White Paper Planning
Finding a white paper topic
Every white paper needs an engaging topic. A good topic can make the difference between a white paper that works well, and one that falls flat. Let’s take an example to show how this works. Suppose you need to write a white paper for a vendor of automated parking meters. These systems use one central…
Read MoreWhite Paper World 42: June 14, 2024
Quick tip: Use AI for tech support Big idea: How to de-position the competition [includes case studies] Just for fun: All the papers of the rainbow 3 minute read. 18:30 minute listen (includes Big Idea): Quick tip: Use AI for tech support 1:15 minute read Do you ever have software headaches? Or some new gadget…
Read MoreHow can I help with your next white paper?
Whether you’re a B2B marketer or a content writer, you can benefit from my experience. I’ve learned a lot, working on white papers for clients all over the world. Now you can get my help with your next project… avoid all the common pitfalls… and publish a white paper that gets results. My unique services…
Read MoreWhite papers and… the Greek gods?!
In ancient Greece, tales of the gods served to inspire, caution, and educate mortals. Today these legends can guide us to create white papers that ascend to the heights of Mount Olympus. Here are five tips on how these timeless gods and goddesses can inspire us to create more effective long-form content. 3.5 minute read.…
Read MoreWhat’s a good topic for a white paper?
I get that question a lot. One good answer is, “anything that’s hot right now.” And that hot topic should refer to something that’s relatively new, relatively complex, and relatively expensive. This rule explains why in 2017-2018 I heard from four eight 13 16 24 58 prospects launching new cryptocurrencies, something like Bitcoin. What made cryptocurrencies…
Read MoreQuick tip: Understand the audience for your white paper
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 More5 good reasons to hire an outside white paper writer
You’ve come up with a brilliant idea for a white paper. It’s so good, it will bring tears of joy to the CEO’s eyes when he sees all the leads it produces. But, before you can bask in the glory of your brilliance, you need to get the white paper written. That’s the tricky part.…
Read MoreDo it right: Get a White Paper Blueprint
Would you build a house with no blueprints? Of course not. Would you introduce a new product with no launch plan? Never. Then why should a white paper be any different? But far too often, white papers are started with next-to-no plan. A typical white paper scenario Someone says, “Let’s do a white paper!” And…
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 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…
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