A white paper is an informational document that presents information, expert analysis, and an organization or authors insight into a topic or solution to a problem. It is a report or guide that informs readers concisely about a complex issue and presents the issuing body's philosophy on the matter. White papers are more technical and in-depth than other types of content, such as blogs and case studies, and they use research, statistics, expert opinions, and original analysis to promote a product, service, or methodology.
White papers are commonly designed for business-to-business marketing purposes between a manufacturer and a wholesaler, or between a wholesaler and a retailer. They are sales and marketing documents used to entice or persuade potential customers to learn more about a particular product, service, technology, or methodology. White papers are an important part of content marketing and can be used to position a company as a thought leader, present useful and persuasive research findings, and educate readers.
The term "white paper" originated in England in the 1920s to mean a type of position paper or industry report published by some department of the UK government. Today, the term is most commonly applied to "deep dive" style publications. Businesses, especially in the consulting, financial, or B2B sectors, use them to communicate their organization's point of view on a particular issue.
