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SAGE UNIVERSITY, BHOPAL

SANJEEV AGRAWAL GLOBAL EDUCATION UNIVERSITY

UC20B102 COMMUNICATION SKILLS


AUTUMN SEMESTER 2022
BBA | Semester 1

INSTRUCTOR: MS. ADITI MITTAL


aditi.m@sageuniversity.edu.in

LETTER WRITING

A letter is a written document, a sort of conversation which takes place between two
individuals, companies or officials.

Letter writing might appear to be an extinct form of conversation in the current


technological world but it is still one of the most preferred forms of documented
communications in the formal, official space.

Basically, a letter can be either formal or informal.

INFORMAL LETTERS
● An informal letter is addressed to a personal relation such as parents, friends,
relatives etc.
● It is casual in tone wherein you can relax and express your emotions accordingly.
One should use a simple and natural style of writing here.
● There is no specified rule regarding the length, format or expression in it.

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FORMAT OF AN INFORMAL LETTER

There is a standard format which is used while writing informal letters which is as follows:

Sender’s Address (top of the page)

Receiver’s Address

Date

Salutation (Dear, respected etc.)

Body of the letter

Signature (your name)

FORMAL LETTERS
Formal letters can be divided into two different categories:

● Official
● Business

OFFICIAL LETTERS

Letters written in official capacity to correspond with a colleague, senior or any other
member in an office. The format of an official letter is as follows:

Sender’s Address

Date

Receiver’s Address

Salutation (Respected Sir/Ma’am, Greetings, Dear Sir/Ma’am etc.)

Subject (topic of the letter)

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Content (the main body of the letter)

Closing compliment (Yours Sincerely, with due regards, thanking you etc.)

Name and designation (of the one who is writing the letter)

BUSINESS LETTERS

● It is a letter written in formal language, used when writing from one business
organisation to another, or for correspondence between such organisations and
their customers, clients and other external parties.

● They are used for different purposes; like placing orders, making inquiries’, making
credit requests, requesting claims and adjustment, to apologise for a wrong or
simply to convey goodwill. etc.

● Even today, they are very useful because it produces a permanent record, they are
confidential, formal and deliver persuasive, well-considered messages.

● Style of the letter depends on the relationship between the parties concerned.

EXAMPLE 1 - FORMAL LETTER

16 Ring Road Nagpur – 01

November 30, 20xx

The Director
ABC Classes
35 Patel Street
Delhi − 18

Dear Sir,
Sub.: Enquiry about CAT Coaching Classes.

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This is with reference to your advertisement in the ‘The Times of India’ for CAT Coaching
classes. I have passed the B.Sc. degree examination with Statistics as the main subject. I am
keen on joining your institute for the coaching classes.

Kindly let me know about the procedure of applying for the qualifying test and its date. I
would also like to know the duration of the coaching programme, the duration and the
number of classes per week along with the available mode of classes. Information about
the fees payable and the study materials is highly appreciated. Could you please send me a
copy of your prospectus?

I would like to enroll as soon as possible. Your early response will enable me to decide fast.

Thanking you.

With kind regards XYZ

EXAMPLE 2: COMPLAINT LETTER

New Business World 16 Ring Road


Delhi – 01

November 30, 20xx

The Manager
ABC Stationary King 35 Patel Street
Delhi − 18

Dear Sir,

Sub.: Complaint against Order No. S/24-201S-1147.

This is with reference to the Order No. S/24-201S-1147 place on Nov 17, 20xx. The order
consists of letterhead and business cards. As per the agreement, we were promised of
receiving the order latest by Nov 22, 20xx. First of all, the order did not arrive in time. Also,
the quality of the papers and design selected for business cards is not matching with the
selected one.

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We have faced a lot of embarrassment and inconvenience and our reputation is at stake in
the eyes of our clients.

Kindly ensure that the order will be replaced latest by Dec 4, 20xx, failing which payment
will be stopped or the will be cancelled. I sincerely request you to look into the matter and
do the needful as soon as possible.

Thanking you.

Yours truly
XYZ
General Manager

EXAMPLE 3: PURCHASE LETTER

New Era Business


16 Ring Road
Delhi – 01

November 30, 20xx

The Manager
Woods and Worlds
35 Patel Street
Delhi − 18

Dear Sir,

Sub.: Placing order for furniture.

