如何讓你的商務(wù)英語郵件看起來簡潔有力
在一個電子郵件和社交媒體盛行的世界,你的成功和你通過文字影響他人的能力成正比。如何才能讓你的商務(wù)信函更令人信服,下面是12個關(guān)于商務(wù)寫作的提示和示例,這些小貼士能讓你的文章簡潔有力。
1.先陳述結(jié)論。
現(xiàn)在人們沒有時間去斟酌你的思考過程。他們需要你在前兩句話中直接點明郵件的主旨。
Wrong: In this white paper, we will investigate the potential impact of remedial sales training in our buyer/seller relationships. First, let us discuss the initial conditions which precipitated our inquiry.
錯誤示例:在這本白皮書中,我們將調(diào)查補救銷售培訓(xùn)對顧客和銷售員關(guān)系的潛在影響。首先,在開始調(diào)查之前,讓我們討論一下初始條件。
Right: If we don't fund the ABC sales training program, our sales will plummet.
正確示例:如果我們不投資ABC銷售培訓(xùn)項目,我們的銷售額會大幅降低。
2.使用第一人稱而不用無人稱句子。
有力的商務(wù)寫作能鞏固關(guān)系。但是如何和陌生人或是滿口術(shù)語行話的人建立關(guān)系呢?
Wrong: "The operational goals of this organization include an increase in morale as well as overall job satisfaction."
錯誤示例:這個組織的運作目標(biāo)包括鼓舞士氣和提高工作滿意度。
Right: "I want to enjoy working here. I'll bet you do, too."
正確示例:我想要享受在這兒工作。我相信你也是。
3.舉實例而不是談抽象的概念。
雖然抽象概念有一定價值,但是如果沒有實例加以解釋就很難理解。
Wrong: "The ability for sales and marketing to cooperate on sales opportunities is crucial to sustainable revenue growth."
錯誤示例:通過銷售和營銷能力提高銷售幾率對可持續(xù)的銷售增長至關(guān)重要。
Right: "The other day, we lost the Acme account because our sales message and our marketing message didn't jibe."
正確示例:因為銷售信息和營銷信息不匹配,我們失去了重要客戶。
4.兼顧情感和理性
人們根據(jù)情感做決定,然后再為決定找智力方面的理由。
Wrong: "Our records indicate that 10% of our sales opportunities are lost without any sustained effort in the area of competitive analysis and comparison."
錯誤示例:我們的記錄顯示我們因為缺乏在競爭分析和比較方面的持續(xù)努力而喪失了10%的銷售機會。
Right: "Everyone around here loves winning deals so much that we get skittish when it comes to finding out why we lost a deal."
正確示例:在場的每個人都想要贏得生意以至于當(dāng)我們找到丟失這筆生意的原因時,我們都坐立不安。
5.使用生動的語言而不是陳詞濫調(diào)。
使用那些無趣的專業(yè)術(shù)語或者老掉牙的比喻會掩蓋你的寫作。
Wrong: "This action item calls for out-of-the-box thinking."
錯誤示例:這項任務(wù)要求大膽開闊的想法。
Right: "If you've got an idea that you're afraid might be half-baked, let's consider it anyway."
正確示例:如果你有一個想法,那你擔(dān)心會中途流產(chǎn),沒關(guān)系先考慮再說。
6.不要重復(fù)自己說的話。
重復(fù)會使文章顯得冗長卻沒有實質(zhì)內(nèi)容。它會使你的文章大打折扣并且削弱你的觀點。
Wrong: "This training program teaches you to learn the best tricks, tips, techniques and skills for every stage of the market process."
錯誤示例:這個培訓(xùn)項目能教會你營銷過程中最好的手段、方法、技巧和技能。
Right: "This program teaches the best marketing tricks."
