The PowerPoint deck in this resource discusses the basics of writing White Papers and can be used for classroom instruction or self-study A white paper (sometimes referred to as a white book) is a report or guide that informs readers concisely about a complex issue and presents the issuing body's philosophy on the matter. It is meant to help readers understand an issue, solve a problem, or make a decision. The initial British term, concerning a type of government-issued document, has proliferated, taking a somewhat new meaning Jul 21, · White paper writing is formal and less conversational than a blog post. To practice writing in this formal tone, read up on research journal articles and white papers to get a feel of the style of writing needed
3 White Paper Examples to Get You Started - Professional Writing
White paper definitions White papers and other documents White paper readers White paper sponsors White paper writers White papers past, present, and future. Back to top. A white paper is a persuasive essay that uses facts and logic to promote a certain product, service, or viewpoint. The content of a white paper provides useful information for business people seeking to understand an issue, white paper writing, solve a problem, or make a decision.
The format of a white paper is somewhere between a technical manual and a glossy brochure between a dry-as-dust academic paper and a colorful annual report. Like the best white papers, these publications explain scientific and financial information in a visually appealing way. That White Paper Guy aka Gordon Graham has identified these key characteristics for a white paper :.
To elaborate, the main body of a "typical" white paper is 6 to 8 pages long, shorter than in past years. With front matter and back matter, the total length is usually 10 to 12 pages. A backgrounder describes the technical features and benefits of a product or white paper writing. A numbered list provides a light and lively set of points or concerns about some topic.
About 15 years ago, That White Paper Guy proposed that these three types could be remembered as different flavors of ice cream. You can't effectively combine all three flavors to make a sort of Neapolitan flavor. For more on these three flavors and how to use them effectively, see the free infographic.
But all these descriptive terms fit under one or another of the three main types, so these terms are not as helpful. Each type is best for delivering information to prospects at a certain point in their customer journey, as shown below. For shorthand, "offering" means any product, service, technology, or methodology described in the white paper. Backgrounder : Best for prospects evaluating a shortlist of offerings near the end of the customer journey; also best to support a product launch for journalists, analysts, and channel partners.
Numbered list : Best to nurture prospects in the middle of the customer journey with a light and lively roundup of points about some topic; also good for spreading fear, white paper writing, uncertainty, and doubt FUD about competitors. Remember that there are no "rules" or universal standards for what makes a white paper and that means many people use this label white paper writing carelessly.
By my definition, a white paper is intended to help a business person understand an issue, solve a problem, or make a decision. But notice how many of these are actually documentation used after a purchase when installing, learning, or troubleshooting a system. To my thinking, a white paper is strictly a pre-sales document used before a purchase.
It's not documentation or support, it's sales and marketing. For a longer discussion, see my white paper writing " When is a white paper White paper writing a white paper.
A good white paper is based on established facts and logical arguments, like a well-researched article in an industry journal. A white paper generally takes 4 to 6 weeks of intense effort by a group of people. That's why an effective white paper can be used for a year or two.
Blog posts are usually much shorter webpages of to 1, words. A blog post can often be written in a couple of hours. A blog post can be sheer opinion, or even a rant, white paper writing, more like a letter to the editor. That's why there are so many blogs: Anyone can shoot off their mouth in a blog.
In a way, white paper writing posts are a good place to test out your ideas, as they come together. You can gather comments and feedback, and see how your audience connects with your ideas. Then you can solidify and back up your ideas in a white paper where you can pour more time and effort into the research, writing, design, and promotion.
White paper writing use the techniques of copywriting and advertising. They tend to push "emotional buttons" such as fear, greed, envy, white paper writing vanity. Brochures are generally designed to be scanned: colorful, flashy, and filled with short snippets of text. White paperson the other hand, are persuasive essays about a certain product, white paper writing, service, technology, or methodology.
White papers are most often used in B2B for offerings that are relatively new, complex, or expensive. They use the techniques of rhetoric and plain English. They tend to appeal more to logic through white paper writing facts, iron-clad logic, impeccable statistics, and quotes from industry opinion-makers. White papers are generally designed to be read. They contain lots of text and some graphics, but not a lot of flash. Some companies simply reformat a brochure and call the white paper writing a "white paper.
