Working with a Writer | Content for Biz Inc.

Find the Best Whitepaper Topics

Whitepapers have proven their worth as lead generation tools, but coming up with the best whitepaper topics for your business can be a marketing challenge. A professional whitepaper writer experienced in your industry can not only complete the writing work, but can also brainstorm fresh topic ideas. Start with a clear understanding of the needs of your audience.

Here are some of the methods we use to generate whitepaper topics:

Conduct customer interviews and visit social media forums to hear problems described firsthand.
Review trade magazines and their websites for potential topic areas.
Look at the agendas of conferences in your industry to see what topics are being covered.
Review current industry research related to audience needs and buying practices.

Professional service firms should consider whitepapers that position their firms as industry thought leaders.

Being the first to delve into a new trend or topic can quickly position your firm as an expert. However, be careful not to write an opinion piece. Whitepaper readers expect objectivity. A professional writer understands how to utilize third party data to present a compelling case.

Construction firms might consider from a whitepaper on sustainable building practices or using new technologies.

Food service suppliers might consider a whitepaper on food safety, sustainability or labor-saving best practices.

Case studies can also be effective whitepapers, particularly when they feature high profile clients.

When it comes to finding the best whitepaper topic, the choices are many, but using a professional writer with industry experience to brainstorm fresh ideas is a smart choice– a professional writer already has a good understanding of what your audience is looking for.

Are whitepapers part of your 2012 B2B marketing plan?

How Many Articles Have You Published This Year?

B2B companies can manage their brand and build credibility by publishing well-written, quality articles. It is a cost effective way to become a trusted resource to a targeted market. Article publishing ranked highest in B2B content marketing tactics used in a recent survey conducted by the Content Marketing Institute and Marketing Profs. The survey also showed that as content marketing budgets increase the number of companies outsourcing the writing of articles has increased.

For those unfamiliar with the process of creating quality articles for well-respected publications, I’ve outlined some important factors for achieving publication goals.

Know what publications your customers like and what their customers like reading

For instance, if you sell ingredients to a food manufacturer who sells to grocery stores, know what information sources the manufacturer relies on as well as what the grocery store managers rely on.

Target the right publication

Read and follow the publication to get familiar with what they publish and who there audience is. Do you want to be published in industry magazines, websites, trade associations news, blogs? You can find a list of publications by industry at Webwire or simply search online using your industry name followed by the word “publications” or “blogs” to find popular publishers.

Focus your topic

For example, “Nutrition for Athletes” is too broad a topic for an ingredient supplier targeting athletic trainers. “What to Eat on Game Day?” was published. In such an article the source and quality of ingredients can describe the efficacy of its nutritive value. The manufacturing process implemented to preserve that value can also be explored. A focused topic may appeal to multiple layers of audiences. You can showcase your expertise and that of your customer.

Convince the editor/blogger

When you know what publications to target and have narrowed your topic there are lots of B2B magazines and blogs that publish byline articles. Email the editor and in a concise message include the following:

– Why the article will appeal to their audience

– What the article is about

– Your credentials for writing the article

– Your contact information

Be original

Research your topic to find out what has already been written on the subject. Find the gap and fill it. Assign or hire a professional writer to gather and interpret the information. A good writer will interview sources and find the words to convey your ideas and engage the audience.

Build relationships

Deliver good content, adhere to guidelines and meet deadlines. Doing so will make you a valuable resource to the editor.

Find a talented, dependable writer

If you don’t want to deal with all the research and relationship building involved in creating a well-written, quality article outsource it to a professional writer you can count on to promote your brand and position your company as a trusted resource.

Save Time and Make Blogging Easier

time stressed writer — What can I write about?

Most companies understand the benefits of a B-2-B blog. But when it comes to writing blog posts week after week, they falter. While a lack of ideas, enthusiasm, and ability may be the problem, more often, it is a lack of time that sabotages their efforts. Writing is time consuming. Here are some ways to streamline the blogging process.

Decide on a topic. This often involves research. After you have read what is written on a topic, you need time to figure out how you can create your unique viewpoint. Finally, there is the actual writing and editing time, which can vary considerably, depending on the degree to which your efforts are interrupted by other responsibilities. If time constraints are keeping you from producing a better blog, consider how hiring a professional writer can help you.

1) A professional writer can help you organize your B-2-B blog content using an editorial calendar.

Take a cue from B-2-B editors who find they deliver better content when they follow an editorial calendar. An editorial calendar includes a brief description of what you will publish and when. Instead of letting things fall to chance, you might decide to feature a case study on Wednesdays and a Q&A with a company expert on Fridays. You may have six key topic areas to plan around. Stop scrambling to find a topic the day the blog post is due.

2) A professional writer can research a blog topic for you.

Much of a professional writer’s job involves finding credible sources of information—weeding through a multitude of sources and conversations on the Internet. While your company experts are likely to be the No. 1 source of information for your blog, following other experts in the field, competitors, keywords, relevant research and news can be extremely valuable. Consider hiring a professional writer to research a topic or customize and organize market intelligence for you. With everything at your fingertips the writing process becomes more efficient.

3) A professional writer can edit your blog posts.

If you or your team have great ideas but don’t have the time to give your writing professional polish, you can hire a writer to review and edit your work. With an editor’s thorough review process you will avoid embarrassing misspellings and grammatical errors. A good editor will help you communicate clearly and concisely, without losing your “voice.” A writer knowledgeable in search engine optimization can also edit your blog copy to integrate important keywords that will drive traffic to your site.

4) A professional writer can develop and write blog posts for you.

People often wonder how someone can write about an industry or topic they are not familiar with. However, professional writers successfully do this every day by thoroughly researching topics and formulating the right questions to ask company experts and industry insiders. In contrast, those who are so close to a topic often overlook the obvious questions that potential customers might have.

If time is keeping you from fully realizing the benefits of a blog, consider hiring a content writer to handle a portion or all of your writing-related tasks. Content for Biz offers all of these writing, editing and content development services. Check out the “Work with Us” tab to learn more or give us a call.