1. MEMOS

2. MEMOS
 Records information of immediate importance
 Brief, informal, but can contain official announcements
 Used in-house
 Format can be used with reports and proposals
 Must follow company’s protocol
 Timely
 Send to the right people only
 Follows audience, style & tone

3. FUNCTIONS OF A MEMO
 Make an announcement
 Provide instructions
 Clarify a policy, procedure or issue
 Changes a policy or procedure
 Alerts employees to a problem or issue
 Offers general information
 Provides a brief summary
 Makes a request
 Offers a suggestion or recommendation
 Provides a record of an important matter
 Confirms an outcome
 Calls a meeting

4. MEMOS: EMAIL vs. HARD COPY
 Hard copy should be sent when the memo contains
confidential information that you do not want to risk being
seen by the wrong person.

5. Memo Protocol and Company
Politics
 Reflect a company’s image
 Must be timely
 Must always be timely, professional and tactful
 Most companies have their own memo protocol
 Don’t send a memo to someone who doesn’t need it

6. MEMO FORMAT
• Must include the following fields
• TO line
• FROM line
• Date line
• Always write out the date. July 1, 2010 NOT 07/01/10.
• Subject line
• Be as accurate and specific as possible
• Do NOT include a greeting or closing

7. SAMPLE MEMO HEADER
MEMORANDUM
TO: Ashley Supinski
FROM: John Smith
DATE: July 1, 2010
SUBJECT: Parking Privileges for Seniors

8. Questions Your Memo Must
Answer
 When?
 Who?
 Where?
 Why?
 Costs?
 Technology?
 What’s next?

9. Style & Tone
 Audience will determine the memo’s style and tone
 Co-Worker: Casual, Conversational, Friendly & Cooperative
 Manage: More formal. Respectful, even official, posture

10. Memo Organization
 Introduction
 Body (Discussion)
 Conclusion
 Organizational Markers
 Headings
 Numbered/Bulleted Lists
 Underlining/Boldfacing

11. Blogs

12. What They Are/Do
 Evolving website or daily newspaper
 Managers and employees write short articles
 Posts are short, conversational articles giving readers current
and relevant news/information
 Posts are generally only a few paragraphs long and written 2-
3 times a week

13. Blogs are Interactive
 Allow for a group conversation
 Interaction is the key to the blog’s success
 Blogs need to:
 Attract readers
 Build relationships
 Promote and market products or services
 Respond to suggestions

14. Types of Blogs
 Internal
 Designed exclusively for use in-house
 External
 Essential marketing and public relations tools in the world of e-
commerce

15. Guidelines for Writing Business
Blogs
 Use the right tone to attract readers
 Follow the company protocol
 Target your audience
 Make your blog persuasive
 Write concisely and sincerely
 Document your sources, including visuals