As we have discussed telephonically, on behalf of our company I like to place an immediate


order for the supply of the following set of furniture.

Model No. Name of the item Quantity

Er456 Conference Table 02

Th768 Chair 24

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Bg098 Bookshelf 02

Hy234 Sofa 02

As we have discussed, we are sending a demand draft of Rs. 20,000 as advance payment.
The rest will be paid at the time of delivery. Kindly ship the above order at the
above-mentioned address.

Kindly adhere to the terms of the agreement. We hope to receive the order in four working
days.

Thanking You.
Yours truly
XYZ
HR

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JOB RESUME/CV WRITING

WHAT IS A RESUME?

Resume is French for "summary." A resume provides a summary of your education, work
history, credentials, and other accomplishments and skills. Resumes are the most common
document requested of applicants in job applications.

A resume should be as concise as possible. Typically, a resume is one page long. Resumes
often include bulleted lists to keep information concise.

Resumes come in a few types, including chronological, functional, and combination


formats. Select a format that best fits the type of job you are applying for.

WHAT IS A CV?

Curriculum Vitae (CV) is Latin for "course of life." A curriculum vitae (CV) provides a
summary of your experience and skills. Typically, CVs for entry-level candidates are longer
than resumes—at least two or three pages. CVs for mid-level candidates who have
amassed numerous publications tend to run much longer.

CVs are lengthier than resumes and include more information, particularly details related
to one’s academic and research background.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A RESUME AND A CV

RESUME CV

● Emphasise skills. ● Emphasises academic


accomplishments.

● Used when applying for a position in ● used when applying for positions in
industry, non-profit, and public academia, fellowships and grants.
sector.

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● Is no longer than 2 pages, with an ● Length depends upon experience


additional page for publications and includes a complete list of
and/or poster presentations if highly publications, posters, and
relevant to the job. presentations.

● After 1 year of industry experience, ● Always begins with education and


lead with work experience and place can include name of advisor and
education section at the or near the dissertation title or summary (see
end, depending upon qualifications. examples). Also used for
merit/tenure review and sabbatical
leave.

WHAT IS A CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME?

A chronological resume lists your work history in order of date, with the most recent
position at the top. It might include a resume objective or career summary before the list of
work experiences.

Make sure that the dates, job titles, salary history (if included), etc. are accurate before you
submit your resume and application.

Education, certifications, and special skills follow work experience in this style of resume.

CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME FORMAT

● PERSONAL DETAILS
● RESUME OBJECTIVE/ CAREER SUMMARY.
● CORE QUALIFICATIONS
● PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
● EDUCATION

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SAMPLE CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME

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WHAT IS A FUNCTIONAL RESUME?

A functional resume showcases an applicant's skills. It may start with a summary of


qualifications followed by a list of a candidate's skills and examples of using those skills.

For example, you might list "Leadership" as a skill, then follow that with examples of when
you've shown leadership.

A functional resume draws attention away from items that a hiring manager might find
problematic. It de-emphasizes gaps in your work history or the fact that you're making a
significant career change.

FUNCTIONAL RESUME FORMAT

● PERSONAL DETAILS
● RESUME SUMMARY (including Key Skills)
● PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (Thematically divided into sections like Educational,
Marketing and Sales, Management and Supervision, and so on)
● EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS

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SAMPLE FUNCTIONAL RESUME

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WHAT IS A COMBINATION RESUME

A combination resume lists your skills and qualifications first. Your employment history is
listed next, in reverse chronological order (beginning with your current or most recent job
and then working back through earlier positions).

When you use a combination resume, you can showcase the skills you have that are
relevant to the job for which you’re applying, while also providing the work history that
employers have requested.

The combination resume is typically sectioned into two parts:


● The first part is similar to a functional resume in that it highlights skills,
achievements, and qualifications.
● The second part depicts the timeline of one’s work experience.

