A good white paper is a paper that makes you look good.
You look good when your white paper makes sense, when it's readable, when it concentrates on benefits and examples, and when it's easy to get. Here's why:
Reason #1. Many people would rather die than talk to a sales representative right off the bat, but they will read a white paper. When people start researching a product, they are not prepared to talk to a salesperson. They have no idea if the product is for them, or if they even need the technology at all. They'll also be resistant to new and innovative technologies. Well-written, benefit-laden white papers will qualify your product to the reader, and qualify the reader to you at the next stage in the sales cycle.
Reason #2. White papers build a bridge between the prospect and your organization's salespeople. When the salesperson does call, it's not out of the blue. If a user has downloaded a white paper, there is an established connection between user interest and your company. The call can even be welcome if the customer has more questions and is interested in moving forward.
Reason #3. White papers are simple to host on the Web, where people can easily download and read them. In addition to your own company Website, there are numerous sites that host white papers and make it easy for prospects to download the paper. Many companies take this opportunity to capture reader information, including if the reader wants to be contacted. If they do request contact, for heaven's sake contact them! They are coming highly qualified.
Reason #4. You're not just reaching prospective customers with white papers, you're also reaching journalists. Or you should be. This is why you should always include a solid technical section in a white paper: journalists doesn't want to download a white paper and find a brochure, it makes them cranky. But if you deliver a valuable white paper, the journalist is far more likely to speak well of you and your product. (This, of course, is the essence of media relations.)
Reason #5. And speaking of journalists, what do they do when they pick up or receive expensive press kits? They throw them away, but they do keep valuable information like booklets and white papers. As a senior editor and editor-in-chief for data storage magazines, I can't tell you how many beautiful and pricey press kits I picked up, then threw away. What did I keep? White papers. Who did I think of when I was writing a story on that technology? The company that wrote the white paper.
The CLEAR Process
All white papers need to combine good writing, good structure, and clear technical explanations -- high level or not, depending on purpose and audience -- and case studies. The process is CLEAR:
People like technology white papers if the paper is clear, useful, readable and available. Make sure your white papers fit the bill with the CLEAR process, or call a professional white paper writer for your next project.
About The Author
Christine Taylor is president of Keyword Writing, which helps marketing and PR pros leverage their relationships with technology clients. E-mail her at chris@keywordwriting.com, call her at 760-249-6071, or check out Keyword's Website at chris@keywordwriting.com.
maide service in Lincolnshire ..Chances are, you'll be busy over the next several weeks.... Read More
The big question. Do you submit directly to the publishers,... Read More
I love writing. I love the swirl and swing of... Read More
"You should write a book." For years, I had been... Read More
A few days ago, I critiqued a chapter for a... Read More
Think you can't write a book that will sell? You... Read More
Almost everyone could profit from enhancing their writing skills. From... Read More
"I don't know if I should put 'writer' on my... Read More
By far, I have found that the lack of discipline... Read More
So you want to be a successful author? You want... Read More
Ever wonder what an author's life is like? What that... Read More
Is your book nearly finished, finished, published, or even in... Read More
Next time you're tempted to use italics for emphasis... STOP!"Why?"... Read More
Beyond three and four act story structure, lies the Hero's... Read More
What a lack of research could do to you.When creating... Read More
Joanne Kathleen Rowling was born in Chipping Sodbury,England in 1965.... Read More
Sit back, and imagine what it feels like to be... Read More
As an aspiring or an established entrepreneur, you are an... Read More
No one is born a novel writer. But do you... Read More
Beyond three and four act story structure, lies the Hero's... Read More
The self-indulgent writer listens only to the mumblings of sycophants,... Read More
As a professional copywriter, not only do I do a... Read More
As you set out to create your first niche non-fiction... Read More
If you are reading this article then you probably have... Read More
It would be very selfless or noble of me to... Read More
cleaning lady near Deerfield ..When attempting to understand Creativity and Innovation, it pays to... Read More
There's a little known secret we writers like to keep... Read More
Ah, the age-old writer's debate--to outline or not to outline?Outlines... Read More
How many of you take the time to really write... Read More
~~~Old age, to the unlearned, is winter; to the learned,... Read More
What am I supposed to give Anthony as a wedding... Read More
Many of the most effective low-cost marketing strategies require writing.... Read More
Joanne Kathleen Rowling was born in Chipping Sodbury,England in 1965.... Read More
Writing is hard work, and like all hard work, one... Read More
Questions and answers on writing life experiences for ourselves and... Read More
We've all seen those ads that grab our attention and... Read More
How many times have you checked out a job board... Read More
Before I became a teacher, I was a sports writer.... Read More
If you're a writer, you're in business. It doesn't matter... Read More
I owe the completion and success of my book to... Read More
The rejection letter says: "Your story, on the surface, appears... Read More
10 - You will always have a job. As long... Read More
There is no doubt that a staff writer enjoys advantages... Read More
So you've decided to crown yourself with a title that... Read More
Most people can easily identify with the dreaded "writer's block".... Read More
If you dread the thought of writing, if you fear... Read More
Set your journal or diary where you will see it... Read More
In large publishing houses, many manuscripts penned by first-time authors,... Read More
|| Graphology & Graphotherapy ||Everybody wants to know more about... Read More
Chaos and confusion come when established rules and procedures are... Read More
Writing |