Composing Business Messages

When composing business messages, it is necessary to think in terms of the company’s beliefs and standards in able to represent the company through an authentic voice.

In Business Communication Essentials: A Skills-Based Approach, Courtlan Bovée and John Thill state that “the interests and preferred communication style of your company must take precedence over your own views and personal communication style” (84). Therefore, prevention of dual beliefs and communication style is important to produce an authentic, consistent message.

Authenticity in voice can be presented through the tone of the message, and “part of the challenge of communicating on the job is to read each situation and figure out the appropriate tone to use” (Bovée and Thill 84). Smaller organizations and colleagues may prefer a more intimate tone to produce a trustworthy relationship, as bigger companies and superiors find authoritative and credible messages more appealing.

Bovée and Thill find that writers should “avoid obsolete and pompous language, avoid preaching and bragging, be careful with intimacy, and be careful with humor,” but instead use plain language when composing a business message. Plain language poses authenticity because it does not beat around the bushes or become overbearing, but “allows your audience to easily grasp your meaning” (86).

Understanding the company’s aim and your audience are key factors to producing an effective business message. The message needs to adhere to the company’s beliefs in able to produce an accurate image, and your personal judgment should not interfere. As a representative of any company, it is vital to educate yourself about the company in which you work for before composing business messages.

Works Cited

Bovée, Courtlan and Thill John. Communication Essentials: A Skills-Based Approach. New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc., 2014. Print.

Blogging: The Matter of Grammar, Spelling, and Mechanics

Blogging is a way for many to express their passion for an idea, a subject, or to simply entertain. Bloggers shouldn’t have to fully limit their creativity by adhering to the conventional rules of grammar, spelling, and mechanics. However, there should be a boundary. The idea is to highlight the usage of creativity, but if bad grammar, misspelled words and mechanics were an obvious mistake, then there really is no originality taking place. There really is nothing sophisticated about accidental or careless grammar mistakes, as opposed to the smart and tactful usage of the English language.

In Business Communication Essentials: A Skills-Based Approach, Courtlan Bovée and John Thill recommend business messages to “avoid using obscure words, stale or clichéd expressions, and complicated sentences whose only intent is to impress others” (85). Bovée and Thill speak about formal, conversational, and informal tones which relates back to grammar and word choices. Being formal could sound “stuffy and too formal for today’s audiences” whereas “conversational is just right for most business communication” and “unprofessional is too casual for business communication” (Bovée and Thill 85). Bloggers may not necessarily be writing for business purposes, but one thing that all bloggers have in common is the need to be heard which relates back to business. 

Overall, it is beneficial to define your audience when it comes to blogging, and who your writing is geared towards. Some readers appreciate the more personal, casual, and intimate approach while others prefer a more elevated style of writing. Either way, bloggers shouldn’t have to limit their creativity by gluing themselves to the conventional rules of grammar, spelling, and mechanics as long as they serve a purpose. Consistent mistakes of grammar could sway readers from wanting to continue to read, because the blogger no longer seems credible. 

Works Cited

Bovée, Courtlan and Thill John. Communication Essentials: A Skills-Based Approach. New Jersey: Pearson Education Inc., 2014. Print.

Public Presence

In "Creating a Personal Competitive Advantage by Developing a Professional Online Presence," Dawn Edmiston emphasizes on the importance of “being the head marketer of the brand called You” (21). It is critical to think about how you want to be projected in the world when you walk into a room, or through social media. 

When browsing through my own social media pages, I see an average girl who doesn’t make very many posts, but when time comes it’s usually of a picture or a video that I take during my vacation trips. I asked a friend to give me her honest opinion on what she thinks when she scrolled through my social media pages: “A typical Asian girl in her twenties who seem adventurous and a little artsy.” 

I know now of the influence of having a professional online presence. I want to positively market myself to “achieve a distinct advantage in such a competitive environment,” and to show my value for professionalism that reflects my skills and experiences (Edminston 21). In “Linkedin: Facebook for Professionals?” Alison Power advises readers to “make sure your professional headline emphasizes any keywords you want to use to promote yourself; fill out the summary field and skills section of your profile with all of your skills and important career-related keywords” (196). 

My “about me” page is something I would certainly go back to fill out and revise to fit the more updated me. And because it is best to often go back and revise any information or key words to keep your pages updated to your current experiences, I will be doing the same. Another fixing that I would do is to go back through my photo albums and posts to delete any unnecessary or inappropriate pictures that may raise even the slightest red flag to a future employer.

Works Cited

Power, Alison. "Linkedin: Facebook For Professionals?." British Journal Of Midwifery 23.3 (2015): 196-198. CINAHL Complete. Web. 27 May 2015.

Edmiston, Dawn. "Creating A Personal Competitive Advantage By Developing A Professional Online Presence." Marketing Education Review 24.1 (2014): 21-24. Business Source Complete. Web. 27 May 2015.