A white paper is a professional manual that examines problems with a certain topic and offers a solution. White was used to denot public access in the government’s color-coded reports, which gave rise to the name “white paper.” This article explains white paper examples, and what white paper in crypto and marketing is. It also comes with a guide on how to write a white paper. Enjoy the ride!
What Is White Paper?
An entity that offers or plans to offer a solution, product, or service may release a white paper as an educational resource to highlight or promote its qualities. Governments also use white papers to introduce new legislation and policies to the public and get a feel for their reactions. Sales and marketing materials and white papers aim to pique the interest of potential buyers in a given product, service, technology, or process.
White papers are frequently created for business-to-business (B2B) marketing objectives between a wholesaler and a manufacturer, or between a wholesaler and a retailer. It can offer a comprehensive report or how-to about a particular item or subject and aims to inform its audience. The data offered in white papers might take the form of graphs, tables, charts, and other data visualizations and is frequently supported by research and statistics from reputable sources. A white paper can explain an organization’s philosophy or showcase industry-related research findings.
Types of White Papers
You need to get familiar with the types of white papers to make your writing easier. Here are the types of white papers:
#1. Technical White Paper
A technical white paper explains how a particular problem is solved through technology. White papers in this category typically describe a single product or the technical methodology behind a single solution.
However, technical documentation libraries and security centers frequently include technical white papers as part of their content hubs. White papers sometimes include visual aids like tables, images, and flowcharts to simplify even the most intricate concepts.
#2. Business Benefits White Paper
A non-technical audience is the focus of business benefits white papers. Business advantages white papers provide a business case for a product or technology, as opposed to technical white papers which demonstrate how technology works.
These white papers are written to help the reader find and acquire a suitable solution to a particular problem. They become especially useful in the middle of the sales funnel when a potential customer is weighing the relative merits of various solutions.
#3. Product Comparison White Paper
Consumers who have decided on a product category but haven’t settled on a specific provider are the ones who will benefit most from a white paper that compares many options in that category. This structure allows you to compare your product’s attributes to those of similar products on the market.
#4. How-To / Problem-Solving White Paper
Is there a challenge that many people in your field face? A problem-solving white paper is a great format to employ if you have the answer but it’s more in-depth and sophisticated than what you’d cover in a typical blog post.
Your sales team may utilize this how-to white paper in talks with prospects and customers at every step of the funnel since it establishes you as the industry authority with the necessary experience.
White Paper Examples
Here are some white paper examples to make you get a better understanding of what white paper actually is:
#1. Problem & Solution
The problem and solution style is one of the most popular forms of whitepapers. In a whitepaper outlining both the problem and the proposed solution, the former takes center stage. This style of whitepaper aims to clearly define the issue at hand and convince the reader that it must be addressed. The whitepaper’s concluding section is where you pitch your wares as the obvious fix. A crucial component of a whitepaper on products and solutions is persuasion using facts.
#2. Technical
In a technical whitepaper, the operation of a product will be described, and the reader will often be given information about the product. When demonstrating a new product, companies often resort to this style of white paper to explain the product and its features. The following are typical components of a technical white paper:
- Evidence of the product’s efficacy in the form of data and statistics.
- statements that your company is successful and at the top of its field that is backed up by solid evidence.
- Outline of the Product’s Function.
#3. Educational
The purpose of a whitepaper in the field of education is to serve as a resource for learning more about a certain subject. Instructional or explanatory whitepapers can be used to guide readers through a process or introduce them to a concept. As a rule, educational whitepapers will be formatted with bulleted lists, detailed instructions, and other aspects that facilitate comprehension. Instead of convincing or encouraging the reader to purchase your good or service, the aim is to inform them.
How to Write a White Paper
When compared to other types of marketing collateral, like brochures, white papers stand out. While brochures and conventional marketing tools may be showy and obvious, a white paper’s goal is to offer convincing and accurate proof that addresses a particular issue or situation.
A white paper should offer thoroughly researched content that cannot be acquired with a quick internet search and has an engaging narrative to hold the reader’s interest. Here are some steps on how to write a white paper:
#1. Introduction
Briefly summarizing the white paper is what the introduction is all about. It talks about the key ideas in the paper. Also, it aids the client in determining whether the report’s information pertains to them.
#2. Problem Statement
The problem statement identifies the concrete challenge experienced by clients that will be addressed in the white paper. The claim must be consistent with the commodity or service. Also, it must be stated in a way that the reader can understand it.
#3. Information
The most crucial element of the essay is the information section, where the introduction and issue statement is combined to detail the product and all of its advantages. The knowledge will result in a resolution.
