Joe Latta

Joe Latta specializes in helping organizations create clear, persuasive marketing and proposal content. He is the director of business writing and editing at Freestyle Editorial Services and is co-author of A Blog for the Comma Man.

Articles by Joe Latta

• 6 tips for fast text formatting in Microsoft Word

  For nearly 25 years, Microsoft Word has been the dominant word-processing application in the business…

  Wednesday, January 28, 2015

• 6 new time-saving features of Microsoft Word

  If you work on proposals, chances are you use Microsoft Word. In fact, a Forrester report found that…

  Tuesday, December 16, 2014

• Halos and pitchforks: The power of a positive first impression

  ​You never get a second chance to make a first impression. The adage is old, but when it comes to proposals…

  Wednesday, October 22, 2014

• What’s first? How sequencing can improve your persuasion and win rates

  When it comes to proposals and presentations, order matters. In fact, studies have found that even with…

  Wednesday, August 27, 2014

• Repetition: Making prospects remember your key messages

  ​Think about your most recent proposal or presentation. Did you use clear, s​imple messaging? Great.…

  Wednesday, July 30, 2014

• 3 is a magic number — for proposals and presentations

  ​Chances are your organization has lots of compelling features and benefits. Most do. But when crafting…

  Wednesday, July 16, 2014

• 4 reasons to keep your content simple

  Your prospects are bombarded with persuasive messages — 400 per day, according to psychologist Kevin…

  Tuesday, June 10, 2014

• 5 tools for averting proposal disaster

  We all know that proper planning and communication can go a long way to preventing last-minute proposal…

  Wednesday, April 16, 2014

• 7 tips for working with subject-matter experts

  ​Marketing and proposal writers are used to overcoming obstacles. But one challenge continually stands…

  Friday, March 21, 2014

• 5 time-saving tips for using PDFs in proposal writing

  ​In today’s increasingly competitive marketplace, many professional services firms are submitting…

  Wednesday, March 12, 2014

• 4 ways to streamline your proposal review process with PDFs

  The draft review and approval process can be stressful for any proposal writer. You just spent days crafting…

  Monday, February 03, 2014

• 9 steps to more concise business writing

  In today's world of ultratasking and information overload, being concise is more important than ever.…

  Tuesday, January 14, 2014

• 4 ways to improve your next electronic proposal submission

  Proposal professionals have long explored ways to optimize their hard copy submissions, from adjusting…

  Monday, December 16, 2013

• 8 exercises for strengthening your business writing

  Writing skills are essential for today's business professionals. Don't believe me? Consider this: A study…

  Thursday, December 05, 2013

• 10 downtime activities for proposal writers

  ​Proposal writing is time-consuming work, often with 16-hour days, nonexistent weekends and deadline-driven…

  Tuesday, November 19, 2013

• 101 bad business buzzwords — and why you should avoid them

  Today’s marketing and proposal materials are littered with important-sounding words that have no real…

  Tuesday, November 05, 2013

• 9 steps to effective business emails

  Email communication is a key part of nearly every project, client relationship and business development…

  Wednesday, October 16, 2013

• The ultimate proposal editing checklist: 7 steps to a more persuasive document

  Proposals are important. And with a growing focus on procurement transparency and objectivity, a high…

  Thursday, September 26, 2013

• 5 steps to clearer marketing and business writing: The Bob Vila edition

  Clear, straightforward business writing can do a lot: Get you hired, get you promoted, save you time…

  Thursday, September 12, 2013