Quick Tip: Don’t start your research with Google
Yes, you need a lot of research for a white paper. No, you don’t want to start with Google. That might send you down countless rabbit holes. And with AI content being dumped online, we can expect the web to get even more polluted with lies and disinformation in the future. So here are three…
Read MoreQuick Tip: Read a draft to your reviewers
Did you ever work with a SME who kept putting off reviewing a white paper draft? Maybe English wasn’t their first language. Or maybe they weren’t sure how to express their comments on your draft. But they were too embarrassed to admit it. Here’s a smart way around that: 1. Schedule a meeting or Zoom,…
Read MoreWhite Paper World 14: December 2022
Fresh content: White papers and… letters to Santa?! Quick tip: My favorite way to polish a draft Holiday shopping: Just a little time left November book winner What I’m listening to: Huron Carol, with a little history Fresh content: White papers and… letters to Santa?! Do you know anyone writing a letter to Santa this…
Read MoreQuick Tip: My favourite way to polish a draft
Read it out loud. That quickly reveals any awkward phrases or run-on sentences. To me, reading out loud is the absolute best way to revise a white paper draft. But it can be awkward to read a draft to yourself and try to make changes at the same time. There’s a simple solution… Did you…
Read MoreRecommended books on white papers (and everything else)
Here are the books I highly recommend for any B2B writer or marketer. My favorite books have given me so much: A quick reference as I worked Wise guidance on thorny issues of style or form A shot of inspiration when I needed it most I keep all these titles within easy reach on my bookshelves. And I…
Read MoreWhite papers and… letters to Santa?!
Do you know anyone writing a letter to Santa? I always urge my kids to write one early in December. And that got me wondering: Is a ‘Dear Santa’ letter anything like a white paper? In the spirit of the holidays, here’s a lighthearted look at the similarities between the two… with tips on white…
Read MoreHow to understand your white paper’s audience
Comedians know it. Politicians know it. And white paper writers must know it, too: The first key to success is to understand your audience. “Understanding your audience will help you write the content they need in the words and the way they need it,” says industry veteran Ginny Redish in her excellent book, Letting Go…
Read MoreQuick Tip: Don’t cross the red line
Companies doing their first-ever white paper often suffer from what I call “The Kitchen Sink Syndrome.” They tell me they want to generate leads. But they’re also dying to tell the world about their brilliant new product. And then they come up with a listicle or two. So they dump all that into one document.…
Read MoreWhite Paper World 13: November 23, 2022
Fresh content: Tools of the trade, all in one place Quick tip: Don’t cross the red line Tools of the trade: Rate your headlines for originality and SEO What I’m thankful for: Great books! Just for fun: November book giveaway Fresh content: Tools of the trade, all in one place From time to time, I…
Read MoreA great example of a numbered list
I recently came across an excellent example of a numbered list. You know, strawberry? It was a political column published in, of all places, The Guardian online newspaper. It’s clearly not a white paper. For one thing, it’s only 700 words long. And it’s an opinion piece in a newspaper, not a piece of B2B…
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