Comments on: Writing Lessons From an IDC Report? You bet! http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/03/28/writing-lessons-from-idc/ Everything about writing and marketing white papers Wed, 08 Feb 2012 16:29:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Luna Love http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/03/28/writing-lessons-from-idc/#comment-23482 Luna Love Thu, 21 Jun 2007 02:19:51 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/03/28/writing-lessons-from-idc/#comment-23482 The conversational writing style definitely works! It was long - yet the approach kept you involved. The conversational writing style definitely works!

It was long - yet the approach kept you involved.

]]> By: Michael Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/03/28/writing-lessons-from-idc/#comment-15974 Michael Stelzner Thu, 29 Mar 2007 03:56:55 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/03/28/writing-lessons-from-idc/#comment-15974 Hey Guys; I was really floored by the style of writing. It is so "not IDC" I think more and more writers should begin adopting this style of writing. The use of analogies was really most excellent. Mike Hey Guys;

I was really floored by the style of writing.

It is so “not IDC”

I think more and more writers should begin adopting this style of writing.

The use of analogies was really most excellent.

Mike

]]> By: Jonathan Kantor http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/03/28/writing-lessons-from-idc/#comment-15973 Jonathan Kantor Thu, 29 Mar 2007 01:55:45 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/03/28/writing-lessons-from-idc/#comment-15973 At first glance this paper looks very good. It has a nice conversational style and plenty of visuals. On the other hand it's 19 pages, which is almost double the size of a standard white paper. While it has an executive summary (which you typically don't like), it's unlikely that a busy executive will sit down and read it from cover to cover. Nonetheless, the name IDC usually has a lot of cache associated with it, so I'm sure it will be well received. Jonathan At first glance this paper looks very good. It has a nice conversational style and plenty of visuals.

On the other hand it’s 19 pages, which is almost double the size of a standard white paper. While it has an executive summary (which you typically don’t like), it’s unlikely that a busy executive will sit down and read it from cover to cover.

Nonetheless, the name IDC usually has a lot of cache associated with it, so I’m sure it will be well received.

Jonathan

]]> By: Jim Logan http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/03/28/writing-lessons-from-idc/#comment-15964 Jim Logan Wed, 28 Mar 2007 22:36:35 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/03/28/writing-lessons-from-idc/#comment-15964 I like the example you linked to. I think a conversational style of writing is highly effective at conveying complex issues, especially when communicating with non-technical people. I like a conversational style in lead generation activities, it's a nice way to introduce a subject and position an offer. White papers today are much different than they were a decade ago...I like your call to change them again. Not that there's anything wrong with white papers today, but I think business communication has significantly changed - less formal, more transparent, conversational - white papers are an important part of business communication and as such may need to change as well. A conversational style may be the change...or a first change. Putting my sales hat on, it seems to me there is a need for a document that combines the best of a white paper, case study, and sales letter...an odd combination, but it works:-) This document could educate, persuade, and compel a suspect or prospect to advance their qualification and take the next step in a sales cycle. A conversational tone would be required. A white paper could be tweaked to provide such a use. A lot of white papers could be re-purposed this way...food for thought. That could be a nice market opportunity for you, me, and others :-) Good post...it makes you think! I like the example you linked to. I think a conversational style of writing is highly effective at conveying complex issues, especially when communicating with non-technical people. I like a conversational style in lead generation activities, it’s a nice way to introduce a subject and position an offer.

White papers today are much different than they were a decade ago…I like your call to change them again. Not that there’s anything wrong with white papers today, but I think business communication has significantly changed - less formal, more transparent, conversational - white papers are an important part of business communication and as such may need to change as well. A conversational style may be the change…or a first change.

Putting my sales hat on, it seems to me there is a need for a document that combines the best of a white paper, case study, and sales letter…an odd combination, but it works:-) This document could educate, persuade, and compel a suspect or prospect to advance their qualification and take the next step in a sales cycle. A conversational tone would be required.

A white paper could be tweaked to provide such a use. A lot of white papers could be re-purposed this way…food for thought. That could be a nice market opportunity for you, me, and others :-)

Good post…it makes you think!

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