White paper reference sources can range from creating brochures to hiring subject matter experts (SMEs). Reference sources can be used to identify knowledge elements (key issues and terminology) that are relevant to the white paper topic. The review of reference sources can identify important topics or areas that were not originally outlined in the white paper.

Brochures - Brochures can provide descriptions of key problems and may feature solutions to key issues. The marketing department within a company may have a list of brochures related to a certain topic. Because part of the content included in white papers relates to fundamental issues, some of the older company brochures that are no longer in use may provide such helpful information.

Manuals - Manuals are documents that identify how products or services operate and the functions they can perform. The engineering or operations department within a company is likely to have operation manuals.

Tutorials - Tutorials or training courses are commonly created to address customers’ or users’ needs for help within a specific area. Training departments, customer care or customer service departments are likely to offer tutorials.

Effective reference links that can be included in white papers are links to free online tutorials that provide additional details about a topic. By dividing up a tutorial into segments, multiple reference links can be provided and the selection of these links can indicate specific areas of interest to the readers.

Articles - Articles may focus on a specific issue or pain point that customers experience, as well as explain how a product can solve that problem. It may be possible to expand and rewrite an article into a white paper or to divide a white paper into multiple articles. Marketing departments may have created or assisted in the creation of articles.

Trade Magazines - Trade magazines are focused sources of information related to industry issues and solutions. In addition to providing good reference content in industry articles, magazines use industry expert writers that may be able to provide content or even create a white paper. You may be able to interview some of the magazine staff for free or pay the magazine to assist in the creation of a white paper.

Books - Books can provide a relatively large body of content focused around a single subject. In addition to being a great source of reference material, it may be possible to license book content and quickly convert it into a white paper.

Subject Matter Experts (SME) - A subject matter expert is a person who has a detailed understanding and experience in a particular area of information. Subject matter experts may be found on job sites such as www.Freelancer.com or www.eLance.com. Independent industry consultants (search for topic and consulting) may be good SME candidates since they possess related knowledge. Authoring a white paper can prove to be a good source of revenue and the authorship, not the sponsorship, provides them with credibility and publicity.