Present an alternative or compromise, if one is available. Whether you are selling houses or ideas, effective persuasion is based on accurate logic, effective emotional appeal, and creditability or trust. Persuasive messages include orders and requests, proposals and recommendations, sales and fund-raising letters, job application letters, collection letters, and criticism or performance appraisals where you want the subordinate to improve behavior. Use your audience analysis to choose persuasive strategy. Because memos are standard forms of communications within most organizations, they are the most common business communication medium.
Memos contain guideword headings often printed on special interoffice stationary.
The guidewords help readers immediately identify the date, origin, destination, and purpose of a message. Good memos generally discuss only one topic so that the reader can take action or appropriately file the document. The reader may respond to the printer problem but forget about the conference request. In general, try to condense the focus of our memo into the subject line at the top of your memo. Although memos are ordinarily formal, there has recently been a trend toward a more personal style.