正確示例:這個項目能教會你最好的營銷手段。
7.簡潔而不要繁瑣
一些商務(wù)人士認(rèn)為自己的工資和寫文章的字?jǐn)?shù)掛鉤,就像三十年代的低俗小說家。
Wrong: "In order to focus externally, we must focus both externally and internally (customer's customer and internal alignment necessary to respond), with internal collaboration with common focus/goals by stakeholders accountable for ultimate business results oriented, optimized and coordinated outputs, aligned around the sales cycle and with a proactive approach to higher order competency investments and being unwilling to throw deliverables over the fence to sales teams and trust results will be achieved."
錯誤示例:為了從外部關(guān)注,我們必需同時從內(nèi)部和外部關(guān)注(顧客的顧客以及能做出必要反應(yīng)的內(nèi)部聯(lián)盟),同股東達成共識并建立內(nèi)部合作,對最終經(jīng)營成果的導(dǎo)向和最優(yōu)化負(fù)責(zé),對銷售過程中的產(chǎn)量協(xié)調(diào)負(fù)責(zé)并積極促進訂單能力投資,不將應(yīng)交付產(chǎn)品只交給銷售團隊,那么就能達到信任的結(jié)果。
Right: "We need to measure how well this works."
正確示例:我們需要了解它的功效到底有多好。
8.注重獨一無二的而不是普遍
如果你說的東西和其他人的完全一樣,那還說什么?
Wrong: "Our B2B services increase sales and reduce costs."
錯誤示例:我們的B2B服務(wù)能增加銷售并減少成本。
Right: "Our customers often double their profit margins. No other vendor can do this."
正確示例:我們客戶的利潤率經(jīng)常翻倍。其他任何銷售商都做不到這一點。
9.用名詞和動詞而不是形容詞和副詞。
形容詞和副詞會削弱你的文章,尤其是當(dāng)你想要用它們來讓一句枯燥的話變得生動些的時候。
Wrong: "We have an exciting, brand new product that will easily and quickly solve your most difficult sales process problems."
錯誤示例:我們推出了一款令人振奮的、全新的產(chǎn)品,它能夠輕易解決我們面臨的最難的銷售問題。
Right: " This product will help you turn prospects into customers in less time."
正確示例:這款產(chǎn)品能夠幫助你在較短時間內(nèi)開拓新用戶。
10.用講故事的方式強調(diào)關(guān)鍵點。
人們能夠在忘記事實之后很長時間內(nèi)回想起相關(guān)的故事。
Wrong: "Studies indicate that some office workers spend as much as 40% of their time writing and answering internal emails."
錯誤示例:研究表明辦公室白領(lǐng)有40%的時間花在寫作和回復(fù)內(nèi)部郵件上。
Right: "I sat down this morning and opened Outlook and you know what I discovered? 237 new messages! 237!! So I'm wondering how the heck can I get through all that junk and still get some real work done? "
正確示例:今早我剛坐下打開了Outlook,你知道我發(fā)現(xiàn)了什么嗎?237條新消息!237條!我在想到底怎么樣才能把這些全部處理完再做些正經(jīng)的工作。
11.使用簡單的詞匯而不是華而不實的術(shù)語。
用冗長的單詞或不需要技術(shù)含量術(shù)語不會讓你顯得聰明些;這只會讓你看起來自以為是。
Wrong: "The facility-wide 802.11 networking infrastructure has now been completely implemented and is currently available for workplace utilization."
錯誤示例:這個多功能的802.11網(wǎng)絡(luò)基礎(chǔ)設(shè)施已經(jīng)完全投入使用了,現(xiàn)在用于工作場合。
Right: "You can now use wireless in this building."
正確示例:你現(xiàn)在可以在大樓里使用無線網(wǎng)了。
12.展示證據(jù)而不是觀點。
除非某人私下和你熟識并相信你的判斷,否則你的觀點不足以說服他人。相反的,觀點只會讓你聽起來像是自吹自擂。
Wrong: "We have the best service, the most reliable product and the friendliest salespeople."
錯誤示例:我們有最好的服務(wù),最值得信賴的產(chǎn)品和最友善的銷售人員。
Right: "We won the XYZ best service award. Twice."
正確示例:我們贏得了XYZ最佳服務(wù)獎兩次。