Before writing any type of business correspondence, what should you determine?

Determining your desired result is crucial before writing any type of business correspondence because it sets the objective for your communication. Understanding the outcome you want to achieve helps in structuring your message effectively. It guides the tone, content, and style of your writing to ensure it aligns with the purpose of your correspondence, whether that is to inform, persuade, request, or clarify information. Knowing your end goal allows you to focus your message and engage your audience appropriately.

While considering your audience's interests, the length of the document, and formatting are important aspects of writing, they are secondary to first establishing what you want to accomplish. The desired result serves as the foundation upon which you can build your message to ensure clarity and effectiveness in achieving your communication objectives.