Updated Feb 25, 2022

What is White paper?

What is a White paper?

 

 

A white paper can be a powerful marketing tool for informing your audience about a specific topic and assisting them in making decisions and finding a solution. White papers can also help your organization establish itself as a thought leader by presenting persuasive research and information about your products, as well as creating leads. In this post, we'll go over what a white paper is, what it's used for, how it differs from a research report, and what aspects you should include when writing one.

 

 

 

What is white paper?

 

A white paper is a comprehensive and authoritative report on a certain topic that exposes a problem, challenge, or issue and offers a solution. White papers, in other words, are advanced guidelines that assist readers in solving a specific problem. The phrase was coined in the early 1900s in England to describe official documents used to introduce legislation. White papers are now commonly used as research-based marketing materials for businesses (primarily B2B, consulting, or financial companies).

 

White papers are often written by marketers to teach their audiences about specific industry difficulties, explain distinct business techniques, or promote specific methodologies. To present their research in an easily digestible style, white papers frequently include visualized data, such as charts, graphs, tables, and other graphics.

 

 

What is the goal of a white paper?

 

A white paper's main objective is to advocate for a specific perspective or solution on a specific subject. While the primary objective of a white paper is to serve as a convincing report, firms and organizations in other industries will have other motives for producing and disseminating white papers. Here are a few examples:

 

• Having an impact on prospective and present investors' decision-making processes
• Breaking into new markets and expanding a company's customer base
• Creating a network of business partners, shareholders, and clients
• Educating the audience about a new product or a novel technique to overcome obstacles or improve a process

 

White papers may require readers to give personal information (typically an email address) to access them, which can make them a useful tool for generating leads and networking with other industry professionals.

 

 

What makes a white paper different from a research paper?

 

White papers differ significantly from research reports and publications that convey merely information, procedures, or processes without persuading an audience to adopt a side or take a position. There are a few additional significant distinctions between a white paper and a research paper, such as:

 

White papers

A white paper will discuss problems and offer solutions in a compelling manner, which is one of the primary contrasts between it and other research papers. Unlike a research report, which only gives facts, analyses, and conclusions, a white paper will pique the reader's interest and encourage them to take action. White papers are very useful marketing tools for generating interest in a company's unique services.

 

Research papers

Research papers should simply give a hypothesis, a set of experimental results, and information about a topic, therefore they are not persuasive. This indicates that a research paper's final goal will be to add to a body of knowledge in a meaningful way from a scientific stance. A white paper, on the other hand, has the purpose of finally leading the reader to a specific decision.

 

 

What is the length of a white paper?

 

A standard white paper is between six and eight pages long, though it might be less depending on the topic and material presented. Furthermore, a white paper can grow to be quite long, with some reaching 20 pages or more.

While the name "white paper" conjures up images of a document written on white paper, many marketers are abandoning this standard in favor of adding style elements such as colored graphics or beautiful fonts. Although most white papers are distributed online, many white papers are still printed, notably for sales calls, trade exhibitions, and press kits.

 

What information should a white paper contain?

 

While there are no set guidelines for writing a white paper, there are some elements that should be included.

 

Here are eight important factors to consider when writing your white paper:

 

Well-structured Goals 

What you intend to achieve is one of the most critical things to include in your white paper. These should be very precise objectives that focus on the readers, what they already know, and what the information you provide will enable them to perform. Following the SMART goal technique to create specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-based goals for your organization and its target market is a fantastic strategy for outlining clear goals in your white paper.

 

A succinct and unambiguous summary

Because a white paper contains a lot of information and insight into a topic, your summary should be a sampling of what readers may anticipate finding if they read the whole thing. Use the summary to include some information that will pique readers' interest and encourage them to continue reading.

 

Transparency of information

As much data and information as possible should be shared. In essence, your white paper will serve as a resource for other industry professionals as well as anybody else interested in learning more about the topic you offer. This implies you should offer your data points first, followed by information that describes how you intend to use the data. Information concerning sample size and data collection methods, for example, can inspire others in your field to take action or build on what you've discovered.

 

Logical and consistent flow

From the beginning to the end of your paper, create a logical flow. This is especially significant when it comes to appealing to your target demographic and their specific requirements. Understanding these characteristics can aid you in developing a consistent structure for presenting information in a way that your readers will comprehend and enjoy.

 

Qualitative information

A white paper must also include a mechanism to contextualize the information presented. Find out why the facts you're presenting are beneficial or ineffective by collaborating with industry thought leaders and other professionals. To lend credibility to your facts, show how the information you present in your white paper can be discovered in real-world settings.

 

Visualization of data

By displaying the facts you give in your white paper, you can include design aspects. Spreadsheets, graphs, charts, and other data visualization tools, for example, can help you communicate your message more effectively, especially if your white paper is heavy on statistics. Using visual elements to communicate information can also keep your readers interested in the content.

 

Solution suggested

In addition, your white paper should offer a solution or explain why the information you provide is relevant and vital. Use your white paper to propose a unique solution to your industry's problems. The answer must respond to a question or challenge in your field.

 

Make preparation and strategic plans for product or service launch

The final component is a strategy for releasing and disseminating your white paper to the general public. For example, you may distribute your white paper to various industry-related media outlets or devise a social media advertising strategy. Industry blogs and newspapers are also great ways to get your white paper in front of your target audience.

 

 

Bottom Line

A white paper is a report or guide that assists in the solution of a problem. White papers are intended to educate readers and bring a fresh or different point of view to light. White papers are the most powerful type of company content, with 76 percent of individuals using them as part of their decision-making process.