What is a white paper 6 feb

WHAT IS A WHITE PAPERMak Pandit

[email protected]

[email protected]

IN THIS SESSION

What is a white paper

Who writes it

Samples

QAs

(c) 2015. Technowrites Pvt. Ltd.

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ABOUT ME – MAKARAND (MAK) PANDIT

Experience as a Technical Writer/Editor, Trainer - more than

20 years

Written books, manuals

Directed/edited/published videos, audios

Published several articles, Research Papers, White Papers

Worked a community volunteer, visiting faculty


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WHAT IS A WHITE PAPER

B2B Communication Product

A fact-publishing document

Can be used for pre-sales promotion (if the facts are on your side)

Public document (don’t sell it)


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WIKIPEDIA.ORG


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WHATIS.COM


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INVESTOPEDIA.COM


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WHO WRITES IT

Company

Government

Institutions (Academic, Research)


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WHO READS THEM

Engineers, Designers

Finance

Purchase

R&D


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WHY ARE THEY READ


10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

Stay on top of trends Get information

about products and

vendors

Compare products Help justify buying

decisions

PERCENTAGE

REASONS

Survey data from Forbes.com and BitPine (now TechTarget)

WHAT IT ISN’T

B2C Communication Product

Brochure

Datasheet

Functional spec


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WHAT DOES IT CONTAIN

Facts, Technical Data, Technical Description

Process information

Comparison

Analysis

Opinions

Conclusion

Recommendations


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SAMPLE WHITE PAPERS

US Department of Commerce: http://www.ntia.doc.gov/federal-register-

notice/1998/statement-policy-management-internet-names-and-addresses

Westbay Engineers UK:

http://www.erlang.com/design.html

Adobe White Papers

Technowrites White Papers (written for Patni)

Infosys White Papers


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http://www.ntia.doc.gov/federal-register-notice/1998/statement-policy-management-internet-names-and-addresses

http://www.erlang.com/design.html

IMPORTANT POINTS

Fact-based

Accurate

Good graphics

Ideal length 5-15 pages (ToC, Index, Xrefs, not mandatory)

Writer’s name may not be published

Marketing flavour can help, but don’t overdo it!

Neutral presentation (marketing should be subtle)

Good service to offer as a freelancer (US$1,000-4,000 or INR 15,000 to 30,000

per paper)


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PROCESS

Need

Research

Feasibility

Outline

Approval

Budget

Study

Design

Write

Review

Publish (Publicize, Promote)


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SOMETHING INTERESTING

First white paper is supposed to be published by Churchill Government in 1922

Many white papers are translated

Good white papers may be archived by academic/research communities


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CHALLENGES

Information collection

Appealing to the audience

Managing Time (especially if you are a freelancer)

Lack of feedback

Timely approvals

Avoiding plagiarism


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LINKS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_paper

http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/resources.html

http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/book/index.html

http://www.wellfedwriter.com

http://www.freelancewritingsuccess.com

http://copywritingtrainingcenter.com

http://www.freelancewritingsuccess.com/white-paper.php

http://www.thatwhitepaperguy.com/white-paper-faq-frequently-asked-

questions/


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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Google

Wikipedia

Whatis.com

Investopedia

www.whitepapersource.com (Michael Stelzner)

www.thatwhitepaperguy.com


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KIDE

Visit the links mentioned in the presentation

Search for Green Paper – First draft of a tentative Government Report

giving policies

Search for Research Paper – Paper publishing a research finding


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QUESTIONS?

?

??

???


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WHITE PAPER IS A VALUE ADDED CONTENT

THAT CAN ADD VALUE TO YOUR

DELIVERABLES AND YOUR CAREER…

- MAK PANDIT

Send your feedback [email protected] and ask for PDF

of the presentation

Follow me on twitter: @makpandit


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What is a white paper 6 feb

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