White Paper writing

What is a white paper, and why has this inbound marketing channel become such a key part of online marketing strategies for businesses.

Well for one, it is a deep-dive form of content that makes use of reliable resources and case studies with the purpose to educate readers regarding a particular topic. Such content pieces are great for businesses to present themselves as leading experts in their fields and attract other experts and customers to their products or services.

Writing and formatting a white paper is in many ways similar to writing an eBook, with the only difference being that whitepaper writing requires a lot more research and knowledge on the given subject.

Whitepaper writing requires dedication and a commitment to producing content that is unparalleled. Doing this in one day is a Herculean task best left to experts.

This is where our white paper writing service comes in. With a team of expert white paper writers with diverse expertise, you can rest assured; we’ll deliver well above expectations.

Writing a White Paper Quickly

White paper writing 2

The initial part is the hardest mainly because of a load of information at your disposal. Getting lost in this information is highly likely and presenting findings and data without following a narrative is even more so.

Luckily, with our tips and tricks, you’ll find the going easier.

1. Topic Selection

When it comes to topic selection, writing on any industry-relevant subject is not a good idea. You need to understand what your audience will connect with the most and how your qualifications come into play.

Additionally, it would also help if you chose a topic that was only briefly covered by others. You can also network with experts within your organization or use other crowdsourcing techniques to have a better command of the subject.

If you want your paper to get featured on other websites or SERPs, you should focus on creating a unique paper and filling a gap within the content already available.

One great way to select a topic is by starting an online poll. Polls will help you get an idea of what your readers are interested in while also getting them excited for an upcoming paper.

2. Target Audience

Your target audience will determine the kind of tone, voice, and research that will be required for the paper. For example, if the purpose of your paper is to attract B2B customers, then perhaps adding technical jargon will not be a problem.

However, if your target audience is not well-versed in the subject, you may need to take a different approach. Additionally, you should also focus on relevant keywords and the platforms where the audience will read your content. Choosing specific platforms will also help later on when you’re outlining and formatting the paper.

3. Intro and Conclusion

Why should your readers get excited about reading the paper? The introduction should include a brief description of what the paper includes and why readers will benefit from it. Most readers decide whether they’ll read an entire paper after reading the introduction. So, make sure to grab their attention and tell them why they should continue reading. Address the value of information and the benefits of your paper early on.

The conclusion will help readers make a final decision about the entire paper. This section is where you can market the company’s products or services and persuade the audience to take a specific action. Adding business details and a CTA is best left for the outro of the paper.

4. Useful Information

You might see a paper as a perfect opportunity to promote your business and its products or services. However, it’ll be best not to forget that the whitepaper’s main purpose is to provide useful information and increase your readers’ knowledge.

Additionally, this is also your chance to present yourself as a trustworthy industry leader, and a salesy paper will not be sufficient to do that. Use reliable sources, data, and stats and provide expert opinions on them instead of mere advertisements.

5. Keep Building on First Draft

You should draft several copies of the paper down the line to ensure no useful information was left out. You can keep updating the white paper and improving on it even after the first draft is out.

One great way to do this is to write several copies and take a fresh outlook each time. You can also have other experts or professionals within the organization give it a read to spot any errors in the document.

6. Grabbing the Readers’ Attention

The technicalities and formalities included in writing a paper can make the tone of it extremely dull. However, instead of focusing on numbers and statistics, you should try adding more value with a perfectly flowing conversation. Keeping your readers’ attention from beginning till the end in a detailed and thorough paper might be difficult. However, as long as you follow the above-mentioned tips, you’ll be able to write a compelling copy.

Formatting a Whitepaper

Formatting a whitepaper

When you’re formatting a whitepaper, you should remember to include an easy-to-read and clear title page. The title page will include the subject of the paper, names of experts who have helped create the document, publication date, and author name[s].

You should also divide your paper into headings, subheadings, and sections. This will help you keep your paper organized and provide a better reading experience.

Typically, H1 and H2 headings are used in a paper for headings and subheadings, respectively.

It’s also pertinent to note that not all pages of your paper need to be text-heavy. You can present highlights, critical details, and takeaways in a separate section of the document. Using colours will also help readers to find important chunks of information.

