During a business writing workshop yesterday, a participant asked me if he shouldanswer most of the reader’s questions when writing. “Well,” I said, surprised, “of course,but why wouldn’t you answer ALL of your reader’s questions?”

He couldn’t think of a reason not to answer ALL of the reader’s questions. Can you?

Whenever you write, especially if you’re requesting something, think about your reader’s likely questions and answer ALL of them. If you don’t, one of these things will happen:

1. your reader will delete or skip over your message

2. your reader will say “no” to your request

3. (if you’re lucky) your reader will ask you to answer the rest of his or her questions

Always take the time to think about your reader’s likely questions and answer ALL of them. It will save your and your reader valuable time.