7 ways to organize your white paper research
I often say that a white paper writer should “think like a lawyer.” That means building a mountain of research to back up your case. But then, a lawyer has to be able to access it efficiently. They need to keep all the evidence at their fingertips, so they can pluck out exactly the right piece at…
Read MoreThe shocking cost of the workforce skill gap
Here is a little calculator I built using Calculoid (https://app.calculoid.com/#/calculator/93897) This is just a proof of concept, nothing final. The design can be tinkered with, including the font and the color scheme. We still need to find good default values for each field. Average American salary = ~$50,000 Source: https://policyadvice.net/insurance/insights/average-american-income/ Turnover rate = 20% is…
Read MoreWhite papers and… the polar vortex?!
If you live in the Midwest, the Pacific Northwest or Canada, in 2018-19 you probably experienced a tough winter. Snow fell like crazy and the temperatures plummeted. Cars didn’t start, flights and trains were cancelled, meetings were postponed. Even mail wasn’t delivered in some places. Niagara Falls froze over, as shown above. That’s rare. And…
Read MoreWhite Paper World 2: March 2022
Fresh: So you have to write a white paper… Quick tip: Name your white papers right This just in: For 10 years running, 6 out of 10 marketers used white papers Tools of the trade: A new product to help you write white papers The White Paper Review: New episodes on YouTube What I’m…
Read MoreThis Just In: 6 out of 10 B2B marketers use white papers
No one has surveyed B2B marketers on their content efforts for as long as the Content Marketing Institute. In case you missed the 12th annual B2B report for 2022, here are some highlights: 56% of all B2B marketers surveyed use e-books/white papers Even more (67%) of the most successful firms use those formats 62% of…
Read MoreWhite paper writer tip #4: Think visually
To create an effective white paper today, text alone doesn’t cut it. Every white paper writer must be able to imagine powerful graphics to help tell their client’s story. Why? Because white papers are getting brighter, bolder, and more colorful. Great pictures and graphics are a must-have. For best results, you must learn how to dream up images that communicate your key points at a…
Read MoreWill AI replace white paper writers?
Is there a future for humans to write white papers? Or is it just a matter of time before AI replaces all white paper writers and the bottom falls out of the market? Why should you waste your time learning a skill that’s going to be obsolete in a few years? This article, updated in…
Read MoreWhite Paper World 1: February 2022
Fresh content: White papers and… renovating a bathroom?! Quick tip: Move up your executive summary Tools of the trade: White Paper Mastery 2022—limited-time enrollment The White Paper Review: New show launched on YouTube Just for fun: What writer-sign are you? Fresh content: White papers and… renovating a bathroom?! Have you ever renovated a bathroom? I’m…
Read MoreWhite papers and… renovating a bathroom?!
Have you ever renovated a bathroom? I’m not talking about a new shower curtain. I’m talking about a rip-and-replace. That means tearing out everything down to the studs, hacking out the old plumbing, ripping up the old wiring; redoing the ceiling, walls, and floor; replacing the vanity, tub, toilet… And I’m in the middle of…
Read MoreWill chatbots replace white papers?
You’ve seen them. You’ve used them. Chatbots are everywhere now. And a whole new industry is springing up to write, code, and integrate chatbots into websites. That means loads of opportunities for writers who learn this new format. Nick Usborne, a co-founder of marketing agency Chatbot Forge, is a pioneer in this field who points…
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