business-writing

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Use when writing B2B sales emails, professional communication, or business correspondence. Applies Sid's direct voice (simple, brief, human) with Grand Slam Offer strategy (never salesy).

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[Email and Outreach]

When & Why to Use This Skill

This Claude skill optimizes B2B sales emails and professional correspondence by applying a direct, human-centric voice and the 'Grand Slam Offer' strategy. It streamlines business communication by removing 'salesy' fluff and focusing on clarity, brevity, and high-value propositions to significantly improve response rates and professional impact.

Use Cases

  • B2B Cold Outreach: Crafting high-conversion sales emails that focus on dream outcomes and status gains while removing friction for the prospect.
  • Deal Follow-ups: Drafting concise, post-demo check-ins that address objections directly and maintain momentum without sounding pushy.
  • Professional Correspondence: Refining complex business messages into simple, subject-verb structures that ensure the core message is understood instantly.
  • Proposal Optimization: Applying the 'Grand Slam' framework to business offers to make them feel irresistible and easy to accept.
  • Communication Cleanup: Auditing existing drafts to remove anti-patterns like over-explaining, passive voice, and robotic corporate jargon.
namebusiness-writing
descriptionUse when writing B2B sales emails, professional communication, or business correspondence. Applies Sid's direct voice (simple, brief, human) with Grand Slam Offer strategy (never salesy).

Business Writing Skill

"Not instructions to follow - behavioral strata that make good writing inevitable."

Purpose

Transform business communication into Sid's voice: simple, direct, human. Apply Grand Slam Offer strategy without being salesy. Make writing brief and effective.

Phase 0: Context Detection (MANDATORY FIRST)

What type of email am I writing?

Detect context:

  • Follow-up (after demo/call)
  • Offer (pricing, proposal)
  • Check-in (deal progress)
  • Objection (addressing concerns)
  • Professional (non-sales business)

Output: "Phase 0 complete. Context: [type]. Loading resources..."

Phase 1: Load Resources

Always load these resources:

# Core frameworks
cat ~/.claude/skills/business-writing/references/clear-writing.md    # 6 questions
cat ~/.claude/skills/business-writing/references/grand-slam.md       # 4 value drivers (if B2B sales)
cat ~/.claude/skills/business-writing/references/b2b-emails.md       # Real examples

# Voice guides
cat ~/.claude/skills/business-writing/assets/voice-guide.md          # Sid's patterns

Progressive loading: Load what's needed for context. Check-in emails don't need full Grand Slam framework.

Output: "Phase 1 complete. Resources loaded."

Phase 2: Apply Clarity Framework (6 Questions)

ANSWER THESE BEFORE WRITING:

From references/clear-writing.md:

  1. What am I really trying to say?
  2. Why should they care?
  3. What is the most important point?
  4. What is the easiest way to understand it?
  5. How do I want them to feel?
  6. What should they do next?

Key principle: "Every writing project must be reduced before you start"

Output: "Phase 2 complete. Clarity achieved: [one sentence summary]"

Phase 3: Apply Strategy (B2B Sales Only)

If B2B sales context, apply 4 Value Drivers:

From references/grand-slam.md:

  1. Dream Outcome (↑ INCREASE) - Status gain language

    • Not "save time" → "Be the innovation leader everyone copies"

  2. Perceived Likelihood (↑ INCREASE) - Proof without being salesy

    • Show 10,000th customer, not first
    • Case studies, validation

  3. Time Delay (↓ DECREASE) - Fast wins close deals

    • "Same day" not "immediately"
    • "iPad ready for next visit" not "quick onboarding"

  4. Effort & Sacrifice (↓ DECREASE) - Done-for-you beats DIY

    • "I'll handle X" not "we make it easy"
    • Remove friction from their side

Check: Does offer feel stupid to say no to?

Output: "Phase 3 complete. Strategy applied: [brief summary]"

Phase 4: Write in Sid's Voice

Behavioral strata from assets/voice-guide.md:

Length

  • 2-5 sentences ideal
  • 10 sentences maximum
  • One clear point per email

Structure

  • Tool 1: Begin with subject-verb

    • ✅ "You good to start?"
    • ❌ "I wanted to reach out..."

  • Tool 3: Active voice always

    • ✅ "Let me know if anything's blocking you"
    • ❌ "If there are any impediments..."

  • Tool 11: Simple over technical

    • ✅ "blocking you"
    • ❌ "impediments to progress"

Tone

  • Questions > statements
  • Human > robotic
  • Helpful > pushy
  • Direct > diplomatic

Examples from references/b2b-emails.md

  • Gun follow-up: "You good to start this week? Let me know if anything's blocking you."
  • Partnership angle: "Looking forward to making Belgium our European launch story."
  • P.S. pattern: "P.S. - Steve, you'll have full access to the team account."

Output: First draft written.

Phase 5: Anti-Pattern Check

From assets/anti-patterns.md, remove:

  • ❌ "I saw you opened the email" (creepy tracking)
  • ❌ Over-explaining value props
  • ❌ Sales voice ("excited to share", "thrilled to announce")
  • ❌ Long paragraphs (break into 2-3 sentences)
  • ❌ Complex words where simple works
  • ❌ Asking permission ("Would you be open to...")

Test:

  • Would you text this to a colleague?
  • Is every word necessary?
  • Does it sound like Sid?

Output: "Phase 5 complete. Anti-patterns removed."

Phase N: Show Versions

Present 2-3 variations:

**Version 1**: [Most direct/brief]
**Version 2**: [Slightly warmer/more context]
**Version 3**: [Alternative angle if relevant]

Explain differences:

  • Why each version works
  • When to use which
  • Trade-offs between them

Ask: "Which version resonates? Want refinement?"

Key Principles

From Writing/Craft

  1. Reduce before writing - Answer 6 questions first
  2. Subject-verb structure - Who does what?
  3. Active voice emerges - Not passive construction
  4. Simple over technical - Short words at complexity

From Grand Slam Offer

  1. Make offers irresistible - So good they feel stupid saying no
  2. Status gain language - Frame benefits as elevation
  3. Fast wins close deals - Emotional win close to purchase
  4. Remove all friction - Done-for-you beats DIY

From Sid's Voice

  1. Brief beats long - 2-5 sentences ideal
  2. Questions beat statements - "You good?" not "I hope you're doing well"
  3. Human beats robotic - "Blocking you" not "impediments"
  4. Helpful beats pushy - Offer value, don't chase

Execution Time

  • Phase 0: 5s (context detection)
  • Phase 1: 10s (load resources)
  • Phase 2: 30s (answer 6 questions)
  • Phase 3: 20s (apply strategy if needed)
  • Phase 4: 60s (write first draft)
  • Phase 5: 20s (anti-pattern check)
  • Phase N: 30s (show versions)

Total: ~3 minutes methodical > 20 minutes rewriting

Success Metrics

  • ✅ Email is 2-5 sentences (rarely more)
  • ✅ Sounds like Sid (simple, direct, human)
  • ✅ One clear point/action
  • ✅ No sales fluff detected
  • ✅ Strategy applied (if B2B sales)
  • ✅ Reader knows exactly what to do next

When NOT to Use This Skill

Skip this for:

  • Internal team messages (use natural voice)
  • Personal emails to friends/family
  • Creative writing or social media
  • Technical documentation

Use /context-writing instead for:

  • LinkedIn posts
  • Twitter content
  • Articles/blog posts
  • Personal essays

"Make it so simple they can't say no. Make it so brief they actually read it."