COMBINATION RESUME FORMAT

● PERSONAL DETAILS
● RESUME SUMMARY (highlight key skills, achievements and qualifications)
● PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (Chronologically arranged work experience with the
earliest one on top.)
● EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS

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SAMPLE COMBINATION RESUME

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TIPS FOR WRITING A GOOD RESUME

● Include the Right Information


● Pick the appropriate Resume Format
● Review Templates and Samples
● Match Your Qualifications to the Job
● Include Important Keywords and Power Words
● Highlight Hot Skills
● Optimise Job Descriptions

POWER WORDS TO USE IN A RESUME

Power words are used for several reasons. First, many hiring managers quickly skim
through resumes and cover letters due to the high volume they receive. These power
words jump off the page, quickly showing the hiring manager you have the skills and
qualifications to get the job done.

Finally, power words (especially keywords) are useful when a company uses an Applicant
Tracking System (ATS). These tracking systems help screen applications so that employers
only need to focus on the top candidates. One way an ATS works is to eliminate resumes
that are missing certain keywords. By including these words, you increase your chances of
making it through the ATS and having your application read.

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REPORT WRITING
A report is a concise document that contains facts and evidence to analyze different topics
with a specific purpose. Reports are considered informative texts as they focus on the facts.
Moreover, reports are non-fiction, and they are different from essays and research papers.

Reports are written under headings, subheadings, sections, and sub-sections. Key facts and
points of a report can be presented using bullet forms. Simultaneously, statistical
information can be presented using graphs and charts in reports. Basically, the structure of
a report consists of an introduction, methodology, results, discussion, and summary. This
format is the most commonly used format when writing reports. Nevertheless, the format
of the report can be changed according to the purpose and the institutional requirement.

Reports should be written in a formal and precise language. A standard and direct
vocabulary is used in writing reports. Furthermore, report writing should not include
emotive words because the purpose of a report is to communicate facts to an audience.

TYPES OF REPORTS

Formal or Informal Reports


Formal reports are carefully structured; they stress objectivity and organisation, contain
much detail, and are written in a style that tends to eliminate such elements as personal
pronouns. Informal reports are usually short messages with natural, casual use of
language. The internal memorandum can generally be described as an informal report.

Short or Long Reports


A one-page memorandum is considered short, and a twenty page report is clearly long.
Bear in mind that as a report becomes longer it takes on more characteristics of formal
reports.

Informational or Analytical Reports


Informational reports (annual reports, monthly financial reports, reports on personnel
absenteeism) carry objective information from one area of an organisation to another.
Analytical reports (scientific research, feasibility reports, real-estate appraisals) present
attempts to solve problems.

The Proposal Report

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A proposal is a document prepared to describe how one organisation can meet the needs
of another. Most governmental agencies advertise their needs by issuing “requests for
proposal,” or RFPs. The RFP specifies a need and potential suppliers prepare proposal
reports telling how they can meet that need.

Vertical or Lateral Reports


This classification refers to the direction a report travels. Reports that move upward or
downward the hierarchy are referred to as vertical reports; such reports contribute to
management control. Lateral reports, on the other hand, assist in coordination in the
organization. A report traveling between units of the same organization level (production
and finance departments) is lateral.

Internal or External Reports


Internal reports travel within the organization. External reports, such as annual reports of
companies, are prepared for distribution outside the organization.

Periodic Reports
Periodic reports are issued on regularly scheduled dates. They are generally upward
directed and serve management control. Preprinted forms and computer-generated data
contribute to uniformity of periodic reports.

Functional Reports
This classification includes accounting reports, marketing reports, financial reports, and a
variety of other reports that take their designation from the ultimate use of the report.

PROPOSAL WRITING
A proposal is a written document that presents a suggestion and brings it forward for the
consideration of the others. A proposal should be influential and easy to read. At the same
time, the language used in a proposal should be easy to understand. The purpose of a
proposal can be different from one another. There are various types of proposals, such as
business proposals, funding proposals, academic proposals, and marketing proposals.
One important thing that one should pay attention to in writing proposals is that the writer
should focus on the reader or the audience of the proposal thoroughly. The writer of the
proposal should understand the wants and needs of the readers.

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There is a format to be followed when writing proposals. The format can be different
according to the category of the proposal. The basic format of a proposal includes the
introduction, problem statement, goals and outcomes, methodology, and expected results.
However, this basic format can be different according to the purpose of the proposal.