Most readers become irritated when they see a vendor doing this. Some marketers who should know better urge vendors to make white papers as flashy as brochures. This is not correct. A white paper should be much more dignified, substantial, and informative than a brochure. Making it look like a sales piece is the kiss of death for a white paper. White papers sometimes mention case studies for evidence of a vendor's claims. But the two are quite different.
Case studies are extended testimonials on how a product or service helped someone in the real world. They are typically between and 1, words long, written in a journalistic style with many quotes from the actual customer.
Before we had this terrible problem, then we found this fantastic product, and After we started using it, everything was sweetness and light. White paperson the other hand, are persuasive essays about a certain product, service, technology or methodology. They are generally 3, words or more, written in a somewhat academic style, with no direct quotes from the vendor. White papers tend to be used earlier in the sales cycle, to help prospects visualize a possible solution to a nagging problem.
Case studies tend to be used later in the sales cycle to reassure a prospect that other buyers benefited from the same approach they are considering. For a longer discussion, see my article " What's the diff between a white paper and a case study?
Remember, we're not talking about an electronic version of a commercial book to white paper writing read on an e-reader or smartphone. That type of e-book and a white paper can be hard to tell apart. You can often call the same document a white paper or an e-book.
Many e-books look more like slide decks than text-driven documents. In fact, some say e-books are just prettied-up white papers turned on their sides. They may be young or very mobile. An e-book may sound like fun while a white paper sounds like work. You may be able to gain more traction by presenting the same content as an e-book instead of a white paper. In that case, your document may work better if you call it something else, perhaps a "special report" or "briefing, white paper writing.
An ideal e-book—just like an ideal white paper—will help white paper writing target audience understand an issue, solve a problem, or make a decision. If your content does that, you can call it an e-book, a white paper, or whatever… and your audience will white paper writing thank you for it, white paper writing.
Press releases are short, factual announcements of interest to a certain audience. This format has existed for perhaps years. Until recently, press releases were used to influence media "gatekeepers" and gain publicity for their sponsor. The most effective press releases were recycled by journalists into printed articles.
A contemporary press release must be highly factual. In fact, there are rules about what a public company can say in a press release. White papers have also existed for years, although the format evolved quickly since the year While a white paper is sponsored by a white paper writing same as a press release —white papers are generally much longer than press releases, with more room to present facts and develop arguments. White papers are sometimes packaged with press releases as a "press kit.
On the Web, white papers are available to almost everyone, white paper writing. There are no special legal rules on what a company can say in a white paper. But it's best to take a journalistic approach, backing up every assertion with statistics, facts, and quotes from respected sources. White papers are read by almost any B2B executive who is thinking about buying a relatively new, relatively complex, or relatively high-priced product or service for their business.
In larger companies, all these people may sit together on a selection committee that makes a collective decision, white paper writing. In smaller firms, some people may wear several of these hats and meet informally to discuss any big purchases. One survey showed that they read a median of 30 white papers a year, with some white paper writing more than 50 a year that's one a week!
As well, business people routinely pass good white papers up and down the chain of command, both to their managers and their staff. White paper readers are seeking useful information to help them understand an issue, solve a problem, white paper writing make a decision, white paper writing. This often involves learning about the business benefits or technical details of a product or service they are considering buying.
A survey of IT managers by Forbes. com and Bitpipe now TechTarget showed that they read white papers to accomplish these goals:. These people are seeking plain-language explanations with clear business benefits, white paper writing, backed up by convincing facts and arguments. Executives at the IT portal KnowledgeStorm now TechTarget encourage clients to think of a technology sale in four phases. Vision : A business person is imagining how to solve a problem.
At that point, a high-level white paper focused on business benefits can help them visualize the possibilities of a certain offering.
What Is A White Paper? - Brian Boys, author of \
, time: 3:31White paper - Wikipedia
Jul 20, · If you're writing a white paper for an engineer, you should include lots of technical details and be lengthy in your descriptions. If you're writing for a government official, focus on policy-related implications. If you're writing for a corporate audience, focus on cost-effectiveness and growth potential Writing a good white paper is not a simple task. However, the investment of time and skill can produce a valuable document that shares your company’s knowledge, contributing to overall education and progress in your industry. And, a good white paper increases business opportunities Mar 25, · Cite your sources at the end of the paper and give information on additional resources. White Paper Example #3: Business Title Page (colorful and eye-catching!) Catchy Business White Paper Title. Company name and logo. Body. Start with an introductory paragraph that sets up the problem the paper is going to address
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