Can you imagine if Thomas Jefferson had not had decent writing skills? Our Declaration of Independence might have looked quite different, or may have come from another author. One reason Jefferson was chosen was because he had good writing skills.

Writing skills are important in business. With clear, concise writing you can capture the attention of potential customers, rally your team around organizational changes and express new concepts that can drive growth for your business.

In yesterday's issue of Promotional Consultant Today, we shared key reasons to put a renewed effort into your business writing, as outlined by digital marketer and content writer, Gloria Kopp. Today, we share Kopp's key tips for improving your writing skills.

Be direct and concise . In business, succinctly presenting your ideas saves your readers time and sharpens your argument. Cut every unnecessary word or sentence. Be prepared to get rid of information that is interesting to you but not pertinent to your readers. Many times, when you are writing for someone else, word count is important. Use the Easy Word Count tool to keep track of your word and character count, and make your writing brief and to the point.

Avoid jargon. Business writing is full of industry-specific words. While these terms are sometimes unavoidable, they often don't add any value to your writing and can reduce the clarity of your message. Never use a big word when a simple one will do. Always make sure your work is easy to read. You can use the Readability Test Tool or Academized to help you write and edit clear content and make sure it is readable for your readers.

Read your work and edit . You should check your writing for grammar, spelling and style. Sometimes it can be difficult to spot mistakes when you're close to the work. Leaving your writing for a short period and then reading and editing it hours later or the next day makes it easier. Make sure you proofread and carefully edit your work by taking advantage of editing and proofreading tools such as Essayroo and UK Writings. You can also ask someone in your workplace to read your work. A fresh pair of eyes can help you improve your writing.

Practice. Like every skill, writing requires practice. You should read well-written material every day, and be attentive to word choice, sentence structure and flow. Use writing tools such as Scrivener to help you structure your writing and get in the habit of writing every day.

Remember that even if you have the best ideas in the world, nobody will hear them if you can't communicate them properly. Use these tips to improve your writing skills and grow your business.

Source: Gloria Kopp is a digital marketer and a PR consultant. She works as a content manager at Boomessays service. In addition, she is a regular contributor to such websites as Engadget, Huffington Post and more. Read some of her posts at Studydemic.