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Don Heymann - Clear & Persuasive Written Communications

Don Heymann

Clear & Persuasive Written Communications

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Annual Reports

Annual Reports

Annual and sustainability reports are often the most comprehensive documents that target audiences get to read and keep. When they are well done, they provide a clear overview of strategy, relevant actions and future potential, with visuals and text working together to support key messages, including the company’s values, goals, transparency and accountability. Over more than 25 years, I have written these organizational reports for a broad range of corporations and non-profit organizations. 

Creating a Compelling Annual Report

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Rather than writing a ponderous document that only a few can understand, businesses should create annual reports that speak to a broad group of people simply and clearly –highly visual and narrative-driven reports that can help businesses connect with shareholders, investors, customers and other stakeholders.

Determine the Key Message

An annual report is a perfect opportunity to highlight your accomplishments and the impact of these accomplishments. The investors and employees want to know what you did and why you did it. By connecting your activities and your accomplishments to the final goals and mission statement, businesses can build trust and foster long-lasting connections.

Finalize Structure and Content

One of the most difficult parts about writing an annual report is deciding what to include and what to leave out. It’s important to map out the content and the structure of the report.

Apart from the basic elements such as introduction, chairman’s letter, business profile and financial statement, the annual report should have a storyline that defines the overall structure of the report and shapes the content around a narrative thread. This makes it easier to identify and cut out information that does not actively move the story forward.

Use clear, precise and unambiguous writing. Maintain a professional and unbiased position throughout the document. The content of the annual report should be transparent and honest. Don’t inflate accomplishments or disguise the losses that you faced.

Use Compelling Design

A well-designed report that is engaging and professional can be used as a marketing tool by a business. Ideally, readers should be able to scan through the document and get the information they need. Here are some pointers for a good annual report design:

  • Use headings and subheadings
  • Devote space to photographs, infographics and other compelling visual elements
  • Keep the text short and simple
  • Use a bold and complimentary color scheme and layout techniques that are in sync with your brand
  • Emphasize key areas with colored text boxes, quotes and captions

Annual Report Writing Portfolio

Anthem Annual Report
Center for Family Support -ANNUAL REPORT
Stryker Medical - Annual Report
The Nature Conservancy Annual Report
Zoetis - Annual Review
Montefiore - Annual-Report
NYU Cancer Institute - Report
PepsiCo-Annual Report
Merck - Corporate Responsibility Overview
Pfizer Corporate Responsibility Report

Clients Served​

Airbus • Amgen • The Annie E. Casey Foundation • Becton Dickinson (BD) • Berlitz International • Children’s Television Workshop • Citibank • Deloitte & Touche • The Forest Stewardship Council • GartnerGroup • GE Capital • IBM • Johnson & Johnson • The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society • The New York Academy of Sciences • The New York Blood Center • New York Public Library • The New York Times Company • Pfizer • Pitney Bowes • The Rockefeller Brothers Fund • Save the Children • Thomas Jefferson University Hospital • UNICEF • Unilever • University of Connecticut • Wyeth • Yale-New Haven Hospital

Looking for a writer?​

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About Don

Don Heymann - Communications WriterDon Heymann launched his business in 1985, drawing on his broad communications experience as a writer, consultant, corporate official and agency executive.

Learn more about Don…

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Clients Served

  • Anthem Health
  • PepsiCo
  • Save the Children
  • The Rockefeller Foundation
  • Pitney-Bowes
  • Pfizer
  • The New York Times
  • Johnson & Johnson
  • IBM
  • Citibank
  • Airbus
  • World Learning
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
  • Unilever
  • The Hospital for Special Surgery
  • Merck
  • Annie E. Casey Foundation
  • Montefiore
  • NYU Langone Cancer Center
  • General Electric
  • BASF - The Chemical Company
  • BD
  • New York Academy of Sciences
  • New York Public Library
  • UConn
  • UNICEF

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Donald L. Heymann & Co.

203 913-6307

Fairfield, CT

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Writing Services

  • Annual Reports
  • Brochures
  • Publications / Blogs / Social Media
  • Speeches
  • Websites
  • Policy / White Papers
  • Ads / Advertorials
  • Books
  • HR Communications

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