The Business Writing Course from Udemy

Your success in business depends on your ability to communicate.

Want to get ahead in your career? Learn to write well.

If you can’t write clearly, you won’t get hired. And if can’t write clearly, you won’t last long enough in a position to be considered for promotion. If you want to get ahead in your career, you must learn to write well.

Welcome to The Business Writing Course. I’m your instructor, Alan Sharpe. I teach business people around the world how to write clearly, concisely and convincingly. I landed my first paying writing assignment in 1987, and I taught my first business writing workshop in 1989. Since then, I’ve helped hundreds of individuals advance their careers by improving their business writing. Now I’d like to help you.

The Business Writing Course is divided into four modules:

Module one is an introduction to the world of business writing
Module two teaches you the first step in business writing—how to organize your thoughts
Module three teaches you the second step in business writing—writing your first draft
Module four teaches you the third and final step in business writing—editing your first draft

Ideal student?The ideal student for The Business Writing Course is anyone who wants to advance their career by improving their writing. If you want to get hired, or if you want to get promoted, and if poor writing is holding you back, then this course is for you.

The Business Writing Course is practicalI pass on to you all that I’ve learned about effective business writing during my last three decades as a writer, editor and proofreader. I show you the most common mistakes that business people make in their writing today—and then I show you how to avoid these blunders in your writing.

The Business Writing Course is convenientIt’s delivered as a series of on-demand video lessons. Each lesson includes a downloadable transcript, helpful for reading on the train or in your spare time.

You learn on your scheduleStudy from anywhere in the world that has an internet connection. Watch the lessons, complete the exercises and download the resources from anywhere.

Enjoy lifetime accessYou get unlimited access to every lesson, every exercise, every checklist, every helpful resource and every lesson transcript. Wherever you go in your career, the course goes with you.

Learn moreLearn more about The Business Writing Course by reviewing the course description and frequently asked questions below. Watch the free preview lessons. Read the reviews from my satisfied students. Then enroll today.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Write like a leader
Write clearly

Write concisely
Write convincingly

Write like a leader
Write clearly
Write concisely
Write convincingly

Syllabus

Introduction

Lesson 1: Avoid the bureaucratic style

Lesson 2: Seven qualities of good business writing

Lesson 3: Adopt the "you-centered" business style

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Teaches techniques to avoid common writing mistakes, which can help professionals refine their communication and improve their chances of promotion

Explores the 'you-centered' business style, which is useful for professionals who want to build rapport and connect with their audience

Includes lessons on editing and proofreading, which are essential skills for producing polished and professional business documents

Requires learners to rewrite sentences and paragraphs, which may be time-consuming for some learners

Covers sentence construction and grammar, which are fundamental skills for effective written communication in a professional setting

Reviews summary

Practical course for clear business writing

According to learners, this course provides a strong foundation in business writing, focusing on how to write clearly, concisely, and convincingly. Many found the course structure and module progression to be logical and easy to follow, making it an ideal starting point for improving professional communication skills. Reviewers frequently mentioned the practicality of the advice given, noting that the techniques taught could be immediately applied to daily work, such as emails and reports. While highly praised for its foundational content and approachability, some students felt it might be too basic for those with more experience seeking advanced strategies.

Well-organized lessons with helpful guidance.

"The course is very well organized into logical steps, easy to follow."

"Instructor explains concepts clearly and the modules build on each other effectively."

"Enjoyed the systematic approach to planning, drafting, and editing."

Excellent starting point for improving writing.

"This course is perfect for anyone who is just starting to focus on improving their business writing."

"A great introduction to the fundamentals of effective professional communication."

"Provided a solid base for understanding key business writing principles."

Provides tips for immediate use in work.

"The tips shared are practical and can be applied in day-to-day business communication immediately."

"I appreciated the focus on real-world scenarios and how to improve practical business documents."

"Learned actionable steps I could use right away to write better emails and reports."

Practical techniques for clear communication.

"The course is well-structured and teaches you exactly how to write clearly and concisely."

"I learned simple strategies to make my writing much clearer and easier to understand."

"Helped me cut down on jargon and unnecessary words for better clarity in emails."

May not suit experienced writers.

"While good for beginners, it was mostly a refresher for someone with prior writing training."

"I was hoping for more advanced techniques, but it stayed mostly on foundational concepts."

"Covers the essentials well, but if you're already a strong writer, you might not find much new."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The Business Writing Course with these activities:

Review 'On Writing Well'

Show steps

Reinforce the principles of clear and concise writing by studying a well-regarded guide.

View Extraordinary Lives on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'On Writing Well'.
Read the book, taking notes on key concepts.
Reflect on how these concepts apply to business writing.

Review Grammar Fundamentals

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Strengthen your understanding of grammar rules to avoid common writing errors.

Browse courses on Grammar

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Identify areas of grammar you find challenging.
Use online resources or textbooks to review these areas.
Complete practice exercises to test your knowledge.

Analyze Business Writing Samples

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Improve your ability to identify effective and ineffective writing techniques in real-world examples.

