A white paper is a deeply researched report on a specific topic that presents a solution to a problem within an industry. It is usually written by a company to illustrate their knowledge and expertise through facts and evidence; however, it should not advertise or endorse a company's product.
What exactly is a white paper?
A white paper, also written as "whitepaper", is an informational document usually issued by a company or not-for-profit organization to promote or highlight the features of a solution, product, or service that it offers or plans to offer.
What is a white paper and why is it called that?
A white paper is an authoritative report or guide that often addresses issues and how to solve them. The term originated when government papers were coded by color to indicate distribution, with white designated for public access.
How do you identify a white paper?
- A document containing narrative text.
- At least 5-6 pages long.
- Oriented in portrait format (landscape tends to be for B2B e-books)
- Educational, practical, and useful, not a sales pitch.
- Used before a sale, not after a sale.
How do you use white papers?
Typically, the purpose of a white paper is to advocate that a certain position is the best way to go or that a certain solution is best for a particular problem. When it is used for commercial purposes, it could influence the decision-making processes of current and prospective customers.
What is a white paper in research?
Summary: A white paper is a certain type of report that is distinctive in terms of purpose, audience, and organization. This resource will explain these issues and provide some other tips to enhance white paper content.
How do you write a white paper for a research paper?
- Title page.
- Introduction (including “Problem Statement”)
- Background (research-heavy)
- Proposed solution.
- Conclusion.
- References or citations.
How do you read white papers?
- Does the project have a valid idea? ...
- How will the project solve this problem? ...
- Does the team have the technical skills to execute the idea? ...
- How do they plan to execute the idea? ...
- What is the use for the blockchain?
Do people actually read white papers?
Absolutely. In manufacturing and technology specifically, white papers are still a staple on the business side. For complex concepts that need an in-depth take, white papers still serve an important purpose…and many buyers still like to read information in white paper format.Sep 8, 2016