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Quick tip: Don’t say “once every xx seconds…”

Woman sitting alone with stat on 1 suicide every 40 seconds

I’ve been researching suicide lately. Don’t worry; I’m not thinking about doing myself in. It’s for a fictional story I’m working on. In my research, I encountered a statistic that always bugs me. Here it is, from no less than the World Health Organization: Suicide: one person dies every 40 seconds1 What a shocker, right?…

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Quick tip: Here’s a great little book on statistics

So far, I’ve posted two quick tips on how to avoid shoddy statistics. Both articles included examples from the real world. You can see those here: Don’t use numbers out of context Don’t say “once every xx seconds…” So how about some positive tips on how to use numbers properly? If you’re interested in how…

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Quick tip: Understand the audience for your white paper

groups of colleagues all put their hands in to signify understanding

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…

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Quick tip: To find the gem, wash away the muck

A tiny piece of emerald on a miner's fingertip

One problem I often see in white papers is over-long quotes from sources. Lengthy quotes can easily slow down your narrative and distract from the point you’re trying to make. If you see a quote that runs two or three paragraphs long, you can be pretty sure the writer included too much. Your goal as…

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White Paper World 35: January 12, 2024

closeup on emerald on miner's finger

This just in: Plain language rules, even in healthcare Quick tip: To find the gem, wash away the muck Big idea: Let’s get rid of the sales funnel Need help with your next white paper? This just in: Plain language rules in healthcare (and every other sector) A recent study found that 4 out of…

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White Paper World 34: December 14, 2023

This just in: The hottest opportunity for white papers in 2024! Quick tips: 6 easy hacks for ChatGPT [with sample prompts] Bonus tip: A great roundup of AI chatbots Need help with your next white paper? This just in: The hottest opportunity for white papers in 2024! In the coming year, AI will pop up…

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Quick tip: Don’t use numbers out of context

Man cooking up shoddy statistics on laptop

White papers need solid proof to make their case. So please don’t fabricate shoddy statistics out of thin air. If you try to make up a snappy-sounding statistic, you’re taking a huge risk. You’re gambling that: You can get away with deceiving prospects No one will question your sources or analysis No one will say…

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White Paper World 33: November 30, 2023

White Paper World llogo new Oct 2023

Quick Tip: Don’t use shoddy statistics [with example] This just in: Cool GPTs for B2B writers December book giveaway: Tell me about a good book Need help with your next white paper? Quick Tip: Don’t use shoddy statistics White papers need solid proof to make their case. But don’t fabricate shoddy statistics out of thin…

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