A white paper, sometimes known as a "whitepaper," is an informational document that is often released by a corporation or non-profit organization to advertise or emphasize the qualities of a solution, product, or service that the company or organization offers or plans to offer. The term "white paper" came into use in the early 1990s, when they became popular as tools for businesses to share their knowledge with other organizations.
White papers are used in marketing campaigns to communicate the features and benefits of a product or service to potential customers. They are usually written reports that contain information about a topic, and are commonly used by corporations to promote new products or services. Because they are easy to read and can include beautiful photographs and interesting facts, white papers are effective means by which to attract new customers.
There are several types of white papers: descriptive, how-to, instructional, analytical, and promotional. Descriptive papers describe different topics within a field of study or art form. How-to papers provide instructions on how to complete a task using various products or techniques. Instructional papers teach people new skills or techniques. Analytical papers report on studies conducted to find out more about a subject. Promotional papers are used by companies to announce new products and services or to encourage current customers to buy now before prices go up.
The quality of a white paper depends on how well it is written and designed.
In most cases, a white paper is an authoritative report. It frequently expresses an entity's perspective or philosophy on a social, political, or other issue, or it provides a broad description of an architecture, framework, or product technology. Although white papers are often produced by organizations for the purpose of marketing their products or services, they can also be used to make public policy recommendations or to inform the public about an issue that may not yet have been resolved through more formal processes.
White papers are commonly used in business communications and generally include any document that provides information on a topic of interest to someone who could benefit from its content. They are usually written in plain language and may include examples or case studies. Their length varies but most fall into the category of informal reports rather than academic articles. A white paper does not have to be written in order to be considered e-mailed, but these types of documents are easier to read on screen. E-mail is also useful for distributing short summaries of recent developments within your organization or others you believe will be of interest to your audience.
There are two main types of white papers: analytical and promotional. Analytical papers provide readers with original thought-provoking content that challenges conventional wisdom on a subject. They should use facts and evidence where possible to support their arguments.
A white paper is a credible study or guide that frequently discusses challenges and how to resolve them. The phrase arose when government papers were color-coded to signify distribution, with white indicating public access. Today, white papers are produced by companies who want to get their messages out quickly and effectively to lower-level management or staff members. They are usually one to four pages long, but some can be as long as 20 pages.
White papers are valuable tools for businesses of all sizes to make their points clear to others and to attract attention where they might otherwise not receive it. They are easy to produce and distribute, and because they are concise, many people can read them in a short period of time. These features make them good options for businesses looking to make their voices heard by other organizations or individuals within those groups.
In addition to being easy to produce and distribute, white papers are useful for communicating ideas and information quickly and efficiently. This is particularly true if the paper is short enough for its message to remain fresh in readers' minds. For example, a company that wants to let customers know that it has improved its products may create a white paper describing the changes for its consumers to learn about them.
A white paper can be used to educate readers on the technical elements of a solution or new technology, to make a business case for a product, or to demonstrate thought leadership. White papers often go into great depth on an issue, including the logic and advantages of a solution. They may also include case studies and statistics.
Most white papers are written as documents with a narrow focus. They typically cover one topic and try to provide all the information you need to make an informed decision. Although they're usually not as long or detailed as articles, they still tend to be fairly formal documents that use clear language and are structured in a logical way. Some examples of white papers include explanations of products or services, sales pitches, and research reports.
White papers are commonly used by companies to announce new products, release updates, and attract new customers. Because they provide useful information about their topics, people will often read them even if they have no interest in the company or its products. That means there's a chance they'll find their way onto the web where they can be found using search engines like Google. So if you want your idea to reach a large audience, a white paper might be the way to do it.
Writing a good white paper isn't easy. You need to make sure it's accurate and uses simple language so that everyone can understand it. It should also be concise without being short or choppy.
A "white paper" is a comprehensive study or guide on a certain topic and the issues that surround it. It is intended to educate readers and assist them in understanding and resolving a problem. White papers are editorial in the same way that other types of material are, but the depth of research lends them an authoritative tone. They are written by individuals who have expertise in their field of interest and thus can provide information not readily available elsewhere.
The term was coined in 1992 by Chris Anderson, editor-in-chief of Wired magazine, who described them as "the must-read document of the 1990s". He also noted that they were similar to what had been known as policy papers before that time.
White papers are used by companies to make announcements, explain changes, report progress, etc. They are usually one page in length, but some publications will print longer versions. They are published under the company's name without any advertisement or promotion. Anyone can write a white paper on any subject they choose; however, they are most common in areas where there is a need for further education or awareness around a particular issue.
Some examples of topics covered by white papers include: technology, business, science, health, history, politics, society, and entertainment. There are many different ways to present information in a white paper including: fact sheets, guides, reports, manuals, and handouts.