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In this article, I'll
show you how to write an effective white paper that gets your company
noticed and the pitfalls to avoid if you're new to this area.
Like other types of
publications, such as a
case study, the white paper has an accepted
format that is recognized by its readers. Try to stick to this approach
as readers are familiar with this style.
Only more experienced
writers should try more adventurous formats.
Before You Start
Define your target audience. Once you have
defined your audience, you can begin to tailor your material to reflect
their needs.
It's very important to stress this point. Many novice writers -
especially those with a technical background - will focus on the
low-level aspects of the software or technology. Avoid getting stuck in
the details. Though this has its place, it's probably not here.
Executives, and those in the management level, are your target readers.
So, write with them in mind.
Identify Your Topic
Next, determine the main topic for your white paper. This may sound
obvious but many writers overlook this and ramble from one vaguely
related subject to the next.
Keep to one topic per paper. Avoid the temptation to discuss other
features, functionality and innovations. Stay focused.
Set Objectives
Write your white paper so that it achieves several objectives. For
example:
-
Establish you as the definitive authority on the subject in question,
i.e. that you stand head-and-shoulders above the competition in this
area.
-
Create awareness of a new market trends and/or product offerings.
-
Demonstrate how you are uniquely qualified to achieve this objective.
-
Ensure that decision-makers select your product over competitors by
providing them with persuasive arguments and backing up with trustworthy
references.
Use a Style Guide
One way to ensure a consistent writing style is to use a style guide,
particular if you are new to this area. Having a style guide helps in
the following ways:
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Tone – it ensures that the tone of the document doesn’t change,
especially if several people are involved in writing the paper.
-
Format – it serves as the definitive source for questions about
formatting, (for example, whether or not to put a full stop at the end
of a bullet list) and reduces squabbles amongst team members.
-
Guidelines – it also helps new writers and others contributing to the
document to find answers to common questions.
Having a style guide reduces interruptions to your schedule and gives
direction to other team members.
Text to Image Ratio
Make sure to balance the amount of text in the document, for example
2000 words, with images. While it’s important to include as much
information as possible, you can improve the readability of the white
paper by adding useful images, charts and tables.
These also help break up large blocks of text and encourage the reader
to focus on the key points you want to highlight.
Make sure your images follow these guidelines:
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Have a consistent size and shape
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Have an explanatory caption
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Are positioned correctly on the page
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Are cropped correctly so ‘noise’ and clutter is removed from the
screenshot
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Don’t distract the reader from the main text
How To Structure Your White Paper
Every white paper has the following sections:
-
Introduction - this opening section covers the high-level issues and
trends in the industry that you are involved with. It may also include
recommendations or conclusions you have made about the topic.
-
High Level Solution - this describes the relevant technologies at a
high-level, especially those you have designed and intend to promote.
Support your arguments with tables, charts, and graphics. All of these
add weight to your argument and provide a contrast to the main text.
-
Solution Details - this explains how the service, technology, or
business model works. This is the heart of the white paper. It provides
very detailed descriptions of the proposed solution. You can also use
tables, charts, and graphics for this section, with cross-references to
external supporting documents if required.
-
Business Benefits - This discusses the return on investments, usability,
and adherence to standards. Customer quotes are always very helpful. It
demonstrates that you are an authority in your field and can back it up
with these endorsements. Don't take references for granted - not all
your competitors will be able to supply such endorsements.
-
Summary - close the paper with a concise summary of your main points. As
many readers will skip the entire document and read this section only,
summarize the main selling points about your solution here.
Here's a suggestion: write the summary as if it were an entirely
standalone document. Distil it into one page and conclude with the most
important point that you want the reader to remember. If this section is
compelling enough, you might persuade them to go back and read the
entire document.
Conclusion
Finally, remember that your
white paper is a sales document; it's not a
technical guide. Once you have finished it, leave it aside for a few
days. Then go back and read it.
Ask yourself: would I buy this solution?
Hopefully the answer is Yes.
If not, don't be too hard on yourself as it takes time to write a
persuasive white paper. Instead, identify the areas you feel are weak
and strengthen these. Soon, you'll have a nice, sharp document that you
can share with your clients.
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