Written communication Types

Transactional Forms of Written Communication

One of the most common forms of written communication in business is transactional content. The purpose of this kind of communication is results oriented, as you are trying to achieve a specific goal with transactional content.

Examples of written communication that is transactional include emails, instant messages, invoices, short memos, forms and letters. This kind of business communication is for day-to-day use and is generally short and direct and requires action from the reader.

For example, if you need to ask your colleague a quick question about a customer, you can use a team collaboration software such as Slack to send him a real-time message. The software notifies the recipient, who can then send you a short answer to your question.

Informational Business Documents

One of the most common forms of written communication in business is informational material. The goal of this kind of written communication is to provide a reference or a record of specific areas of the business. Informational writing doesn’t necessarily require an action from the reader, unlike transactional and persuasive content.

Examples of informational business communication include quarterly financial reports, meeting minutes, employee handbooks and annual departmental overviews. An FAQ page on a website is also an example of informational content. This kind of writing is direct and thorough, covering a wide range of content with the goal of keeping the reader up to date on specific aspects of the business.

Informational business communication enables the company to predict future performance, record previous performance and meet legal or regulatory obligations.

Instructional Business Materials

Written communication in business also includes instructional business writing. The goal of this kind of material is to provide step-by-step details on how to complete a specific task. Similar to transactional and persuasive content, instructional content usually requires the reader to take some kind of action either now or in the future.

Examples of instructional communication in business include user manuals, job description handbooks, technical specifications and instructional memos. This kind of writing is clear and direct, often written in short sentences that follow a chronological order.

Instructional content needs to take into account how much the reader knows about the topic at hand and provide the missing information. If the instructional content is for multiple people with varying levels of understanding, then the material needs to first cover the basics and then move on to the specific tasks that need to be completed.

Persuasive Business Writing

Written communication in business also includes persuasive content. The goal of this kind of material is to provide the reader with a unique value proposition about your business and encourage them to respond. Depending on the kinds of written materials used, the responses can be to make a sale or further a relationship.

Examples of persuasive business writing include marketing and promotional content such as ads, brochures, press releases, emails, newsletters and direct mail campaigns. Sales decks and proposals to prospects are also persuasive business writing, as are cover letters and resumes.

One of the key elements to consider when writing persuasively is to not focus on the business too much. Instead, it’s important to focus on what the audience wants and the kinds of problems they are trying to solve.