What’s a White Paper Exactly?
My curiosity as a researcher and eternal learner led me to ask various questions linked to copywriting. Prior to my research on the topic, I wasn’t quite clear as to what a white paper was, and/or why anyone on the planet required them.
I was pleasantly surprised to find a reasonably simple definition written by the expert on white papers, Mr G. Gray, popularly known as ‘that white paper guy’. A title that is easy to remember and somewhat catchy. His definition states:
“ A white paper is a persuasive essay that uses fact and logic to promote a certain product, service or solution to a problem.”
So having narrowed down one definition of a white paper, the next question I asked was:
Why Does Anyone Require a White Paper?
As I’m relatively new to copywriting it’s important for me to look into a number of potential areas of work. A white paper is one of them. Here are a few pointers as to why a company or other organisation may wish to have a white paper written for them:
Having looked up Google today, 25th April 2020, I have found that there are 897,000,000 (eight hundred and ninety-seven million) hits. Certainly, a popular topic. Definitely people are asking about white papers.
White papers generate leads
They provide a trustworthy link between copywriters and potential clients
My third question was;
What Kind of Companies and Organisations Use white Papers?
It was essential for me to identify some of the sectors that use white papers. Here are a few:
Business services - finance, insurance companies, human resource companies
Manufacturers - electrical manufacturers, electronic manufacturers
Government agencies
Healthcare entities
Non governmental organisations
Educational institutions
It’s important to note that writing white papers requires a specific set of skills, in addition to persuasive writing, such as
Ample research skills
Interview skills
The ability to meet challenging deadlines
The ability to explain issues plainly and professionally.
There’s a lot more information out there, should you wish to explore. I recommend having a look at That White Paper Guy’s site.
Happy writing!
Patricia Mezu is the founder of Content With Words, content writers who deliver valuable content that transforms their clients businesses.
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