However, remember not to use red, as red is mostly associated with edits in a file.

Easy one-pages can also be used for a summary of the text-heavy sections of your paper. Finally, you should also ensure that your paper feels and looks consistent throughout. Typography, colours, and visuals will play an important role in shaping the readers’ experience, so it’s also important to give special attention to such elements.

The following are some important sections of a typical white paper:

  • Title
  • Abstract
  • Problem statement
  • Background
  • Solution
  • Conclusion
  • References

White Paper Mistakes to Avoid

Whitepaper mistakes to avoid

Since white paper includes a lot of research and analysis, it’s always important to keep in mind the mistakes you’re likely to make and should avoid. Keeping this list in front of you will help you focus on the proper direction for the paper while avoiding mistakes that can lead to a poor reading experience for your audience.

Let’s take a look at some common paper writing mistakes you should avoid at all costs:

  • Not conducting adequate research.
  • Making it sound like a sales pitch.
  • Not following a narrative or a story.
  • Creating a bad design for the paper.
  • Not providing relevant examples or supporting your arguments.
  • Making last-minute changes.

Types of Whitepapers for Businesses

Contrary to popular belief, this type of content writing is not new. The term was first used in 1922, when the British Government published the Churchill White Paper of 1922.

A white paper, if well-written- will give your company a competitive edge and present you with an opportunity to influence readers to pick a particular solution for an existing problem in your industry.

White papers are a great way to steer the decision-making process of your current or potential customers in a way that’s beneficial to the business. There are several types of white papers companies can use.

Let’s take a look at the six most popular styles:

1. Educational

As the name suggests, this white paper is used to inform and educate readers regarding a specific topic in a particular industry. The core function of this content is to provide valuable information and answers to the questions that a company’s customers and prospective customers might have. The focus of this is to teach customers what they don’t already know and present a guide. You can use inbound marketing tactics and write how-to’s or give an in-depth analysis of a new industry or technology when writing an educational white paper.

2. Problem Solving

A problem-solving white paper requires persuasive writing techniques, credible sources, and a mature tone. You should think outside the box to present solutions to a problem your customers might have. Of course, the purpose of this type of white paper is to push out your products and services in a subtle manner. However, in doing that, you should focus on presenting unique ideas and steps to solve a particular problem. Think of the solutions that already exist and how you can cater to the same problems with a different approach. Problem-solving whitepapers are also great for sharing company values and beliefs.

3. Technical

A technical white paper provides technical details about an industry, products, services, or technology. You can offer details of your particular products and how to use them in this document. To strengthen the credibility of your technical white paper, you can also present some visuals and case studies. Typically, the purpose of this document is to attract technical buyers to your particular product or service. Your focus should be on your audience and making the copy error-free, concise, and easy to comprehend.

4. Market Research

A whitepaper based on market research includes an executive summary that highlights important data and provides a professional analysis of it. This document typically includes a lot of graphs and interesting analyses or arguments. Such white papers are excellent for PR, and they can either present trends, highlights, and findings or an argument based on the data presented. You can evaluate recent updates on a particular topic in your industry and present interpretations or predictions based on them.

5. Visionary

Typically used by technology-based companies, this type of white paper shows a reader why a particular business is trustworthy and best for long-term partnerships. This document gives innovative insights and provides arguments for why some products or services will never become outdated. You can also use this copy to showcase the visionary experts who work at your organization.

6. Knowledge Papers

Used for both ATL and BTL campaigns, these papers include a debate-style writing technique that puts you in a credible, authoritative, and visionary position. You can choose to address an existing industry debate or create a new one. However, the focus of this paper will be to make your readers listen, thus making persuasion a critical part of it.

Do You Need Help Creating a Whitepaper for Your Business?

We have several years of experience and a proven track record of customer satisfaction when it comes to creating compelling whitepaper copies for businesses. We provide 100% original content, accommodation for urgent requests, proofreading and editing services, unlimited revisions, 24-hour customer support, and ghost-written copies for all our clients.

So, if you’re on the lookout for experts in business, technology, hybrid, or product comparison-related white paper writing services, contact us now by calling (877) 897-1725.