In addition, research proposals are documents that propose research projects. These
research proposals follow a distinct format that is different from basic proposals.
REPORTS AND PROPOSALS

Reports and proposals are documents written for a specific purpose and audience. A
report, generally, consists of an analysis of a situation or problem at hand and
recommends a solution for it. Proposals, in the similar manner, explain a need that is
identified and offer a course of action in response to it.

Although verbal communication is the fastest of all methods, organisations generally have
a preference for written communication due to the permanency of record that it allows as
well as their availability for reference whenever required.

TIPS TO WRITE A GOOD RESEARCH/ REPORT

● Research the topic and its allied areas very well.


● Try to meet your readers’ expectations.
● Never let yourself take the reader for granted.
● You must write with clarity, showing your logical train of thoughts, and ensure the
authenticity of your statements.
● Develop and retain your credibility with the readers.
● Always check your facts and figures and never let your readers lose confidence in
you for making an incorrect or confusing statement

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LAYOUT STYLE

BLOCK
● Each line of every part begins at the left margin.
● At least one line space between each part.
● Time saving method and beautiful to look at, also known as American style.

INDENT
● New paragraphs begin about 1.5 centimetres to the right of the left margin.
● This style is also known as Hanging style.
● This method consumes a lot of time, looks shabby , therefore out of practice.

SEMI BLOCK/MODIFIED BLOCK


● Some parts are typed in block method and other parts are indented.
● Return address, date, closing and signature start just to the right of the centre of
the page or may be flush with the right margin.
● Most widely followed method in our country, especially in the government offices.

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EMAIL WRITING
Email stands for electronic mail. It is the easiest and the cheapest way of communication. It
is used in formal, semi-formal as well as an informal way of expression or writing.

Emails are of three types: Formal email & Informal email

ELEMENTS OF AN EMAIL
A basic mail must include these elements for a clear understanding.

These elements are:


● From
● TO
● Cc
● Bcc
● Subject
● Greeting / Salutation
● Main body
● Closing
● Attachments
● Signature Line

ADVANTAGES OF EMAIL WRITING


● It is a cheaper form of communication.
● Email helps to contact or send information to a large group of people.
● It provides a written record of the communication. ï Email writing is an
instantaneous form of communication.
● It can be used anytime and anywhere.

DISADVANTAGES OF EMAIL WRITING


● We need to have the internet to receive or send email.
● Viruses are easily spread via email attachments.
● One can get many junk emails.
● There is no guarantee if the reader reads the email or not.
● The details can be used for identity theft.

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SEVEN COMPONENTS OF A GOOD TWITTER/ FACEBOOK BIO:


● It’s accurate. One professional description.
● It’s exciting. One word that is not boring.
● It’s targeted. One niche descriptor.
● It’s flattering. One accomplishment.
● It’s humanising. One hobby.
● It’s intriguing. One interesting fact or feature about yourself.
● It’s connected. Your company or another social profile.

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NOTE MAKING
Note Making is a way of recording important details from a source. This source can be any
book, article, meeting or any oral discussion. In note making, the writer records the
essence of the information. It helps us to understand and clarify thinking. Note making
saves a lot of time by going through the notes made. One can get a glimpse of a lot of
information from a short note.

Making notes helps you to:


● stay active and engaged during your lectures, reading and revision
● understand what you are learning and clarify your thinking
● be selective and identify key ideas
● remember the material
● organise your ideas and make connections
● plan and structure written assignments
● review and revise before exams.

HOW TO MAKE NOTES:

1. Read the passage carefully.

2. Give a heading to your work. The heading will be based on the following considerations.
(i) What is the main idea of the passage?
(ii) Frame a heading based on the main idea.
(iii) Write it in the middle of the page.

3. Give subheadings
(i) How has the main idea been presented and developed?
(ii) Are there two or three subordinate/associated ideas?
(iii) Frame subheadings based on these.

4. Points are to be noted under each subheading.


Are there further details or points of the subtitles that you wish to keep in these
notes? These are called points. Points may have subpoints.

5. All subheadings should be at a uniform distance from the margin.

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6. Indenting – Points should also be at the same distance away from the margin.

7. Do not write complete sentences.

8. Abbreviations should be used.

II. HELP WITH ABBREVIATIONS:

1. Use standard abbreviations and symbols as far as possible.

(i) Capitalise the first letters of the names of states, countries or organisations.
For example: UP, USA, UK and UNO.

