows why simple, familiar words are often more effective than formal, bureaucratic ones or jargon. It includes examples and free resources you can find on the internet.
Practice exercises for selecting more familiar words. See the 'Suggested Answers' at the end of this section to check.
Practical tips on how to cut out unnecessary words and phrases, and really tighten up your writing.
This lecture gives you a quick and easy way to make your writing more direct and punchy, instantly. If you haven't heard of active and passive voice, fear not - this lecture explains all.
In this lecture we look at one of the cornerstones of persuasive writing - the difference between features and benefits. Includes how to identify benefits that will grab your reader's attention, plus tips on quantifying them for maximum impact.
This lecture outlines five tried-and-tested strategies for drafting, and avoiding the dreaded writers block.
Check your answers to the worksheets in this section against these suggestions.
This is the handbook for part 3 of the course - polishing. Use alongside the worksheets and videos for this section.
This PDF contains worksheets to practise editing and proofreading. Suggested answers are at the back.
This is a screen demo of how to set up and use readability statistics in Word, plus guidelines on choosing an appropriate readability score for your document.
Check against the 'Suggested Answers' at the end of this section.
This is a screen demo on how to set up the Grammar Checker in Microsoft Word to check both grammar and style options (like passive and contractions). This is also a great tool for developing your knowledge of grammar and style as you work.
Check against the 'Suggested Answers' at the end of this section.
A lot of people struggle with apostrophes. This primer shows an easy method for working out where the apostrophe does (and doesn't) go, with worked examples.
Check against the 'Suggested Answers' at the end of this section.
Find eight different professional proofreading methods to reduce the chance of errors in your documents.
This quick lecture clears up the issue of when to use -ise or -ize in words like advertise and organize - whether you are using British or American spelling.
Are you still typing out tables of contents from scratch? This video shows how to create and update an automatic table in Microsoft Word in seconds.
Some final words on how to retain the learning from this course and keep in touch with future updates..
Over 20 of my favourite writing quotes. Use alongside the lecture on avoiding writers block on those days when it's really hard to get going.
How can you:
Make your business writing clear, concise and to the point?
Attract and keep the interest of diverse readers?
Plan and schedule your documents to meet tight deadlines?
Work out what to put in and what to leave out of your emails, reports and posts?
Polish your document so that it looks professional?
Enroll now to answer these questions and many more with this comprehensive introduction to business writing.
Are you writing reports, blogs, proposals or work emails? This hands-on course will turbo-charge your writing skills. You'll be producing clear, concise, engaging documents that look great from day one.
"The material was excellently presented. You didn't feel overwhelmed by it, but you soon realized that those bite-sized chunks of information were quickly adding up. I learned a lot and will be going through the course again to pick up any crumbs I may have missed. And then one more time for an in-depth review. Jakki is great! I'll be looking out for any other courses she may have." WILLIE TOWNES, UDEMY STUDENT
"This is an excellent course with so much valuable content and tools that I can use straight away." JOZEFA FAWCETT, UDEMY STUDENT
"Clear, comprehensive and concise step-by-step guide, with useful tools to brainstorm and practise new lessons learnt." JOELY HODGSON, UDEMY STUDENT
"This course is well-structured and easy to follow. Highly recommendable for both native and non-native English speakers." ANITA JENSEN, UDEMY STUDENT
WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT THIS COURSE?
This business writing course is from a professional trainer and copywriter with an MBA and a strong business background. So you can be sure that you'll learn proven techniques from someone who writes and trains for a living. All the examples, case studies and exercises use real-life business documents - reports, emails, web copy and so on. Everything you learn is proven to work in today's dynamic business environment.
I'm Jakki, your tutor. My first career was as a marketing executive at a global publisher, The Readers Digest Association. Today, I write and deliver courses and workshops for clients like The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), The Forestry Commission and The Centre for Strategy and Communication, among others.
I'm also a freelance copywriter who writes business documents, proposals and web copy for corporates, non-profits and small businesses. If you're an aspiring copywriter, the skills you learn on this course will help you break into the lucrative business writing market.
I've included loads of written practice exercises and real-life worked examples as well as video tutorials and demonstrations. These are tried, tested and honed over years of working with corporate clients. So they're highly effective. You'll find:
19 bite-sized, focused video tutorials.
Supported by 3 downloadable handbooks containing notes, examples, checklists and other reference material.
16 worksheets for you to practise the skills you've learned, with suggested answers for comparison.
6 quick quizzes, one at the beginning and end of each section to help you target your learning and measure your progress.
Another important aspect of this course is that it is structured for flexibility, saving you time by focusing on what you need to know, when you need to know it.
Part 1 - everything you need to know about approaching and planning your writing project to save writing time and effort
Part 2 - tune up your writing style and write clear, concise and engaging content for any audience
Part 3 - polish your work to a professional standard and find hidden editing tools in Microsoft Word
The course gives you an overview of the whole writing process, step-by-step, from planning to publication. But you can also dive into a specific part of the process, depending on where you are with your document.
If you're starting a document from scratch, start at part 1 (Planning) and get the foundations right.
On the other hand, if you've already started your document and want to fine-tune it, go straight to part 2 (Quick ways to improve your writing style).
And if you're close to the deadline and just want to give it a quick but effective edit and proofread, go to part 3 (Review and polish).
"Good for beginners & intermediates. We are taught about getting to the point and how business writing is different from others...how to save your time all along the entire process and of course you will be able to impress your boss." ROY MATHEW, UDEMY STUDENT
"Jakki is an excellent tutor ... I do not hesitate in recommending this course to others who want to improve their writing skills." LAURA SMITH, UDEMY STUDENT
"Satisfying and helpful!" ALLEN JONES, UDEMY STUDENT
As well as Udemy's 30-day guarantee, you have my personal promise that what you learn on this course will give you the foundations of good writing practice. These will benefit you throughout your career, as they have for hundreds of other students who have taken my courses.
Don't waste another minute worrying that your writing skills are letting you down. Take this course and start writing confidently, like a pro. Enroll now!