Getting Started
Repurposing: Your secret marketing weapon
I’ve worked on white papers, and I have a secret: Less than 1% of those white papers was ever repurposed. Only a tiny handful of my clients, large and small, ever thought about repurposing. And only when I mentioned it. A secret weapon for marketing That means repurposing can be a secret weapon for any B2B marketing…
Read MoreHow to pick the perfect flavor for your next white paper
How many flavors of white papers are there? Most “white paper experts” list 8 or 10 types of white papers. When I first started in white papers, I used to agree. But after working on of these documents, I’ve made a startling discovery. There are really only three main flavors of white paper. That’s right:…
Read MoreWhite Paper FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)
When I first started writing white papers 25 years ago, I looked all over for an FAQ. When I couldn’t find one, I decided to write one myself. Over the years, I’ve kept adding to it. I’ve just finished updating and expanding it to cover a grand total of 36 questions. Today this 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 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 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 MoreWhite papers and… Halloween?!
I was planting skulls in my flowerbed when a raven cawed behind me. Looking up, I surveyed my efforts. Cobwebs. Bats. Candles. And it struck me like a thunderclap. Getting ready for Halloween is a lot like sponsoring a white paper. And kids dashing house to house looking for goodies are a lot like…
Read MoreYou asked: Where do I find white paper clients?
“Where do I find white paper clients?” This is the most common question we get asked by new white paper writers. And it’s the toughest to answer because every established writer has a different story about landing their first client. While we’ve shared some tactics in the past, the reality is there’s no guaranteed step-by-step…
Read MoreSo you have to write a white paper…
Got a white paper project on your hands? But you’re not sure where to begin? Here’s a quick-start guide that explains all the basics, and points to some handy resources to help you avoid all the most common pitfalls. Whether you’re brand-new to this field, or you’ve done a few white papers but could use…
Read More12 steps to great white paper project management
A white paper project is a complex undertaking, with many moving parts. Here are 12 steps to an effective white paper project. We created each of these steps after going through a painful experience with a white paper that went off the rails A few were never even completed, despite my best efforts. So consider…
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