By MacKenna Stevens
Simply put, a whitepaper is a document that provides useful information to those who want to understand or learn more about an issue or solve a problem. It could pertain to a product, a service, a technology or a methodology. Based on this definition, you can see that it’s pretty easy to become a white paper writer if you have good research skills, expertise in specific subjects, and know how to write without grammatical and spelling errors. Besides this, the following qualifications are also required:
• You must be able to present the content in an interesting and easy-to-read format. With attention spans getting shorter, no one wants to read long streams of unbroken text. Your whitepaper should include summaries, bullet points and other techniques that provide information to those who just skim the document.
• You need much more than mere writing and research skills to become a successful and in-demand white paper writer – most white papers today include design elements like graphics and illustrations to attract the attention of readers and facilitate easy assimilation of the information provided.
• You also need to know the audience you’re writing for – this helps you decide on the language to use and how to keep it simple or turn up the sophistication depending on the people the whitepaper is meant for.
• You must know how to attract and hold reader attention – even if you’re asked to promote a product, the best approach is to highlight its value to the audience the paper is meant for instead of waxing eloquent about the product and droning on about its greatness and uniqueness.
The best way to break into the white paper writing is to identify your strengths and skills, choose a few subjects that you can write confidently about, and try your hand at writing a few mock papers. Read as many whitepapers as you can to learn more about style, technique and approach. Put out the word that you’re interested in freelance whitepaper jobs – you can do this by posting your resume on and offering your services through various job sites or freelance writing sites.
Once you gain experience, you’re bound to get more job offers if your work and work ethics are impeccable. As you gain more experience as a whitepaper writer, you could even take on projects where you’re not really an expert on the subject, but you know that with a little reading and research, you can present a comprehensive summary that is accurate and precise.
MacKenna Stevens writes on the topic of online masters in social work. She welcomes your comments at her email id: MacKenna.Stevens AT gmail DOT com.
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Flickr photo courtesy of DennisSylversterHurd