(ii) Common abbreviations


Sc. (for science), Mr, Mrs, Dr, govt, BSc, etc.

(iii) Common symbols such as i.e., e.g., Rx, /, ∴ , +ve, -ve, → (leading to) ↑ (rising), ↓
(falling), =, >, <

(iv) Measurements and figures – 100″, 100′, 100 kg, 100 mm, 100 mL.

TAKE THE FOLLOWING CAUTION:

(i) Do not get over enthusiastic about abbreviations.


(ii) You should not abbreviate every word.
(iii) One abbreviation in one point is enough.
(iv) As a general rule, the heading should not be abbreviated.
(v) You may use abbreviations in subheadings.
(vi) Indenting is essential.

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Your notes should look like this:

CHARACTERISTICS

● Short, do not use full sentences, only points.


● Include important information only.
● It should be presented logically in sequence.
● Organised appropriately under heading and sub heading.

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MEMO WRITING

Memorandums, or memos for short, are used in place of formal letters for internal
communication. These may be used in the workplace to present information, to provide
directions or reminders, or to propose an idea.

While memos are often succinct, they can be very difficult to write precisely because you
need to get straight to the point to get your ideas across. A poorly written one may confuse
your superiors or your colleagues, and precious time may be wasted when they prepare
their own memos to seek clarification on what you wrote.

PARTS OF A MEMO
Memo formats may differ depending on the workplace. Most, however, have the following
parts:
● Label. Some offices require for this document to bear the label “MEMORANDUM” or
“MEMO” at the top of the page so that your readers will immediately know what type
of document it is. However, not all workplaces have this rule. Do make it a point to
study the standard memo format followed in your office so you can adjust
accordingly.
● Heading. The memo heading contains the following details:
● To: This is where you write down the recipients of the memo. Addressees may be
colleagues (do write their full names and job titles) or units or departments within
the office.
● From: Write down your name and job title
● Subject: Indicate the reason for the memo
● Date: Note the complete date
● Body. Use this section to provide the pertinent details regarding the issue at hand.
Try to be as specific and concise as possible.
● Conclusion. The conclusion is usually just 1-2 sentences long and indicates what
action you are expecting from the recipient of the memo.

TIPS TO BE EFFECTIVE AT MEMO WRITING


Below are tips you can follow to make sure that you produce memos that are consistently
well-written.

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● Be SMART. Memos should be SMART – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant,


and Time-Bound. Be clear not only about what you want to say, but what you expect
your reader to do.
● Don’t use informal language. Memos, by their nature, need to be written in a
professional manner. As such, do avoid colloquial language.
● Be succinct. As mentioned earlier, memos should go straight to the point. Avoid
flowery language and adding unnecessary details so that your readers will know
exactly what you’re trying to say.
● Present the main point within the opening paragraph. Make it easier for your
reader to understand what the memo is about by stating the gist of it within the first
paragraph. Salutations are not necessary in memos.
● Break down the memo. If your memo is long, consider breaking it down into
smaller chunks to make it easier for your readers to understand what you want to
say.
● Don’t use emotionally-charged words or language. Never use emotive words,
even when writing about issues such as a team member’s poor performance at
work.
● Proofread. Before you release the memo, make sure that you proofread it to see if
there are any factual, grammatical, or spelling errors in what you wrote.

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ELEVATOR PITCH

It's a short, memorable description of what you do and/or what you sell. The goal is to earn
a second conversation, not to convince the person you're talking to they should hire you or
buy your solution.

An elevator pitch is never an opportunity to close a deal. It's an opportunity to close more
of your prospect's attention and time. It's a quick introduction to you, your company, and
how you can help your prospect.

Pull it out at networking events, conferences, warm calls — and even job interviews or
career fairs. Keep your elevator pitch goal-oriented (e.g., "I help companies like yours
increase production by up to 30% without additional cost.") and always end with a business
card or request to connect on LinkedIn.

Remember to be engaging and friendly, and practice your pitch, so it's clear, concise, and
well-paced.