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Collect examples of business writing (emails, reports, memos).
Analyze each sample for clarity, conciseness, and tone.
Identify strengths and weaknesses in each example.
Rewrite weaker samples to improve their effectiveness.

Four other activities

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Show all seven activities

Write a Sample Business Email

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Practice applying the course's principles by crafting a professional email for a specific scenario.

Show steps

Choose a common business email scenario (e.g., requesting information, following up on a meeting).
Draft an email that is clear, concise, and professional.
Revise the email based on the course's editing guidelines.

Sentence Rewriting Exercises

Show steps

Sharpen your editing skills by practicing rewriting sentences to improve clarity and conciseness.

Show steps

Find examples of poorly written sentences (online or in business documents).
Rewrite each sentence to make it clearer and more concise.
Compare your rewritten sentences to the original.

Create an Editing Checklist

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Consolidate your learning by creating a personalized checklist to use when editing your own writing.

Show steps

Review the course's editing lessons.
Create a checklist of key editing points.
Use the checklist to edit a sample of your own writing.

Review 'The Elements of Style'

Show steps

Reinforce the principles of grammar and style by studying a classic guide.

View Melania on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'The Elements of Style'.
Read the book, focusing on the rules of usage and composition.
Refer to the book when editing your own writing.

Career center

Learners who complete The Business Writing Course will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Copywriter

A copywriter crafts compelling content for advertising and marketing campaigns. Copywriters need to possess excellent writing skills in order to persuade their target audience. The Business Writing Course helps copywriters master clarity, conciseness, and persuasive techniques. By focusing on organizing thoughts, drafting effective copy, and editing meticulously, this course helps copywriters create impactful and engaging content. The course's modules on sentence structure, word choice, and grammatical accuracy are crucial for producing polished and professional copy. The emphasis on understanding the reader and tailoring the message accordingly further enhances a copywriter's ability to connect with audiences and drive results. The lessons on avoiding common writing mistakes and using the active voice are particularly useful for crafting clear and persuasive marketing materials.

See salaries and explore the career path for Copywriter

Content Strategist

A content strategist plans, develops, and manages content across various platforms to achieve specific business goals. Content strategists require strong writing and communication skills to create effective content strategies. The Business Writing Course helps content strategists enhance their writing abilities and develop a strategic approach to content creation. By focusing on clarity, conciseness, and persuasive writing, the course helps content strategists craft compelling content that resonates with their target audience. The modules on organizing thoughts, drafting effective content, and editing meticulously are invaluable for creating impactful content strategies. The emphasis on understanding the reader and tailoring the message accordingly further enhances a content strategist's ability to connect with the audience and achieve business objectives. The course may be valuable for anyone seeking to improve writing skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Content Strategist

Corporate Blogger

Corporate bloggers write blog posts on behalf of a company to engage with customers, share industry insights, and promote the brand. A corporate blogger typically needs to write clearly, concisely, and persuasively to capture the attention of readers. The Business Writing Course helps corporate bloggers refine their writing skills and develop effective content strategies for blogging. The emphasis on clarity, conciseness, and persuasive writing enables corporate bloggers to craft compelling blog posts that resonate with their target audience. The modules on organizing thoughts, drafting effective content, and editing meticulously are invaluable for creating impactful blog content. The course may be useful for those seeking to improve writing skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Corporate Blogger

Editor

Editors review and revise written content to ensure clarity, accuracy, and consistency. Editors need a strong command of grammar, style, and composition. The Business Writing Course addresses the core skills required for an editor, including writing clearly and editing meticulously. This course is valuable for aspiring editors looking to refine their skills. By focusing on organizing thoughts, drafting effective content, and mastering editing techniques, this course helps editors improve their ability to polish and refine written materials. The modules on grammar, sentence structure, and word choice directly address key areas of concern for editors. This course helps build a foundation for a career as an editor.

See salaries and explore the career path for Editor

Communications Manager

A communications manager oversees internal and external communications for an organization. They ensure that messages are clear, consistent, and aligned with the company's goals. The Business Writing Course helps communications managers refine their writing skills and develop effective communication strategies. By emphasizing clarity, conciseness, and persuasive writing, this course enables communications managers to craft compelling messages that resonate with their target audiences. The modules on organizing thoughts, drafting effective content, and editing meticulously help communications managers create impactful communications plans. The focus on understanding the audience and tailoring the message accordingly is crucial for successful communication. This course may be valuable for anyone seeking to improve communication skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Communications Manager

Proposal Manager

A proposal manager oversees the development and submission of proposals in response to requests for proposals. Proposal managers require strong writing, organizational, and project management skills to manage complex proposals. The Business Writing Course supports the skills needed by a proposal manager, focusing on clarity, conciseness, and persuasive writing. By learning to organize thoughts effectively, draft clear proposals, and meticulously edit for accuracy, aspiring proposal managers are well-prepared to create compelling proposals that meet client requirements. The focus on understanding the client's needs and tailoring the message accordingly is particularly relevant for creating winning proposals. The modules on sentence structure, word choice, and grammatical accuracy help produce polished and professional documents. This course helps build a foundation for a career as a proposal manager.

