Comments on: 5 Reasons to Stop Writing List-Based White Papers http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2009/12/29/5-reasons-to-stop-writing-list-based-white-papers/ Everything about writing and marketing white papers Thu, 17 May 2012 03:35:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: gordongraham http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2009/12/29/5-reasons-to-stop-writing-list-based-white-papers/#comment-63205 gordongraham Wed, 13 Jan 2010 17:13:29 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2009/12/29/5-reasons-to-stop-writing-list-based-white-papers/#comment-63205 I found this piece amusing, but not persuasive. I have no problem with list-based articles... though I hesitate to call them "white papers." Why do readers love this format? Because a list is easier to scan than narrative text, it promises a quick read, and it has an explicit organizing principle. I'm not going to stop writing list-based articles any time soon. I found this piece amusing, but not persuasive. I have no problem with list-based articles… though I hesitate to call them “white papers.” Why do readers love this format? Because a list is easier to scan than narrative text, it promises a quick read, and it has an explicit organizing principle. I'm not going to stop writing list-based articles any time soon.

]]> By: gordongraham http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2009/12/29/5-reasons-to-stop-writing-list-based-white-papers/#comment-63064 gordongraham Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:13:29 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2009/12/29/5-reasons-to-stop-writing-list-based-white-papers/#comment-63064 I found this piece amusing, but not persuasive. I have no problem with list-based articles... though I hesitate to call them "white papers." Why do readers love this format? Because a list is easier to scan than narrative text, it promises a quick read, and it has an explicit organizing principle. I'm not going to stop writing list-based articles any time soon. I found this piece amusing, but not persuasive. I have no problem with list-based articles… though I hesitate to call them “white papers.” Why do readers love this format? Because a list is easier to scan than narrative text, it promises a quick read, and it has an explicit organizing principle. I'm not going to stop writing list-based articles any time soon.

]]> By: samuraiwriter http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2009/12/29/5-reasons-to-stop-writing-list-based-white-papers/#comment-63062 samuraiwriter Sat, 09 Jan 2010 09:48:31 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2009/12/29/5-reasons-to-stop-writing-list-based-white-papers/#comment-63062 The top 'n' lists are still popular in online articles and even in blog posts ;-)<br>Making lists the centerpiece of a white paper in the corporate world smacks of being a trifle lax in the ideas department. The top 'n' lists are still popular in online articles and even in blog posts ;-)
Making lists the centerpiece of a white paper in the corporate world smacks of being a trifle lax in the ideas department.

]]> By: RiverwoodWriter http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2009/12/29/5-reasons-to-stop-writing-list-based-white-papers/#comment-63052 RiverwoodWriter Wed, 30 Dec 2009 01:41:34 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2009/12/29/5-reasons-to-stop-writing-list-based-white-papers/#comment-63052 Well, the impact on your personal life was the clincher. I will DEFINITELY stop using list-based papers...oh, but the siren-call of an easy 5 (10, 15?)-step solution to one's problems is so alluring! Well, the impact on your personal life was the clincher. I will DEFINITELY stop using list-based papers…oh, but the siren-call of an easy 5 (10, 15?)-step solution to one's problems is so alluring!

]]> By: patrickritter http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2009/12/29/5-reasons-to-stop-writing-list-based-white-papers/#comment-63050 patrickritter Tue, 29 Dec 2009 19:13:08 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2009/12/29/5-reasons-to-stop-writing-list-based-white-papers/#comment-63050 I am new to writing white papers ... starting the first job next week in fact. I've been writing newspaper columns, books, screenplays and other stuff, but I agree with the thought ... keep it fresh and put yourself into the text. Write it like it should mean more than just "a list of" because all topics, especially the ones you get paid for, are worth your best effort ... or you're not really a writer. I am new to writing white papers … starting the first job next week in fact. I've been writing newspaper columns, books, screenplays and other stuff, but I agree with the thought … keep it fresh and put yourself into the text. Write it like it should mean more than just “a list of” because all topics, especially the ones you get paid for, are worth your best effort … or you're not really a writer.

]]> By: JeffSexton http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2009/12/29/5-reasons-to-stop-writing-list-based-white-papers/#comment-63049 JeffSexton Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:40:14 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2009/12/29/5-reasons-to-stop-writing-list-based-white-papers/#comment-63049 Hey, Mike,<br><br>Sorry about that, didn't see the byline on this post. Still, thanks for recommending an "alternative" format. Do you think that list-based white papers are popular not only because they are easy to write, but because of the implied promise of brevity? If I read a white paper titled "7 Critical Features for Any Blogging Platform" or some such, I can pretty much guess that this thing isn't going to run more than, say, 10 pages tops, and is probably closer to 5 pages. On the other hand, if I read a title like, "Overcoming Data De-duplication Challenges in a Virtual Storage Environment," I suddenly get a mental image of a 30-page tome. <br><br>Obviously there are ways around this, but what has been your experience? <br><br>- Jeff Hey, Mike,

Sorry about that, didn't see the byline on this post. Still, thanks for recommending an “alternative” format. Do you think that list-based white papers are popular not only because they are easy to write, but because of the implied promise of brevity? If I read a white paper titled “7 Critical Features for Any Blogging Platform” or some such, I can pretty much guess that this thing isn't going to run more than, say, 10 pages tops, and is probably closer to 5 pages. On the other hand, if I read a title like, “Overcoming Data De-duplication Challenges in a Virtual Storage Environment,” I suddenly get a mental image of a 30-page tome.

Obviously there are ways around this, but what has been your experience?

- Jeff

]]> By: Michael A. Stelzner http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2009/12/29/5-reasons-to-stop-writing-list-based-white-papers/#comment-63048 Michael A. Stelzner Tue, 29 Dec 2009 15:02:25 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2009/12/29/5-reasons-to-stop-writing-list-based-white-papers/#comment-63048 Hey Jeff - That was actually written by Jim, not me. I am NOT a fan of list-based white papers. I prefer the problem solution approach and it's what I lay out in detail in my book. - Mike Hey Jeff - That was actually written by Jim, not me. I am NOT a fan of list-based white papers. I prefer the problem solution approach and it's what I lay out in detail in my book. - Mike

]]> By: JeffSexton http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2009/12/29/5-reasons-to-stop-writing-list-based-white-papers/#comment-63047 JeffSexton Tue, 29 Dec 2009 14:52:31 +0000 http://www.writingwhitepapers.com/blog/2009/12/29/5-reasons-to-stop-writing-list-based-white-papers/#comment-63047 Too funny, Mike,<br><br>I totally agree with the "odd number or multiple of 5" rule. I've even purposefully tried to make a list of 8 just to throw 'em for a curve, but in truth, number 8 was often a "wash, rinse, repeat" tip, making the real number 7 - Doh!<br><br>Unfortunately we live in an age of lists, quick tips, etc. I blame Letterman, personally ; ) <br><br>Still, what would you suggest as the top alternative to list-based white papers?<br><br>- Jeff Too funny, Mike,

I totally agree with the “odd number or multiple of 5″ rule. I've even purposefully tried to make a list of 8 just to throw 'em for a curve, but in truth, number 8 was often a “wash, rinse, repeat” tip, making the real number 7 - Doh!

Unfortunately we live in an age of lists, quick tips, etc. I blame Letterman, personally ; )

Still, what would you suggest as the top alternative to list-based white papers?

- Jeff

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