Comments on: White Papers vs. Reports: Very Different Beasts http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/08/02/white-papers-vs-reports/ Everything about writing and marketing white papers Fri, 30 Jul 2010 03:39:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: gordongraham http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/08/02/white-papers-vs-reports/#comment-62504 gordongraham Tue, 11 Aug 2009 07:48:43 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/08/02/white-papers-vs-reports/#comment-62504 For small business prospects, I love calling white papers "special reports" and then naming a vertical market, as in "a special report for restaurant chain owners." I think people outside of IT and big enterprises respond very positively to this type of subtitle on what is essentially a white paper. For small business prospects, I love calling white papers “special reports” and then naming a vertical market, as in “a special report for restaurant chain owners.” I think people outside of IT and big enterprises respond very positively to this type of subtitle on what is essentially a white paper.

]]> By: Michael Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/08/02/white-papers-vs-reports/#comment-27119 Michael Stelzner Fri, 03 Aug 2007 13:34:10 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/08/02/white-papers-vs-reports/#comment-27119 Michael; I think the word "Guide" might be better than report. The concept of a free report has been around for a very long time in the direct marketing world. I think the key thing is to keep your target audience in mind. If they know what a white paper is, then there is value in keeping the label. MIke Michael;

I think the word “Guide” might be better than report.

The concept of a free report has been around for a very long time in the direct marketing world.

I think the key thing is to keep your target audience in mind. If they know what a white paper is, then there is value in keeping the label.

MIke

]]> By: Michael Roach http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/08/02/white-papers-vs-reports/#comment-27106 Michael Roach Fri, 03 Aug 2007 10:12:46 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2007/08/02/white-papers-vs-reports/#comment-27106 I can see how some people outside of marketing might perceive a white paper to be a report. A good white paper should look somewhat like a report (an interesting one, of course)... with the inevitable conclusion of the report being that Company ABC's product or service is the obvious choice to deal with the problem or challenge being presented in the report. I never thought of calling a white paper a 'report' before... I might try that someday. It would certainly have to have a catchy title, since the idea of reading a report isn't usually very appealing... however, to the right audience... maybe. I can see how some people outside of marketing might perceive a white paper to be a report.

A good white paper should look somewhat like a report (an interesting one, of course)… with the inevitable conclusion of the report being that Company ABC’s product or service is the obvious choice to deal with the problem or challenge being presented in the report.

I never thought of calling a white paper a ‘report’ before… I might try that someday. It would certainly have to have a catchy title, since the idea of reading a report isn’t usually very appealing… however, to the right audience… maybe.

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