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR ELEVATOR SPEECH

● Full name
● Year in school
● Major(s), minors, collaterals, etc.
● Specific goal/career interest - this will allow whomever to help you, or possibly
connect you to someone who can.
● How you have demonstrated your interest and experience in the field - use
examples of things you have already completed. Don't just say "I have always
wanted to work in Human Resources," but rather "I have taken psychology and
business classes and gained leadership skills through office positions in clubs".
● Your qualifications- talk about your leadership and work experience, achievements,
expertise, skills and strengths.
● A question or request for assistance:
○ I would be interested in shadowing a ____________.
○ Could you recommend anyone for me to contact so I could do so?

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○ I am currently applying for internships/summer-jobs/full-time jobs. Do you


have advice for my applications or any interviewing tips?
○ I would love to learn more about what you think of my resume.

SAMPLE ELEVATOR SPEECH (ONLY FOR REFERENCE)

Hello, my name is Charlie Kohawk and I am completing a degree in Psychology at Coe


College with a minor in Neuroscience. I am currently a junior and expect to graduate in the
spring of next year.

I am interested in a career in Management in the field of Human Resources.

At Coe, I am involved in Student Council and Peer Advising. This has helped me develop
skills in leadership and teamwork.

I have also had an internship position as a Human Resources intern with a local company
and discovered that I really enjoy creating events and coordinating activities for employees.

I would be interested in job shadowing at your company. Could you recommend someone
for me to contact?

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HOW TO WRITE A GREAT SOCIAL MEDIA ARTICLE/ BLOG


POST
Creating a great blog post can be easy if you follow a simple formula. Remember this is a
blog post and not legislation or a complex manual. Blog posts should be short simple
communications. Don’t worry too much about any one post. Create a simple useful
message and get it out. You will have another chance tomorrow. If you have expertise and
know your subject, you will have content you can blog about that will be useful to your
audience.

Grab Their Attention 5 Types of Blog Posts


● Create a Great Title ● How-Tos
● Include Pictures ● Lists
● Communicate with Graphics ● Curated Collections
● Link to Important Content ● Graphic Presentations
● Develop a Unique Voice ● From the Headline

The Simple Formula to Great Social Media Article/ Blog Post

1) Know your audience.


Before you start to write, have a clear understanding of your target audience. What do they
want to know about? What questions have they been asking? What will help them have a
better understanding of your mission?

2) Start with a topic and working title.


Before you even write anything, choose a topic and working title for your blog post. Your
topic can be general to start with but as you continue to refine your post look for ways to
make it more specific. Having a working title and topic will help guide your post so you can
start writing.

3) Write an attention-grabbing introduction.


You only have a moment to capture and keep your readers' attention. Give your reader a
reason to continue reading.

4) Outline your content.

COMMUNICATION SKILLS 28
SAGE UNIVERSITY, BHOPAL
SANJEEV AGRAWAL GLOBAL EDUCATION UNIVERSITY

Create a simple outline of the main points you want to communicate to your audience.
Writing a post can seem to be an overwhelming experience, but if you outline your post
you will know which points you want to cover and the order in which you want to cover
them.

5) Write your post.


Don't worry about the length of your post or whether everything works as you write it. Just
get it out on the page. Use your outline as your guide and write what you know and fill in all
the gaps.

6) Edit/proofread your post, and fix your formatting.


The editing process is an important part of the writing process. Editing makes a good post a
great post. Remove everything from your post that doesn’t need to be included. Find a
grammar- conscious associate to copy edit and proofread the post. Finally check your
formatting.

7) Insert a call-to-action.
You may want your reader to download a file, read an article, or share the page on social
media. Tell your reader exactly what you want your reader to do.

8) Create a catchy title.


Start with your working title and edit it to quickly and clearly communicate the point of your
post. Consider what your reader would say if they wanted to share your post with a friend.

PRACTICE QUESTIONS FROM UNIT IV

Q. What is a memo? What are its various elements?


Q. Write a purchase letter requesting the price list of furniture items for the
company office. Write the letter in block form.
Q. Write 5 merits/ demerits of an email.
Q. What is a business letter and what are its uses?
Q. What are the different types of resumes?
Q. What is a resume? What is the difference between a resume and a CV?
Q. Write down 5 tips to writing a good resume.
Q. What is a proposal? How is it different from a report?
Q. What should one keep in mind while writing a social media article / blog post?

COMMUNICATION SKILLS 29

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