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    Elements for Writing Better Technical Manuals
    Elements for Writing Better Technical Manuals
    Elements for Writing Better Technical Manuals
    Ebook77 pages24 minutes

    Elements for Writing Better Technical Manuals

    By A. Anderson

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    About this ebook

    How good is your product manual? Tech writers, product and marketing managers should be concerned. Surveys have shown that nearly two-thirds of consumers have said that "sometimes" product instructions make sense. If consumers couldn't figure out how to use the product, one-third would return that product and buy another elsewhere. The fact is that people are turned off by many of today's product manuals for end-users. Meaning, a shoddy manual could affect the bottom line in company sales.

     

    This book is not about writing well, or grammar. Writers generally do both pretty well. This book addresses problems that result in a poor user experience and offers simple, often overlooked practical advice on how to make improvements. Consider this book as a primer for those getting into the field of technical writing, as most products today are technical in nature. It's a handbook to show what end-users expect to find, which is clear, easy to follow documentation. For product managers it may offer insight of why your latest product isn't doing so well in sales. Included are checklists, diagrams, examples, and a list of commonly used style guides to improve the content and structure of technical manuals and to help keep your project on track.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherA. Anderson
    Release dateSep 25, 2021
    ISBN9798201760557
    Elements for Writing Better Technical Manuals

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      Book preview

      Elements for Writing Better Technical Manuals - A. Anderson

      The Problem with Manuals

      Most people don’t like manuals. Most people don’t like reading them. Poor manuals make people angry. Poor manuals affect company earnings.

      When people read manuals, they usually start at the table of contents or index, and then expect to find a section that addresses their problem or question. If they can’t find what they need, they then skim through the manual with increasing frustration. If they find a page relating to what they’ve been searching for, the information may be vague, confusing, disorganized, incomplete, or simply doesn’t help the reader.

      Below is a survey result when consumers were asked: How does it make you feel if you buy a product and you can’t figure out how to use it? (The author assumed the 2% responders were being sarcastic.)

      chart_ft

      The above graph is from Consumer Feelings About Product Documentation by Sharon Burton. (Question 11.)

      http://www.sharonburton.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/ConsumerFeelingsBurton2012.pdf

      It doesn’t end there. A poorly written manual creates ill will towards the company, and generally gives the impression that the company doesn't care about their customers. Furthermore, the Sharon Burton study shows that 65% said that sometimes product instructions make sense. And if consumers couldn't figure out how to use the product, 33% would return it and buy another product from a different company.

      In light of Burton's data, it appears that a well written manual adds more than just value for the consumer. Clear and helpful product instructions are a competitive advantage in the marketplace.

      Responsibility of the Technical Writer

      A technical writer should always keep in mind that it’s their job to instruct or guide the reader in some way. Tech writers often work with engineers, as engineers fully understand their products in the early stages of development.

      A technical writer must transfer that complex knowledge into easy to understand text, which is to be understood quickly and easily by the end-user. The reader shouldn’t be left guessing or

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