Product user guides play a crucial role in ensuring users can effectively and safely use a product. This technical writing can be created for customers and/or internal use (employees).
They bridge the gap between the manufacturer’s knowledge and the users’ understanding, contributing to a positive user experience and minimising potential issues.
7 Reasons for using a professionally written product user guide:
1. Clear, consistent communication regarding a product’s use is available to everyone regardless of the number of users involved. Guides can also be translated and adapted to suit different locations and languages.
2. User guides can include or avoid industry jargon as needed. Professional technical writers ensure that a common level of terminology is used to determine the best fit for the people using each guide. Including a glossary also helps to ensure understanding by all users.
3. Efficiency is positively impacted as user guides help employees and customers to start using products quickly and easily. User guides can also include assembly and configuration instructions.
4. A clear explanation of safe product use within the user guide promotes safe use of the product and compliance with any necessary regulatory requirements.
5. Ongoing support is offered as user guides provide a useful reference for future use. This is especially beneficial for less common tasks.
6. User guides are hugely beneficial for training, whether someone is moving to a new role, joining an organisation [link to onboarding blog] or needing refresher training.
7. Where our guides are used by end customers, professionally written user guides offer clarity and support. This enhances customer experience, positively impacting referrals, retention and potentially repeat purchases.
What should be included within a user guide?
Typically, the following sections are included within user guides:
- Title – with a product identification image
- Safety section
- Product overview – key components
- Product description – function, features & benefits, any controls & indicators
- Normal operation / Instructions for use
- Maintenance (and cleaning) / Spare parts
- Warranty, certification and manufacturer’s information
- Servicing & support
The above user guide sections are adjusted to suit the product, users and organisation involved. The best user guide results involve the support of technical writing experts.
Would your organisation benefit from professionally written user guides?
Contact the Orchid team without obligation. We’ve been writing technical user guides for over 30 years within a wide range of sectors. Let’s explore the best solutions for your organisation.
