Successful Blog

Luring Prospects With White Papers

by

Michael A. Stelzner, Guest Writer

Michael Stelzner 3

Looking to drum up new business? Need to generate some leads?

Finding new business is hard work!

If you want to persuade, white papers are the hot new marketing trend.

Different than the brochure or ad, the white paper is used to plant seeds among prospects early in the buying cycle (think first-time home buyer finds helpful resource guide).

Research by KnowledgeStorm shows that white papers are the most effective form of lead generation – even better than free trials and webinars!

If well written, the white paper provides valuable information to prospects who are searching for guidance. That information has magnetic value to the right readers, creating a steady stream of opportunity.

By giving away some important insight, you establish trust with readers. Trust is the first step toward building a relationship, and ultimately asking for the sale.

This article is the third in a five-part series on the advantages of white papers. The next article will examine how white papers can persuade others.

Your action: Learn the art of writing white papers that generate quality leads by picking up a copy of the new book, Writing White Papers: How to Capture Readers and Keep Them Engaged.

—Michael A. Stelzner

Net Neutrality 10-12-2006

by

Net Neutrality Links

I’m adding this link to the Net Neutrality Page.

Cable Ties Itself Up in Net Neutrality Knots [via freepress]

The five companies, Advance, Charter, Cablevision, Cox and Insight, told the [Federal Trade] Commission in a Sept. 27 filing their Voice over IP services are at risk because of what the telephone companies might do to thwart competition. The filing noted: “In the head-to-head competition with cable, the ILECs (incumbent local exchange carriers, aka telephone companies), have a powerful weapon – their ability to discriminate against cable’s voice service by imposing unreasonable, costly interconnection requirements. This is clearly the case with AT&T.”

This merger, the cable companies said, “will increase AT&T’s incentives and ability to wield its market power over interconnection against its cable competitions. AT&T has the incentive and ability to discriminate against cable’s voice service to retain its own customers.” The companies want the Commission to impose detailed conditions on the merger which govern interconnection, traffic flow and the like.

[ . . . ]

The sympathy meter drops a few more notches when the cable industry further declines to realize that the “incentive and ability to discriminate” principle they oppose on the part of the telephone companies is the same principle at the heart of Net Neutrality.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

You Should Have Seen the Links Leaking!!!

by

Did You See That?

People came to see what Open Comment Night was about and were we surprised when we had a guest visit from — the one and only code-writing donkey himself, BASIL! We also saw sights of the world both natural and virtual. Then the links started leaking as they always do.

The Link Leak Virus seeped into every thing we saw. — The Link Leak Virus is a special strain of the indie virus with blogtipping mutations that occur in threes at Open Comment Night they become a link free-for-all.

Welcome to all of the new folks who came. It was great fun having you!

You should see the links that were shared.

Let’s See

You gotta see who was here!
[Read more…]

Create a Viral Buzz – With White Papers

by

Michael A. Stelzner, Guest Writer

Mochael; Stelzner 2

Trying to get everyone to beat your drum? Love the sound of others singing your praise? Word of mouth still reigns.

A good white paper is like the Energizer Bunny. It keeps going places you never imagined.

Why?

People like valuable information AND can easily forward it (especially packaged as a white paper).

White papers should present some of your best value in an easy-to-digest package. It should be a free taste of what you have to offer the world (think sample Cinnabon roll).

The carefully crafted white paper sings – mesmerizing its readers and encouraging an encore.

For example, VistaPrint (the inexpensive online business card company), decided to prepare a white paper called “Marketing Your Business on a Shoestring Budget: A Practical Guide to Success.”

The paper provided actionable tips (using VistaPrint’s inexpensive products, of course).

In only 90 days, more than 5000 small business owners registered for the paper, a smash hit!

This article is the second in a five-part series on the advantages of white papers. The next article will examine how white papers can be used to generate business leads.

Your action: Start outlining your viral masterpiece. Get off to the right start with the new book, Writing White Papers: How to Capture Readers and Keep Them Engaged.

—Michael A. Stelzner

Net Neutrality 10-11-2006

by

Net Neutrality Links

I’m adding this link to the Net Neutrality Page.

Preserve the Internet Standards for Network Neutrality | Two Types of Neutrality

So far, much of the argument over “net neutrality” has been over whether service providers should be allowed to favor one application, destination or Internet service over another. This is Net neutrality at the application layer. But the real issue is the neutrality of the IP layer where routers treat alike bits from every type of application. This neutrality is what makes the Internet flexible — while it also assures uniform treatment of information flow. If this neutrality is not maintained, the Internet will be changed fundamentally. It will no longer be the flexible, open platform that allows anyone with a good idea to compete on a level ground.

IP-layer neutrality is not a property of the Internet. It is the Internet. The Internet is a set of agreements (protocols) that enable networks to work together. The heart of the Internet protocol is the agreement that all data packets will be passed through without regard to which application created them or what’s inside of them. This reliable, uniform treatment of packets is precisely what has made the Internet a marketplace of innovation so critical to our economy.

[ . . . ]

We call on Congress to end the confusion and protect not only the Internet but the tens of millions of American citizens who need to know that when they buy Internet access, they’re getting access to the real Internet. Network providers who offer services that depend on violating IP-layer neutrality should be prohibited from labeling those services as “Internet,” as their doing so will only undermine the weight of consensus authority presently accorded to the existing standards. The term “Internet” represents specific standards that provide IP-layer neutral connectivity that supports the openness of access and innovation that have been the defining characteristics of the Internet since its origins.

To that end, we present the attached draft legislative language and call for concerned citizens and members of Congress to offer their support for passing it into law.

Contact:
[info given at the blog]

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related
NET NEUTRALITY PAGE

The Mic Is On — Things You Gotta See!!!

by

It’s Like Open Mic Only Different

Here’s how it works.

open mike night

It’s like any rambling conversation. Don’t try to read it all. Jump in whenever you get here. Just go to the end and start talking. EVERYONE is WELCOME
The rules are simple — be nice.

There are always first timers and new things to talk about. It’s sort of half “Cheers” part “Friends” and part video game. You don’t know how much fun it is until you try it.

Tonight we’re talking about things you gotta see!

Grand Canyon Steps

We might also talk about

  • a rainbow in the shape of a circle
  • the glacier in Alaska
  • St. Elmo’s Fire in Australia
  • the Alps, the Rockies, the Amazon

AND THE EVER POPULAR,
Basil the code-writing donkey, and Milton the Moose.

–ME “Liz” Strauss

Related articles
Open Mic Tonight 7pm Chgo Time –What’s Hot? What’s Not?