If I were allowed to provide just one business writing tip to the world, it would all come down to my theme for this website and for my talks: know what your audience wants before you write.

As you can see, this isn't a tip about any specific aspect of your writing. Because in truth, no matter how good your writing, if you didn't start with the question "What does my reader want?" then you are bound to have ineffective results.

"If you didn't start with the question

What does my reader want?

then you are bound to have ineffective results."

And in fact, I've seen plenty of people get away with minor writing problems specifically because they knew what the audience wanted in terms of content ... and gave it to them. Once a reader knows he's learning about something he wants, he'll forgive minor writing problems. "If the writer needs to go back to school, that's his issue. I want to know how I can get my hands on this product or service."

This doesn't negate the need for writing as cleanly as you can. But it underscores the point that people are after what people are after. They're not merely on the quest for good writing.

So if I were to offer just one business writing tip, there it is: ask what your reader wants before you start to write. Then give it to him.