Every Web3 project needs a whitepaper. Why? Whitepapers hold the most important information and help to build credibility and attract your target audience. That’s, of course, if they are optimized for SEO. In this article, we will explain how to create a SEO whitepaper that stands out, ranks well, and gains trust.
Whitepapers are more than just useless brochures, especially in Web3. They help to share important technical information, detail smart contracts and tokenomics, and build trust. However, they also need to be understandable and engaging for both blockchain experts and non-technical investors. A good Web3 whitepaper has it all.
Yes, technical details are very important for any Web3 whitepaper. However, overusing crypto terms can alienate readers. With the correct approach to SEO optimization, your content will be discoverable yet accessible. This balance is a challenge, but it’s possible to create a perfect whitepaper.
We are used to SEO texts for websites, articles, and even social media. Why not take advantage of such an optimization when it comes to whitepapers?
Clear structuring, interesting visuals, and keyword optimization are the main components of a professional yet engaging whitepaper. Some experts claim that projects that have clear and captivating whitepapers get up to 2x more investor inquiries.
A good Web3 whitepaper turns complex terms into understandable insights. For example, in Ethereum’s whitepaper, users were introduced to smart contracts. It was a new concept, but the project used simple terms, which made it quite easy to understand.
What to pay attention to, when creating a SEO whitepaper? Let’s find out!
Most SEO specialists use professional keyword research tools to find relevant high-volume and long-tail keywords as well as analyze competitors’ whitepapers.
According to research from SEMrush, SEO-optimized whitepapers attract, on average, 55% higher traffic than regular ones. Google Keyword Planner and similar tools help to find words and phrases that have high search volume. Start with audience-focused keywords like “blockchain whitepaper solutions”. Targeting these terms helps connect with readers searching for clear guidance in writing or understanding blockchain-based documents.
Take your time with the text for Web3 whitepaper. It should be simple yet extensive.
To make sure that your whitepaper is SEO-optimized, add keywords in headers, subheaders, and text. But don’t overuse them; these phrases should be naturally integrated into the narrative.
Never use overly long sentences or endless paragraphs. Instead, opt for lists, bullet points, and a logical sequence. This way, readers will be able to follow along more easily. To check your text, use tools like Hemingway Editor or Grammarly. And remember: readability is key!
Reading a lengthy text can be challenging for modern people who are used to short posts and tiny videos. To capture your readers’ attention, create a well-thought-out structure and follow it.
Start with an abstract that summarizes your project.
Explain what issue your project addresses.
Show how your technology can help to solve the issue.
Dive deeper into tokenomics. Expand on the details of token distribution and utility.
Present a plan. Share a roadmap with all the milestones you want to hit.
Texts without paragraphs, lists, or headers are difficult to read. Divide your SEO whitepaper into different sections (as mentioned above) and use subheadings, charts, and infographics to emphasize the main points. Research conducted by HubSpot showed that visuals can increase comprehension by 80%.
How does your project complement the Web3 world? Surely, it has some benefits that make it useful. When creating a whitepaper, try to highlight some trends and challenges the industry has and then explain how your project helps to fix them.
Technical details may sound exciting for you and other crypto experts, but those people who are new to the industry may not understand how one small thing you offer can change the world. Your whitepaper should explain how the technologies you created can be used in the real world. Let’s say your project makes cross-border payments 10x quicker. In this case, you need to show how it benefits both users and businesses.
Of course, your Web3 whitepaper must include all the necessary technical information. And sometimes, complicated terms cannot be avoided. To balance technical depth for blockchain experts out, include glossaries for newcomers.
How long is a whitepaper? There’s no universal answer to this question. Whitepapers’ length usually ranges from 5,000 to 8,000 words. However, you need to take your project’s complexity into consideration. If you need to explain a simple project, a 2,500-word document might be enough.
Regardless of how simple your SEO whitepaper is, a summary at the beginning is a must. And let’s not forget about the secret of any whitepaper: visuals. Add them all around the text to make it more digestible.
Adding a link to your whitepaper on the website isn’t enough. Share it with others on Medium, GitHub, or LinkedIn. Be active in communities on Telegram and Discord. Binance’s community channels are a great example of this: by being active, they were able to amplify early whitepapers and gain traction.
Link building can help your project with authority and trustworthiness as well as significantly boost your SEO performance. People are highly likely to trust links from reputable influencers and websites. Plus, link building is crucial ranking factors for search engines.
Blockchain whitepaper templates can help you create a structured piece with ease. Look for inspiration on other Web3 projects’ websites and use Canva or Google Docs to speed up the process.
As your project grows, revisit your whitepaper to include new updates or milestones. You should also regularly analyze keywords in your niche and revise the existing ones.
How many people interact with your Web3 whitepaper? It’s important to monitor metrics to understand what to improve. Use tools like Google Analytics to see download rates, average time on page, etc.
Your SEO whitepaper has to stay relevant. If you want to continue sparking interest in users, don’t forget to address new trends and updates in the industry.
Generis is a Web3 marketing agency that was created by specialists from crypto projects and traditional businesses. Our experts don’t use boring approaches. We make sure to offer each of our clients unique and personalized strategies that help them stand out from the crowd. Over the years, we worked with many crypto and blockchain projects and we know exactly how to craft a good Web3 whitepaper and optimize it.