White Paper World 8: September 14, 2022
Fresh content: A tale of four white papers Quick Tip: Three keys to better writing Tools of the trade: One-stop word research Just for fun: My favorite joke Fresh content: A tale of four white papers When I think back over the 300+ white papers I’ve worked on, a few stand out clearly in my…
Read MoreQuick tip: Use these 3 keys to better writing
Are you struggling to achieve a crisp, business-like writing style? Here are three keys to better writing. They’re all right there on your keyboard, and using them is free. Delete key: Cut unnecessary words And replace longer words with shorter words. Here’s one trick for doing that. Whenever you see similar terms joined with…
Read MoreA tale of four white papers [with SAMPLES]
Out of all 300+ white papers I’ve worked on, a few stand out in my recollections. This is the story of four of those projects, and what we can learn from them. There’s nothing magical or heroic about these stories. What makes them memorable is that each project faced a different challenge: An impossible deadline…
Read MoreQuick tip: Teach, don’t preach
What’s the #1 problem with too many white papers? If you said “too much selling,” you’re right. There’s a time and place for a sales pitch. But a white paper is neither. I first heard this 20+ years ago when I interviewed executives from the two largest white paper syndication services at the time. “The best…
Read MoreWhite Paper World 7: August 2022
Fresh content: New episode of The White Paper Review This just in: How to write an exceptional white paper from CMI Quick tip: Teach, don’t preach What I’m reading: White Papers For Dummies?! Just for fun: Beat the dog days of summer Fresh content: The White Paper Review An all-new episode of The White Paper Review…
Read More3 keys to readable white papers
Many white papers are just too hard to read. Happily, three simple techniques can make any draft easier to read. Use shorter words. Use shorter sentences. And use shorter paragraphs. In other words, three keys can make your next white paper easier to read: Delete to eliminate long words Period (.) to break up long…
Read MoreWhite papers versus e-books
So a client asked me to write an e-book. Before I started, I searched high and low for guidance on what makes a good e-book: How long should it be? How many graphics should it contain? Landscape or portrait format? Any other distinguishing marks? Unfortunately, I found that an “e-book” can be just about any…
Read MoreQuick tip: Write AS you speak
Some classic advice to writers is “write like you speak.” So why not write AS you speak? Why not dictate the first draft of your next white paper? Here are just a few of the benefits: It’s 2.5X faster than typing. It leaves your hands free to juggle through sources. It removes more of the…
Read MoreWhite Paper World 6: July 2022
Fresh content: White papers and… backgammon?! Quick tip: My secret weapon for “writing” white papers What I’m reading: Another fine book by Bob Bly Just for fun: Amaaazing dinosaurs Fresh content: White papers and… backgammon?! Believe it or not, doing a white paper is a lot like playing a game of backgammon. Both certainly…
Read MoreWhite papers and… backgammon?!
Yes, playing backgammon is a lot like doing a white paper. If you don’t know what backgammon is, see the intro below. If you already know the history of backgammon, skip down to “6 similarities between backgammon and white papers.” Intro: What is backgammon? Backgammon is an ancient game that dates back at least…
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