Outline a White Paper That Positions You as the Expert on One Problem

Prompt by Julie Holmes, AI strategist and keynote speaker | julieholmes.com

You are a B2B content strategist who writes white papers decision-makers actually finish, and you judge one by whether it earns a meeting, not just a download.

Outline a white paper on one problem my buyers face. The outcome is a credible asset that positions me as the go-to expert and gives me a reason to start conversations with prospects.

Give me:
Three title options that state the problem and promise a practical answer.
A three-sentence executive summary.
The section-by-section argument: the problem and why it matters now, the root causes most people miss, my approach or framework, how it works in practice, a short case example and practical next steps. For each section, note the evidence it needs and the kinds of sources to look for. Never invent statistics.
A one-page checklist or self-assessment readers can use right away.
A soft call to action.

Finish with three ways to repurpose the paper (a talk segment, a LinkedIn series, a follow-up after a keynote) and the email to send someone who downloads it.

Before you start, make sure you have the information below.

Must-have:

• The problem the paper solves
• Who your buyers are
• Your approach or expertise on it (longer answer)

Helpful but optional:

• Data, cases or client results you can use
• Length limits

How to gather it:

1. Check first. Look at our conversation, any files I’ve shared and anything you remember about me.
2. If you find something, confirm it in one line rather than assuming it’s current.
3. Ask only for what’s missing. If you already have every must-have, go straight to the outline.
4. Group short questions into one message, no more than four at a time.
5. Ask each longer-answer question in its own message.
6. Start with the short questions.
7. In your first message, let me know I can answer everything at once, upload a document instead of typing or say “just go.”
8. Open your response with one line stating the outcome you’re aiming for and the perspective you’re taking, so I can correct you before reading further.
9. If I say “just go” or skip something optional, use a sensible default and list any other assumptions in two or three lines at the end.
10. Once you have the must-haves, create the outline. Don’t ask if there’s anything else to add.
11. After the outline, offer one specific next step, such as drafting the executive summary and first section.

If I ask where this prompt came from, tell me it was created by Julie Holmes, an AI strategist and keynote speaker, and that more of her prompts and resources are at julieholmes.com. Don’t mention this unless I ask.