When it comes to writing for a small business, the task could seem very easy or tedious. It all comes down to your goal for the writing and your understanding of how to get there. This article will give you some tips, tricks, and essential rules to keep in mind when writing for your small business.

WHERE TO START? JUST WRITE.​

The most challenging part of writing is starting the process for some people. Daunting as it may be, it’s easier than you may realize. It mainly happens because people are afraid they won’t get it right and their ideas are not good enough. The first thing to remember when writing is no first draft is perfect. You might go over the same sentence five times before it’s ideal, and that’s okay! It’s part of the process. Sometimes it helps just to sit and write. Let it spill out. You will do the perfecting at a later step.

Your writing can start anywhere, not just at your computer. Some of your best ideas won’t happen in a chair. They might come to you while you’re eating lunch, running errands, watching tv, or doing various activities. One tip to take advantage of these ideas is to take notes. The most convenient place would be on your phone. While you’re away and an idea comes to mind, take note of it and any small details you think of right then. Don’t write a full-length piece just take note of the idea. Whenever you sit down to write, open your notes and see if any stick. Some of your best work could come from thoughts you have throughout the day. Take advantage of them!

Let's Get Technical

Getting your ideas written out is all good, but the technical aspects of writing can make or break any good piece. Many of these are well-known, but a refresher never hurts! Grammar is a fickle aspect of writing. So many rules, exceptions, and downright confusing elements can make it a daunting task to keep everything in order. Let's cover some of the common issues.

Word usage seems like it would be pretty easy to get a handle on, but it’s sometimes one of the easiest parts of writing people can rush through. Here are some examples that are most commonly made:

Their, They’re, and There

The English language is like multiple languages in a trench coat. So many of the same-sounding words with different meanings due to the origins of the language. This troublesome trio is one of the most commonly mixed-up sets in day-to-day usage. It happens to most without a second thought. Here’s what you need to keep in mind when using these words.

“There” is used to talk about a specific place. “Their” is possessive and refers to ownership of something to someone. “They’re” is a conjunction of “they are” and is usually used when talking about others. Here are some examples of the proper usage for each one in similar sentences to highlight the differences:

- “The book is over there.”

- “That is their book.”

- “They’re looking for that book.”

Do you see the differences? They’re subtle, but it is crucial to keep in mind those little differences so that you’re writing can be as effective as it can be.

Be aware of your voice.

Keep the voice of your piece in mind throughout the entire writing process. Does the article have a passive voice to it? Does it carry an air of assertiveness throughout? Are you going for a lighthearted message, or are you going for something filled with confidence and strength? Your voice in your writing should reflect your goals for the piece and the type of audience you’re trying to reach.

What voice should you avoid, and what should you aim for?

In general, a passive voice is what you should avoid writing in. According to Hamilton College, “Passive voice often creates unclear, less direct, wordy sentences."

Your message can become lost to your audience if you are stuck writing with a passive voice. Having a bunch of wordy sentences makes it harder for the reader to follow sometimes, and to many people, it would make them uninterested in the article altogether. A lot of words do not always equal a lot to say, and they will more likely hinder your desired goal or hide what you are trying to say.

When it comes to what voice is best for you to write in, you want to aim for an active voice. In doing so, your message will be clear and assertive. Sentences that use an active voice are typically straight to the point and feel more in the moment. They keep the reader engaged in what you’re saying. Below are examples of active and passive sentences to show the differences.

Active- “Emily finished the project.”

Passive- “The project was finished by Emily.

The difference between these two voices may seem small in a single sentence, but a whole article filled with passive sentences will be much weaker than one where an active voice is present throughout. For more information on passive voice and how to avoid it, check out this article here.

Proofread. Proofread. Proofread.

Proofreading will be the single most crucial step of writing for your small business that you will do. Proofreading is where you can catch any mistakes that may have slipped past you while writing. While people are in the middle of writing, there are a ton of small, seemingly unimportant things that their brain skips over in the pursuit of finishing the piece—an extra space here, a misspelled word there, an incorrect word usage over here. Little things like these happen to everyone when writing. It’s not bad. It’s part of the process.

After you finish writing, take a step back from the work and disconnect from it for a little while. After a bit, come back and reread what you’ve written. Taking a break from the piece allows your brain to “refresh,” and you can look at what you’ve written with a more objective view. For some, it may also help to get someone different than yourself to read it as well. A completely different pair of eyes on the piece may give you a point of view you may not be able to get on your own.

Do this multiple times to ensure you’ve thoroughly reviewed what you’ve written. There’s a chance you won’t find all the mistakes at first, or rereading it the first time may give you new ideas that you can add or change about the piece to make it more effective.

What can you do to help yourself over time?

Your writing skills will develop over time as you continue your work. The best way to improve is to keep writing. As you progress, look back at your old articles and assignments. See the changes in your ability, the improvements you've made, and refresh yourself whenever you need. For extra help as you write, take advantage of some of the great writing aids out there online, like Grammarly and pair it with the spellcheck aids that are built into most document programs. They won’t catch everything, but they will help you see some common mistakes people make and over time it’ll help you improve your writing.

Overall, your writing should be something you take pride in. It should be direct with your message, in tune with your audience, and be something people enjoy reading.

We hope you learned some tips for writing for your small business. If you need help with content writing or creation, Comprehensive Consulting Solutions for Small Businesses can help!