#4. Solution
The solution section, which describes how the product or service will benefit the reader, will aid in generating leads for the business. To substantiate the assertions made in the paper, the solutions must be pertinent and supported by data. Both quantitative and qualitative data must be included in this area.
#5. Conclusion
In the final section of your paper, you should summarize all you’ve written and highlight the most important points.
What Is White Paper in Crypto
A cryptocurrency whitepaper is a document that can be used to introduce a project and its intended audience to the product or service being presented. Each project has the option to provide as much or as little information as it sees fit, although whitepapers often include a summary of the project’s objectives, tokenomics, products, features, and team members. As a result, while conducting research on a particular topic, whitepapers might be a useful place to start.
A white paper is a written description of the key characteristics and technical details of a particular cryptocurrency or blockchain project that is used in the blockchain industry. Despite the fact that many whitepapers are centered on a particular coin or token, they can also be based on other kinds of projects, such as a play-to-earn game or a decentralized finance (DeFi) platform. It could also include a summary of important data in the form of graphs and statistics. A whitepaper could also describe the project’s governance structure, the people working on it, and its present and future development ambitions (i.e., their roadmap).
Nonetheless, there is no canonical approach to creating whitepapers. The best whitepaper for each project’s needs is produced. The whitepaper should, at the very least, be objective and informative and clearly describe the project and its objectives. Users should always exercise caution when reading whitepapers that use persuasive language and while working on projects that make unwarranted claims.
The business strategies for cryptocurrency initiatives are frequently referred to as cryptocurrency whitepapers. They do this by giving investors a thorough project overview. Whitepapers, however, are typically made public before the debut of a coin, in contrast to business plans. So, a whitepaper serves as a good place to start for a crypto project to describe the purpose and direction of its idea.
Examples of White Paper in Crypto
Here are some examples of white paper in crypto:
#1. Bitcoin Whitepaper
Bitcoin’s whitepaper was released in 2008 by a mysterious person or people going by the name Satoshi Nakamoto. Bitcoin is described as “A Peer Peer Electronic Currency System” in the Bitcoin whitepaper. The whitepaper explains how Bitcoin can be used as an alternative to the current financial system. In it, the technical underpinnings of how the Bitcoin network enables users to send digital cash on the peer-to-peer network without intermediaries are laid forth. The document also elucidates the measures taken to safeguard the Bitcoin network against censorship and double-spending.
#2. Ethereum Whitepaper
In 2014, a teenage programmer named Vitalik Buterin released a whitepaper for the cryptocurrency Ethereum. Yet even before that, in a 2013 blog post titled “Ethereum: The Ultimate Smart Contract and Decentralized Application Platform,” Vitalik introduced the concept of the whitepaper. Turing-complete blockchains, which can theoretically run any program given enough time and resources, were introduced in the post.
The Ethereum whitepaper outlines how it is different from Bitcoin in terms of its goals. If Bitcoin’s sole purpose is to facilitate digital peer-to-peer payments, then Ethereum’s whitepaper describes a platform wherein developers can create and launch any number of distributed programs (DApps). A cryptocurrency or a decentralized lending platform are two examples of such alternatives. The whitepaper also describes the technological innovations, such as smart contracts and the Ethereum Virtual Machine, that enabled Ethereum.
Why Is White Paper in Crypto Important?
There would be no cryptocurrency industry without whitepapers. Despite the lack of consensus on how they should be written, whitepapers have become a standard for learning about new blockchain initiatives. It is often advised to begin your investigation into cryptography by reading the project’s whitepaper. Whitepapers are a great tool for users to find possible red flags and promising ideas. They also allow viewers to see if a project is staying true to its stated objectives.
Having the most important details about a project laid out in a whitepaper is also a great way to promote openness and parity. Whitepapers serve multiple purposes and are useful to many people. For instance, investors can use them to make more informed investment decisions, while developers can choose whether or not to participate in the protocol. Similarly, after reading it, a curious reader will have a better grasp on whether or not he wants to participate in the community.
What Is White Paper in Marketing
A whitepaper is an in-depth study of a topic with the goal of promoting the reader’s use of the company’s goods and services. Whitepapers often detail the benefits of a product or service and why they are the best option for solving a given problem.
Two primary purposes define a white paper in marketing:
- Informing the reader and establishing the publisher’s credibility as an industry expert.
- Inducing target audiences to act on an advertisement and buy the promoted product or service.
Whitepapers are often prepared in an academic style and contain at least 2,500 words. They serve a teaching and practical purpose and not a promotional one. Whitepapers are meant to be utilized before making a purchase. It should also be factual and devoid of any interpretation.
