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How Much Should You Pay for a White Paper?

How Much Should You Pay for a White Paper?

One of the ways that you can effectively market your business venture is to have a white paper produced. For certain types of business, white papers can be great marketing tools. They offer you the chance to present yourself as an expert.

However, if you want a freelancer to create your white paper on your behalf, you need to be prepared to pay a little bit more. A white paper is more than just another article. It's not an extra-long blog post, either.

Looking for a white paper writer? See why we recommend Panda Copy.

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TLDR

White papers are valuable marketing tools that help you educate your audience and establish credibility.

On average, a quality whitepaper typically costs between $3,000 and $6,000. For a cost-effective, yet quality, white paper writing solution, we recommend Panda Copy’s writing services.

What is a White Paper?

A white paper is meant to be an exploration of a specific issue or problem. It can also provide analytical information on trends and provide predictions. White papers can be used to help support a position, encourage others to make a decision, or to break down an issue in a way that makes you seem like an expert.

Benefits of a White Paper

White papers are often worth the investment because of the several benefits and use cases they offer. 

Some of the top reasons to leverage white papers include:

  • Demonstrate authority and expertise to establish creator credibility with your target audience 
  • Market to investors by highlighting your services and products and demonstrating industry knowledge. 
  • Introduce your company and articulate its unique value proposition to attract your target audience. 
  • Generate relevant leads by using a white paper as a lead magnet to collect names and contact information. 
  • Educate your audience on relevant topics in your industry as part of an educational campaign. 
  • Introduce a new product or service when subtly promoting it in a white paper. Show your target audience the reasons why they need it. 

Why Do White Papers Cost So Much More?

It's important to understand that white papers cost more than a “regular” article or blog post for a number of reasons. Here are some of the things to consider about white papers:

  • They are longer: A white paper can be anywhere between three and 14 pages long, although some are even longer. Remember that a single-spaced page in Word holds about 500 words. That means you're looking at a minimum of 1,500 to 2,000 words, and you will probably end up with a white paper that is in the 5,000 to 10,000-word range if you want to make sure you do a thorough job.
  • They often require research: Not only are white papers longer, but the freelance writer often has to do research as well. This is time-consuming, and it's important that the freelancer is compensated for this time. Many freelancers build the cost of research into their quotes for white papers.
  • Experience: Writers who produce white papers usually develop particular skills, especially in terms of technical writing. These specialized skills, along with the amount of experience a freelancer has, can result in a higher cost for your white paper.
  • Design requests: If you want your white paper formatted a certain way, you need to be prepared to compensate your freelancer a little extra. This is also true if the freelancer will need to place a number of images, tables, and figures into the white paper.

A white paper is so much more than a glorified blog post, and you need to be prepared for that.

What You Can Expect to Pay for a White Paper

You can expect to pay between $3,000 and $6,000 for a decently-produced white paper (depending on the length and other factors). However, it is not uncommon for high-end white papers to cost more than $10,000 to produce. It's also possible to find freelancers willing to produce relatively short white papers for less than $3,000. You will want to make sure you know what you are getting before you get started. It's better to pay $5,000 and get a great product than it is to pay $1,500 and get a passable white paper.

Here’s a summary of the cost of a white paper:

  • Short/Budget white paper: $3,000
  • Average cost: $3,000-$6,000
  • High-end white paper: $10,000

Pricing Structures for White Papers

There are several different pricing structures that writers may use for white papers including:

  • Fixed project fee- Calculated by the writer based on the perceived difficulty of the white paper
  • Per word- Usually at least $1/word
  • Hourly- The writer’s consulting rate, which may be $20-$100+/hour 

Check your budget, and consider the goals of your white paper. If it makes sense to have one produced for your business, make sure your marketing budget can handle the cost.

Where Can You Find a White Paper Writer?

You can find talented white paper writers on most freelance websites. You need a writer who can create content in your desired voice and quality standards.

You can find talented white paper writers on most freelance websites. If considering a freelancer, it's a good idea to follow these hiring steps to screen candidates. This will help you find a writer who can create content in your desired voice and quality standards.

Another option is to use an online writing service like Panda Copy to save on writing costs. The big advantage of using Panda Copy over other content writing services is their payment model. Rather than charging per word, or per hour, they charge a fixed monthly cost. This means you can submit as many requests as you want.

We recently did a detailed Panda Copy Review and found that we were able to save 98% on our monthly writing costs. This included blog articles, email newsletters, web copy, and white papers for multiple brands. As a result, we're expecting to save approximately $11,400 in writing costs. This means more articles. More search impressions. More traffic. More revenue.

Tips for Hiring a White Paper Writer

With so many options available, the search for a white paper writer can get overwhelming. Here are some of the top tips for finding an affordable ghostwriter for your white paper: 

Hourly vs Project Based

Opt for project-based pricing models. This way, you receive a fixed quote for the output you can expect. The results are pre-defined, and there’s less of a chance for scope creep to run up the cost of the project.

Ask for Service Details

Clarify the details of the service prior to finalizing your selection. Ask for clarification on all that’s included in the quote. If graphic design is not part of the original quote, then keep in mind that you may also need to hire a graphic designer to put the whitepaper together.  

Look for Specific Expertise

Freelance writers often have different specialties, and you need one who’s experienced with writing white papers. Seek out a writer with an ample portfolio of white papers, especially white papers in your industry or with a similar goal. 

Weigh Quality vs Cost

The key is to focus on a writer who delivers the quality you need for a cost within your budget. The more experienced and in-demand a writer is, the higher their rates will be. Simply put, the cheapest white paper writer may not be the best, but you also don’t have to break the bank to hire one. Consider the balance between quality and cost as you evaluate writers. 

Find an Affordable White Paper Writer Today 

In summary, the cost of producing a white paper varies depending on factors like the expertise required, topic complexity, and length. On average, they cost between $3,000 and $6,000. 

A well-crafted white paper can significantly impact your marketing strategy, offering in-depth solutions and establishing your authority in the industry. 

For those seeking an affordable yet high-quality option, consider Panda Copy. They offer expert white paper writing services at competitive rates.

We’ve experienced the cost-savings and quality they offer first-hand, which is how we know they can help you get industry-leading copy aligned with your marketing goals. 

FAQs

How much does a white paper cost?

The average cost of a whitepaper is between $3,000 and $6,000. High-end white papers can cost $10,000 or more, while budget options may be under $3,000. 

How many hours does it take to write a white paper?

Depending on the level of research required, it often takes a professional writer between 20 and 40 hours to write a whitepaper. 

Where can I find a white paper writer?

You can find white paper writers on freelance writing sites like Fiverr or Upwork, or you can hire an affordable writing agency like Panda Copy.Â