The Importance of a Good Memo and Communication within your Work Environment

Every Marketing Professional has to have excellent communication to land a large company's trust and to get the jobs that they really want to market. The importance of a memo might seem small, but when you have a meeting and have forgotten to read up, a good memo can make a large difference. 

The first step to writing a good memo is to realize to whom you are writing, and your reason for the memo. Make lists of all the things you need to include in the memo so you do not leave anything out. 

The use of goodwill strategies in a memo can go a long way for your reader. They are crucial for the success of the point you are trying to get across. The easiest way to use goodwill is to "thank". The best thanks are those that directly acknowledge your reader's role in the exchange. You should also acknowledge your reader's role in other ways, and give people credit. Also, note any obstactle the reader faces with regard to your message, and give your sympathy to these obstacles.

Stop and take a good look at your memo. Is the reader benefiting in any way? Usually you will find that they are not, or that they are not benefiting enough. Write down any benefit you can think of to put in the memo.

Reader benefits can make up for any obstacles you are making for the reader, or any changes that could cause conflict between your readers. When your reader first looks at the memo, they are going to think, "how does this affect me?". Emphasizing reader benefits will help them see how they can benefit from your message.

Important Reader Benefits to Include:

• Direct Benefits- The most powerful (direct rewards the reader receives from your message)
• Indirect Benefits- The benefits the company receives (in the end, so do the employees)
• Emphasize your great ideas.

At the end of writing your memo, you should be able to clearly see the point you are trying to get across, see the goodwill that you have included for your readers, and feel the rewards that you have presented for your reader and or your company.