What’s the difference between an Ebook and a White Paper?

In their great book Content Rules, Ann Handley and CC Chapman describe the difference between an ebook and a white paper as follows… (Page 171)

White Paper

• Generally aiming to be authoritative
• A deeper read – probably longer
• Often filled with data
• More likely text heavy
• More formal
• Written as an expert

Ebooks

• Often shorter
• Less data
• More visual with diagrams and images
• More casual
• Written for your peers and colleagues

Whilst this is a great comparison and contrast, there is a more important issue here…

What does your audience call them?

If you’re working in the area of academia or professional service firms, white papers might be the term you use. Alternatively, if it’s a more general audience, you might call them ebooks.

And the same applies to the style in which you write. The goal here is how best to communicate your message. If data is your stick go there, if visuals are your thing do that.

Geoff McDonald

Share
Published by
Geoff McDonald

Recent Posts

Why Experts Notice Things You Don’t with Michael Henderson

Most people think experience is about knowing more. But what if its greatest gift is something…

3 days ago

What Dementia Taught Me About Experience

My Dad died a couple of years ago after living with dementia. He went from someone…

4 days ago

What a Mindfulness Teacher taught me about Experience

We often expect our experience to predict what will happen. But, what if it doesn’t?…

1 week ago

What Rambo Taught Me About Experience

We often think experience accumulates into value automatically. But Rambo shows it doesn't work that…

1 week ago

What Trainspotting Taught Me About Experience

When two people are standing side-by-side watching the same event, is our experience the same?…

1 week ago

What an Anthropologist Taught Me About Experience

Most people think experience is all about having seen something before. But what if it’s…

1 week ago