See salaries and explore the career path for Proposal Manager

Technical Writer

Technical writers create clear and concise documentation for complex products and services. A technical writer needs to translate technical jargon into easily understandable language for users. The Business Writing Course directly supports the skills needed by a technical writer, emphasizing clarity, conciseness, and precision in writing. By learning to organize thoughts effectively, draft clear explanations, and meticulously edit for accuracy, aspiring technical writers are well-prepared to create user manuals, guides, and other technical documents. The focus on avoiding ambiguity and using simple language is particularly relevant for simplifying complex information. This course helps build a foundation for a career as a technical writer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Marketing Specialist

Marketing specialists develop and implement marketing campaigns to promote products or services. Marketing specialists must communicate effectively with their target audience. The Business Writing Course helps marketing specialists refine their writing skills and develop effective communication strategies. The emphasis on clarity, conciseness, and persuasive writing enables marketing specialists to craft compelling messages that resonate with target audiences. The modules on organizing thoughts, drafting effective content, and editing meticulously are invaluable for creating impactful marketing materials. This course may be valuable for anyone seeking to improve marketing skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Marketing Specialist

Grant Writer

Grant writers research and write proposals to secure funding for organizations. Grant writers need to persuade potential funders of the value and impact of a project. The Business Writing Course helps grant writers hone their persuasive writing skills and craft compelling proposals. By emphasizing clarity, conciseness, and persuasive techniques, this course helps grant writers articulate the need for funding and the potential impact of their projects. The modules on organizing thoughts, drafting effective content, and editing meticulously are essential for creating polished and persuasive grant proposals. The emphasis on understanding the audience and tailoring the message accordingly further enhances a grant writer's ability to connect with funders and secure funding. This course may be useful for those who wish to become grant writers.

See salaries and explore the career path for Grant Writer

Web Content Writer

Web content writers create engaging and informative content for websites, blogs, and other online platforms. An effective web content writer needs to write clearly, concisely, and persuasively to capture the attention of online readers. The Business Writing Course helps web content writers refine their writing skills and develop effective content strategies for the web. The emphasis on clarity, conciseness, and persuasive writing enables web content writers to craft compelling content that resonates with their target audience. The modules on organizing thoughts, drafting effective content, and editing meticulously are invaluable for creating impactful web content. The course may be useful for those seeking to improve writing skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Content Writer

Public Relations Specialist

A public relations specialist manages an organization's reputation and communications with the public. Public relations specialists must be adept at crafting press releases, media pitches, and other communications materials that present the organization in a positive light. The Business Writing Course helps public relations specialists refine their writing skills and develop effective communication strategies. The emphasis on clarity, conciseness, and persuasive writing enables public relations specialists to craft compelling messages that resonate with target audiences. The modules on organizing thoughts, drafting effective content, and editing meticulously are invaluable for creating impactful communication plans. This course may be valuable for anyone seeking to improve communication skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Public Relations Specialist

Internal Communications Officer

An internal communications officer manages communications within an organization, ensuring employees are informed and engaged. Internal Communications Officers are required to write clearly, concisely, and persuasively. The Business Writing Course can help those who wish to become Internal Communications Officers to refine writing skills and develop effective strategies. By focusing on organizing thoughts, drafting effective content, and editing meticulously, this course can help improve the ability to craft internal communications that resonate with employees. Modules on sentence structure, word choice, and grammatical accuracy are especially useful. This course may be beneficial for those seeking to improve business writing skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Internal Communications Officer

Social Media Manager

Social media managers oversee an organization's social media presence and create engaging content to connect with their audience. Social media managers need to be able to write concisely and persuasively to capture attention in a fast-paced online environment. The Business Writing Course helps social media managers refine their writing skills and develop effective communication strategies for social media. The emphasis on clarity, conciseness, and persuasive writing enables social media managers to craft compelling content that resonates with their target audience. The modules on organizing thoughts, drafting effective content, and editing meticulously are invaluable for creating impactful social media campaigns. This course may be valuable for anyone seeking to improve business skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Media Manager

Journalist

Journalists investigate and report on current events for newspapers, magazines, television, and online media. The work of a journalist relies on strong writing and communication skills to convey information accurately and engagingly. The Business Writing Course helps journalists enhance their writing abilities and develop a clear, concise, and persuasive writing style. By focusing on organizing thoughts, drafting effective content, and editing meticulously, this course helps journalists craft compelling news stories and features. The modules on grammar, sentence structure, and word choice are invaluable for producing polished and professional journalistic work. This course may be useful for those who wish to improve writing skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Journalist

Training and Development Specialist

Training and development specialists create and deliver training programs for employees. They need to communicate effectively and write clear, concise training materials. The Business Writing Course helps training and development specialists refine their writing skills and develop effective training content. By emphasizing clarity, conciseness, and persuasive writing, this course helps training specialists craft engaging and informative training materials. The modules on organizing thoughts, drafting effective content, and editing meticulously are particularly useful for creating structured and easy-to-understand training programs. The course can be helpful for those seeking to improve their business writing skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Training and Development Specialist

The Business Writing Course

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

Traffic lights

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Reviews summary

Practical course for clear business writing

Activities

Career center

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