Business Writing Free Online Courses

Business writing includes a variety of different writing types, which is why many people look for business writing free online courses. Types of writing include memos, newsletters, reports, white pages, letters, press releases, brochures, power point presentations, and proposals. With more businesses needing to have a presence online, blogging, web content, web copy, and informational articles are also in demand. In addition to the actual work, people wanting to learn more about business writing may be looking for basic information such as grammar, mechanics and spelling help. Regardless of the type of business writing, there are many different free online courses to choose from.

• The Free Management Library from Managementhelp.org contains resources and advice for writers that want to increase their business writing skills. Topics in this tutorial include basic composition skills (grammar, style, transitioning), basic writing skills (audience, formatting, drafting and proofreading), different types of business writing (brochures, emails, memos, and newsletters), and a section of recommended books on business writing.

• The Purdue Online Writing Lab website offers a series of articles on professional and workplace writing. The article topics include information such as effective workplace writing and how to write specific types of documents including business letters, memos, sales letters, report abstracts, and white papers.
• iTunes U offers over one hundred different free classes in podcast form about business writing. The podcasts vary in length from ten minutes to over an hour. In addition, the classes come from a variety of universities including Yale, Duke, Harvard, Texas A& M, University of Utah, University of Southern California and many others. To access these podcasts, users must have an ipod, mp3 player, or computer and an iTunes account. The podcasts are free so they just need to be downloaded through the iTunes software, which can also be downloaded for free.
• The Business writing course from Suite101 covers many of the basics to business writing. There are eight lessons in the series. Topics covered include the importance of writing in business, grammar and mechanics, presentation and format, writing letters, tone in writing, using advertising and media, and introducing the business.
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) offers free courses through their open courseware site. Free classes are available in a variety of subjects. The Sloan School of Management section offers the business writing classes and other classes related to business. Many of these classes are online versions of classroom sessions.
• Pandecta Magazine has a free copy writing tutorial for people who need or want to write their own sales copy.
• StyleWriter The Plain English Editor has thirty different free articles on different kinds of business writing including writing effective copy, improving business writing skills, writing promotional newsletters, proofreading basics and other writing topics.
• About U, the classroom portion of the website offers a selection of free online courses that cover a variety of topics, one of which is business related writing and information.
• The U.S. Small Business Administration has a free course on how to prepare a business plan. This document is an essential part to planning a business, especially if the business seeks funding through banks and alternate sources.

These are just a few of the business writing free online courses available. However, some people may have more specific business writing needs. More specific courses may be available by searching specific topics of interest such as common grammar errors, white page report writing, or other keyword specific topics that might not show up under a general business writing course. Also, these courses are self directed. There is no instructor support available for free classes.