Myth 5: Technical Documentation Is Useless
Just use the product. Push a few buttons. Shake, shake. Kick! Okay, it’s still not working. Make a few phone calls. You’ll figure it out! Right? Hmm… Actually, a user’s manual might be handy right about now.
Reality
Think of when you’ve ever been in a pinch: a deadline is looming, your staff is twiddling their thumbs, that key piece of equipment just isn’t working right. You’ve tried, tested and just can’t figure it out.
Your clients may be going through this frustration right now… with your product! Take a hard, honest look: Does your documentation explain your product, its use and troubleshooting clearly and intuitively? Really, you shouldn’t accept anything less. Your clients are your business’ raison d’être. And providing them with quality documentation that helps them use your products according to best practices will make them satisfied customers happy to come back again and again.
At their fingertips
Quality documentation is a helping hand when things go wrong. If your technical documentation is well done, it will be the “ah-ha” of relief when things were looking grim. Everybody likes being a hero—why not be your client’s?!
Hitting the spot
Technical documentation should help users in the way they need help. Well-structured information is easily findable and easily useable—that means clients can find exactly what they’re looking for. They will be grateful not to have to wade through the unnecessary stuff.
The one and only
You know your documentation is top quality when it becomes an in-house reference for your products and not just some paper you send to clients to look good. Does your documentation hold up with your experts? Do they consult it when something is unclear, needs improving or fixing? Technical documentation should be the reference for anyone using your product!
Technical documentation: A valuable sales tool
Quality documentation is also a loyal friend to your sales team. It reassures potential customers and gives them yet another reason to choose your product over the competition’s. Is your product unique, top quality, expertly designed? Prove it with your technical documentation! And once convinced, clients will buy reassured that help will always be close at hand should there be bumps down the road. Well-crafted documentation shows your clients that you’ve been there first and can help them find their way.
Squeezing out every last drop out
Quality documentation will allow your clients to get the most out of your product. Of course, your manuals describe how to get your product up and running without damaging it, but, done right, your documentation should also delve into the details of how to get the most out of your product. Maybe a secondary function or a better practice presented clearly and simply will allow your client to use your product even more efficiently. So next time you’re tempted to skip documentation…think again!
To receive our latest publications, please subscribe to our mailing list.