Many people think that learning how to write white paper is only for professional writers. The truth is, If you are a business owner trying to figure out ways to get maximum attention from your new prospects and make them stay as loyal customers, you need white papers to make them know about your services. And there is nothing bad if you know how to write it.
You can achieve this by making provision for catchy content like blog posts, videos, infographics, e-books, etc. One prevalent form of content that has gained ground in content marketing is white paper.
White papers are comprehensive, and consist of authoritative reports that are detailed to guide a reader on particular topics, solve consumers’ problems and provide them a perfect answer to their questions. White papers are well researched and take time to produce.
Writing a white paper is not an easy task, but we have prepared what you need to stand out as an expert among competitors. Though fashioning a white paper is more of an art than science, still there are steps you can follow to guide you along the way.
To create a white paper that will fascinate your prospects, provide them with interesting information and you will find it easy to influence them to continue on their buyer’s journey.
Use the 7 steps below to produce and identify a fantastic white paper;
7 Tips to Write Whitepaper
1. Have a catchy title
It’s understandable that finding the right topic can be a great challenge. Look out for who your audience is; and get to know who you are reaching out to by choosing an issue that will interest them. You can possibly choose one of the challenges they are facing, or a case study of a successful company in your industry.
But the drill is for you have a powerful and enticing title for the whitepaper to attract the interest of the readers.
2. Show rather than tell and stay professional
Writing a white paper is different from writing a blog. You have to implement a business writing style and be fair in your description.
White paper is written to show the readers rather than telling. It is an important element of content marketing that requires you to engage in in-depth research of the topic at hand and make sure that the readers see how well you understand it.
How well you are able to engage in research will determine the professional level at which the readers will consider you.
3. Outline your white paper
Make an outline on your white paper before writing, include the following in what you are going to say:
- Introduction: this is where you describe the topic of the white paper.
- The challenge: this is where you show that you know the challenges of your audience and you list them out.
- An overview: explain what you will highlight in the white paper here and define the terms you are going to use.
- The body: here, you will discuss the topic, its solutions and quantifiable statistics.
- The conclusion: at this stage, you will gather up what the reader has learned.
- A call to action: this describes the next step you want your customer to take.
Just like in every other forms of writing, outlining your content before you start writing will give you a sense of direction. It makes the whole process of writing easy and smooth.
4. Write and edit
Once you gather up your outline, put your thoughts into writing when they are still fresh. You have to complete the draft before editing to avoid going back and making everything flow well subsequently.
5. Take time to Proofread
Go through your draft and make some corrections to make it read better. Seek opinion from others, because they may see the mistakes that you overlook. Read all aloud to ensure there is no awkward phrase in all you have written.
6. Create an eye-catching design
To make your whitepaper top-class, cooperate with a graphics designer or team on how to format your content with interesting graphics, fonts and charts. To enable a busy prospect to scan through your white paper quickly, have them design a table of contents that include page numbers and if possible, clickable.
7. Follow up with how you can help
If you are selling a product that can help your readers, ensure you talk about it at the end. Do not use the body of the white paper to sell your product and service. Make sure you catch the attention of your prospects at the end of the reading by summarizing what you do while you conclude.
Conclusion
White paper is a popular means of generating credibility when done rightfully because prospects are likely to respond to informative write ups more than unconcealed ads. Learn how to write a professional white paper for your business or for those who need and you will be amazed at how much you will achieve. If you are ever in need of a professional white paper for your business but you don’t have the luxury of time, reach out to us, and we will help.