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White papers and… Halloween?!

Halloween and white papers

I was planting skulls in my flowerbed when a raven cawed behind me. Looking up, I surveyed my efforts. Cobwebs. Bats. Candles.   And it struck me like a thunderclap. Getting ready for Halloween is a lot like sponsoring a white paper. And kids dashing house to house looking for goodies are a lot like…

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You asked: Where do I find white paper clients?

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“Where do I find white paper clients?” This is the most common question we get asked by new white paper writers. And it’s the toughest to answer because every established writer has a different story about landing their first client. While we’ve shared some tactics in the past, the reality is there’s no guaranteed step-by-step…

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So you have to write a white paper…

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Got a white paper project on your hands? But you’re not sure where to begin? Here’s a quick-start guide that explains all the basics, and points to some handy resources to help you avoid all the most common pitfalls. Whether you’re brand-new to this field, or you’ve done a few white papers but could use…

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12 steps to great white paper project management

A white paper project is a complex undertaking, with many moving parts. Here are 12 steps to an effective white paper project. We created each of these steps after going through a painful experience with a white paper that went off the rails A few were never even completed, despite my best efforts. So consider…

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8 reasons to hire a white paper writer who knows your industry

Some say the best white paper writers are generalists who can write about any topic under the sun. They’ll say they can sift through what’s important and what’s not and explain things in a reader-friendly way. That White Paper Guy (Gordon Graham) is a generalist who has written on dozens of topics. But someone with…

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10 tips on writing from Alexander Green

Last fall I had the pleasure of attending the AWAI 2016 Bootcamp in southern Florida. What a fantastic event! What’s not to like about a meet-up of 450 writers in an ocean-side town that has October temperatures reaching almost 90 degrees? And what a powerful opening keynote by Alexander Green who provided many inspiring tips on writing.   If…

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How writing a white paper is like attending a dinner party

Imagine you’re invited to a dinner party with your boss. Think of your current white paper client as “your boss.” You arrive late, make a quick apology and take your seat. The others are already engaged in a deep discussion that sounds interesting and important. You think, “I need to say something impressive soon. After all,…

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How to handle the 4 types of comments on white papers

Dealing with comments can be challenging. This excellent article from copywriting legend Bob Bly describes how to recognize and handle the different types of comments from clients. Comments on draft white papers fall into one of four categories. This is my view after 37 years as a professional copywriter. During that time, I’ve written white papers and many other…

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The #1 mistake B2B copywriters make

What’s the #1 mistake B2B copywriters make? How can they avoid this mistake or fix it? We asked eight accomplished copywriters these questions.  Here’s what they told us. Mistake #1: Not learning the craft “A common mistake? Hanging out their shingles too soon,” says Gordon Graham, also known as That White Paper Guy. “Lots of beginners…

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The #1 mistake B2B content marketers make

What’s the #1 mistake that B2B content marketers make? We put this question to our expert panel of B2B content consultants. Here’s what they told us. Tip #1: Use sales copy to promote content Steve Slaunwhite is a marketing consultant and veteran B2B copywriter who’s written many books about writing and marketing. He says the #1 mistake B2B content…

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