Myth 2: Technical Documentation Is Expensive

Legend would have it that technical documentation is frightfully expensive, devouring your budget in one toothy bite. Technical documentation projects are spooky expenditures that haunt your company like skeletons in the closet… Aren’t they?

Reality

Though all too rare, cost-benefit analyses prove that technical documentation is not only affordable, it’s sweet and profitable when well done. Now what’s so spooky about that?

Fight your demons…

Whether your documentation is produced by employees or external resources, you’ll have to invest time and money for it to slide over from the expenses to the investments column. Want to lower that final number on the invoice? Be sure to prepare appropriately. Here’s how:

• Plan your resources early on in the process so they’ll be available when the time comes. Be sure to chart out your documentation planning, writing, revision, maintenance and management ahead of time
• Set clear objectives and write up a plan
• Stay your course, but be flexible enough to change headings if needed
• Use product-appropriate tools that will allow you to:
  • Manage multiple versions
  • Reuse content
  • Publish documentation in various formats
• Work in project teams to make the most of feedback and facilitate smooth follow-up
• Take stock of your documentation by carefully listening to your users’ comments—that way, you’ll better meet their needs in the future

…to get a terribly successful result

Don’t forget: Quality documentation is profitable! Even if it’s difficult to quantify the economic benefits of technical documentation, with improved technical documentation, you’ll notice:

• your clients taking ownership of your products more easily;
• your clients contacting your technical support with “real” questions or problems;
• your salespeople better equipped to promote your products.

The horror stories are over

With a little preparation, your closet full of skeletons may very well turn into a treasure chest! Thanks to the magic of quality documentation, customer contact won’t have you gritting your teeth and biting your nails in dread. Who knows, maybe they’re calling to commission more products or refer you to colleagues? With quality documentation you can breathe easy. The Halloween horror stories are over!

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