A product pitch, which can also be used to convince clients to acquire a certain good or service, is not the same as a whitepaper. One key distinction between a whitepaper and a sales pitch is the tone taken. Whitepapers are meant to inform, while product pitches are more likely to be produced in an aggressive and forced manner.
Benefits of Using White paper in Marketing
Here are some of the benefits:
A whitepaper is a terrific approach to building your brand’s reputation because you’re sharing information with readers. A whitepaper is evidence-based rather than opinion-based, making the reader more likely to trust the information you give, including the possibility that your product or service is a solution.
#2. Brings in Revenue
To increase sales for your company, using whitepapers is one of your internal aims. Whitepapers have a high conversion rate since they are both informative and promotional. As a result, readers will find more value in what you have to say.
#3. Boosts Participation
A whitepaper is one method of doing this if you want to increase engagement for your business. Whitepapers are frequently offered as a download link. That makes them perfect for spreading the word. Including whitepapers in your social media postings, emails, and other marketing materials can also boost customer involvement with your company.
#4. Aids in the Creation of a Mailing List
Creating a mailing list might be difficult, but you can make it simple by offering a whitepaper as a free product to encourage people to subscribe to your newsletter. This will also allow you to expand your email list. To increase the likelihood that people will stick around after downloading the whitepaper, make sure the contents are pertinent to your business and your target.
What Is the Purpose of a Whitepaper?
The main goal of a whitepaper is to inform the reader by delving deeply into the subject. Nevertheless, you are also utilizing it to promote your company’s offerings to potential clients. While this may be the goal of your content, you should avoid making it seem too promotional by avoiding being too blatant. Whitepapers aren’t the place for overt advertising. They are also designed to convince potential clients to choose your product or service based only on the facts and evidence that it is a good fit for the issue they’re experiencing.
However, a whitepaper’s purpose is to establish credibility and prove that the service or product being offered is a practical response to the reader’s issue. An informative whitepaper can also do wonders for your company’s public relations efforts.
Choosing a Topic for a White Paper
Choosing a topic for your white paper is as important as your white paper itself. Here are some things to consider while choosing your topic:
#1. Audience
When creating a white paper, the audience is taken into account first, just like when writing an article or essay. For a business, they may be current customers who have been doing business with them for a while or new clients who will read the document to learn more about the company, its goods, and services.
The government’s white papers will also inform the public about pressing concerns and recent developments in the economy.
#2. Expert Analysis
The author of the white paper must have in-depth knowledge of the product or service’s market and a solid grasp of the topic at hand. However, the document for businesses should also include an in-depth analysis of the product and emphasize how it may aid customers.
#3. Problem-Solving
The white paper should not only contain in-depth information about the product or service but also address client pain points and how the company’s offering might help. Furthermore, the issue must also be pertinent to both the target market and the industry. White papers are frequently created to discuss how a product can assist the consumer in keeping up with changing trends and methods in the industry.
Read Also: HOW TO WRITE A WHITE PAPER: Step-By-Step Guide
Uses of White Papers
A business’s authority and credibility with clients can both be improved by publishing white papers. They can be used in a variety of ways, such as the following:
#1. Case Study
Several businesses use case studies as white papers for marketing purposes. A case study tells the tale of a company, the difficulties it encountered, and how its product assisted in resolving those issues.
Furthermore, customers can visualize utilizing the product by reading a case study, which is filled with specific technical information. Case studies assist in giving an actual illustration of how the business assisted a client in succeeding.
#2. Reference
Long and in-depth white papers often contain a lot of unnecessary material the buyer doesn’t really need. Yet, they frequently can act as a reference manual for other businesses in the sector to help them develop their operations.
What Is Meant by a White Paper?
White papers are informative documents published by businesses and nonprofits to promote or emphasize aspects of the solutions, products, and services they provide or intend to provide to their target audience.
Why Is It Called a White Paper?
Common topics covered in white papers include common problems and their solutions. However, the word dates back to when government documents were given out in different colors, with white indicating that it was available to the general public.
What Is a White Paper vs Research Paper?
A white paper, in contrast to a research report, is written to persuade its readers to take action based on what they have read, rather than simply reporting the results of an investigation. White papers also work well as marketing tools to generate interest in a company’s distinctive services.
What Is Another Name for a White Paper?
Other names for a white paper are command paper, position paper, state paper, and white book.
Final Thoughts
An entity that offers or proposes to offer a solution, product, or service may release a white paper to market the features of the solution, product, or service. However, white papers typically take one of three forms (backgrounders, numbered lists, and problem/solution papers) and convey their information backed by research and statistics from reputable sources.
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