The four main types of business writing are:

1. Instructional
2. Informational
3. Transactional
4. Persuasive

Each of these business types refers to a distinct business document written in a different style
and tone, for example, persuasive type points towards writing project proposals in a
persuasive tone, and instructional tone points towards writing instruction guides in an
instructional writing tone. Detail for these business writing types is given here:

1. Instructional

As clear from the name, the instructional writing style provides instructions to the reader for a
specific task. This type of business writing directs the reader to take an action.

Instructional writing results in teaching the reader about work operations or processes.
Instructional documents include a method for a worker to use equipment, a method for the
customer to use a product, or a method for troubleshooting an equipment issue.

Choosing an instructional writing style is a privilege for business writers to win the trust of
readers by providing information that helps and instructs the reader.

What are Tips to Focus on while Writing Instructional Business Documents?

Here are some tips to focus on while adapting to the instructional writing type for your
business documents:

1. Provide instruction in a clear and easily comprehendible form

2. Break the steps into multiple sections and sub-sections
3. Write in simpler words
4. Keep the audience’s level of professionalism and expertise in your views while writing
5. Mention the solutions of most common problems that customers/workers commonly
encounter

Follow these tips to write instructional business documents.

What are Examples of Instructional Business Writing?

Instructional writing includes the instructions to teach a reader about a certain operation and
process. This writing style is majorly used to write instruction guides and how-to articles.
Here’s the list of instructional writing examples:

1. Knowledge-based libraries
2. Training materials
3. Guides
4. How-to articles
5. User manuals
6. On-board instructions

Choose instructional writing style while drafting the above-mentioned business documents.

2. Informational Business Writing

As clear from the name, informational writing is used to provide information to the audience
about some event or operation. This writing type is slightly similar to the instructional writing
type, but the major goal of this type of writing is to inform the reader, provide insights and
information about a distinct topic.

Informational writing style provides you a chance to prove your business as a voice of
authority, and your business can become more trustworthy for the buyers, investors, and
audience.

What are Tips to Focus on while Writing Informational Business Documents?

You can recall these tips while writing an informational business document:

1. Provide the most relevant information

2. Talk with facts instead of opinions and assumptions

3. Write with a focus on the expertise of your audience
4. Organize the provided information sequentially to make the most out of it.
5. Provided information should be value-additive and insightful for the reader
What are examples of informational business writing?

You should adopt an Informational tone when your goal is to deliver important information to
the intended audience. Examples of Informational business documents are listed here:

1. Conferences papers
2. White papers
3. Educational material regarding a tool or equipment to potential and current customers
4. Financial reports for the internal business employees
5. Employee handbooks
6. Quarterly reviews
7. Business reports

While drafting the above-mentioned business documentation, keep your writing tone
informative for the reader.

3. Transactional

Day-to-day communications with the business employees, teammates, and workers fall under
the transactional business writing type. This business writing category is majorly used for
internal written business communication, but it has some external use-cases as well.

A message, business letter, and email are written with a transactional business writing tone.
This business writing type is sometimes also referred to as conversational business writing
tone.

What are the Examples of Transactional Business Writing?

Transactional business writing covers the below-mentioned business documentation types:

1. Informal email
2. Business Letter
3. Invoice
4. Contract documentation
5. Receipts
6. Checkout docs
 7. Handouts
4. Persuasive

The persuasive business writing style is adapted when you want to convince the target
audience like a customer or an investor. This writing style should convince a reader to take
action based on the provided facts and benefits. For a customer, this writing style lists the
benefits of a service or equipment you want to sell, while for an investor, this type of writing
style provides the list of benefits along with facts for making an investment. A persuasive
writing tone convinces an investor to invest in your business.

Persuasive writing style can also embed informational, and instructional business writing type
in it. Both these writing styles provide information and instructions, you can use them as
evidence of your proposed arguments in the persuasive business document.

This writing style should be written in a convincing tone so that it urges the reader to make a
decision in the support of your business.

What are Tips to Focus on while Writing Persuasive Business Documents?

As your major writing goal is to convince the reader to take action that’s profitable for you,
the following tips can be beneficial:

1. Write from your audience’s perspective

2. Shape your proposed arguments according to the priorities and requirements of the
reader
3. Provide facts and evidence to support your claim
4. Write creatively as it always makes a positive difference

5. Do efficient writing. Cut out the extra details that affect your evidence

Follow these tips for effective persuasive business writing.

What are Examples of Persuasive Business Writing?

A persuasive writing tone is adapted when you want to inspire and convince the reader to take
action in your support. Here are some examples of persuasive writing:

1. Project proposals
 2. Product copies
3. Grant proposals
4. Sales content
5. Marketing content
6. Banners
7. Flyers

When your target goal is to convince the reader, adapt a persuasive writing tone.

Choosing an appropriate writing tone while drafting your business documents and materials is
the key to success. A mismatched tone can not only distract the reader but also reduce the
chances to achieve your business goals. So, an effective business writing tone should be
adapted depending on the objectives and goals of business documents.