White papers versus blog posts
Most people can tell the difference between a white paper and a blog post.
For starters, one is longer and the other is shorter.
For another, a blog post is another item on an existing blog, while a white paper is a standalone PDF you can download.
Beyond that, a good white paper is based on established facts and logical arguments, rather like a well-researched article in an industry journal.
But a blog post can be sheer opinion—or even a rant—more like a letter to the editor.
This table sums up some of the key differences.
| Blog posts | White papers | |
|---|---|---|
| Focus | One person's opinion | New solution to an old problem, or benefits of some product or service |
| Message | Here's how I see it | Here's a better way to solve this problem |
| Length | 500 to 2,000 words | 2,500 to 5,000 words |
| Format | Online, often text with one stock photo | PDF with good design and a few graphics |
| Lifespan | A few months, then outdated | 1 or 2 years, then refresh |
| Time to create | 1 to 4 hours | 4 to 12 weeks |
| When to use | Any time, depends on content | Early in sales cycle |
| Why to use | To generate leads, engage prospects or channel partners | To generate leads, engage prospects, or explain product or service |
| Analogy | Letter to the editor or opinion piece | Well-researched article |
How to use white papers AND blog posts together
A good white paper contains enough ideas to fuel several blog posts.
In fact, here is the best strategy for how to use both together:
- Publish an effective white paper.
- Extract one key idea from the white paper to blog about.
- At the end of the blog, point to the landing page for the full white paper.
- Repeat steps 2-3 to cover all the key ideas in the white paper.
This uses the SEO power of your blog to build visibility and downloads for your white paper.
The white paper is the cornerstone content, and the blog posts are spinoffs presented as smaller chunks that point back to the whole.
Repurposing a problem/ solution as a blog
As you know, a problem/solution white paper (chocolate) delves into an industry-wide problem that no one has ever solved completely.
And then it recommends a new, improved solution.
Here is my recommended way to organize this flavor of white paper:
- The problem
A detailed picture of the scope and terrible impact of the problem - The traditional solutions
What’s been tried in the past and the drawbacks of each approach - The new recommended solution in generic terms
- What to look for in an ideal solution
A set of bullets listing the key features and benefits that only the white paper sponsor can claim
Each section shown above can form a separate blog post. Then you can link all three together into a series.
Best of all, you can pretty much extract these posts word-for-word from the white paper and drop them into your blog.
Repurposing a numbered list as a blog
The easiest and most informal flavor of white paper is a numbered list (strawberry).
These all have titles that start with a number, like in “6 Things You Must Know Before You Buy BI Software.”
After you finish a numbered list, this is an ideal time to repurpose that white paper as one or more blog posts.
Your blog can present the bare list, and then direct readers who want more details to the full white paper.
Or you can break up the white paper into a series of six or seven blog posts—whatever number of points your numbered list contains.
As always, your white paper can present more detail, more evidence, and more logical arguments than each single blog post.
Repurposing a backgrounder
as a blog
The most traditional of all white papers is a backgrounder that focuses on the features and benefits of a certain product or service (vanilla).
A backgrounder always has a product name in its title, as in “Exploring Enhanced Security Features in Windows 11.”
You can extract each individual feature and its benefits as a separate blog post.
Or if a couple are shorter, you can group two together in a single post.
Then each post can direct readers to the full white paper “for the whole story.”
White papers: a whole different dimension
Some SEO enthusiasts tend to over-promote what anyone can really expect to achieve with blogging. They say a blog can generate vast amounts of Web traffic and push your site to the top of Google.
This is rarely true in B2B marketing.
In my experience, B2B buyers tend to consider a good white paper far more serious than a blog post.
And to achieve what B2B marketers want—a steady trickle of warm, qualified leads—white papers are in a whole different dimension beyond blog posts.
Despite this, you can quickly repurpose a good white paper into several solid blog posts using the tactics I’ve described above.
Want to hear whenever there’s a fresh article on this site? Subscribe here to stay in the know on long-form content. From time to time, we’ll also send you word about some great new resource or training. And you can unsubscribe any time.
[…] found the following chart by blogger Gordon Graham to be very interesting to show the comparisons between a blog and a white […]
I think the value of white-papers is under-estimated because they have an image of being boring and bland. But with good writing and design, white papers writing can be effectiveness tools for thought leadership, brand awareness and lead generation. Here are my thoughts on how to do white papers right: https://www.corpwriting.com/white-papers/
[…] Recommendedreading: White papers versus blog posts […]
Informative blog. Thanks for sharing.
Your blog is wonderful, it’s a very beneficial post and very helpful article. Thank you for sharing such informative blog.
I think it is just like comparing apples with oranges as both of them serve different purpose. By the way, thanks for sharing a detailed post that doesn’t confuses the beginners about what to choose between a blog post or white paper.
Thanks for sharing these tips about White papers versus blog posts. I have got to understand so much. If you like, then I would also like to provide some related information on White papers writing services on my official website. Click now to read my point of view on this topic:- https://www.sagipl.com/white-paper-writing-services.php
In My assumption. White papers delve deep into complex subjects, while blogs provide succinct insights, engaging readers swiftly.