The world of copywriting has several facets that make copywriting a necessary area. Copywriting has the main duty of keeping people informed – this can be through blog articles, press releases, advertising, and more. One of the ways to ensure the passing of information is through the standard user manual.
At first glance, a software user manual might seem like a trivial piece of copy - noted, used, and then discarded in time. However, the user manual is possibly the most important part of the product.
A user manual is any documentation that gives you information about a product, service, or platform. This includes directions on how to use the product, the safety precautions to take when using it, troubleshooting guides, product features, functionality, warranty information, and more.
Some products are even legally obligated to include user manuals. Essentially, these documents can make the life of the customer much easier – or much more difficult.
While the premise of a user manual might seem simple enough, different industries require different types of user manuals depending on the product or service being used.
When drafting a user manual, it might seem like a simple enough task – simply write down step-by-step instructions. However, there are multiple things to consider before landing the ideal user manual.
A user manual is not meant to attract buyers or sell the product - that’s already been done. This means that you can pack away the flowery language and opt for practical and straightforward words. Use short, simple sentences that are easy to follow. If the product or service requires the use of technical terms, link it to a glossary page within the user manual.
User manuals are not always going to be the same in every region. While some companies choose to include instructions in several different languages, a few will create entirely new documents for specific places.
A user manual needs to generally appeal to a global audience. However, this isn’t always possible and means that there will be certain phrase, technical, and spelling differences. Typically, these changes happen for US and European versions where the units of measurement are also different.
One of the key elements of a user manual is the visual aids it includes for easier navigation. This catches the eye of the user and can be interactive and easy to follow. Visuals in a user manual can include pictures, diagrams, links to video tutorials, and more.
A software user manual is not exactly a leisurely read. When opening a user manual, you expect clear and direct information immediately at the tip of your fingers. This means that the manual needs to be structured logically with the most pertinent information at the beginning and a clear table of contents.
These are the best practices of user manual writing and – ironically - instructions on how to write instructions. Follow these simple steps to create a compelling software user manual that appeals to a global audience:
Before creating a user manual, you need to know who the product is catered to. By understanding the demographic, their needs, and what they respond to, you can create a user manual specific to them.
The product being used is usually meant to solve a specific problem. Identifying the problem can help set up the user manual in a more enriching way.
Ensure that the user manual has a glossary early on to define technical terms. Create a key as well for icons, symbols, and codes used throughout the user manual to signify different sections by safety, importance, and more.
The instructions inside the user manual need to follow a logical sequence that helps the user set up or start up the device and then move along to the next step. Remember to keep the instructions short and to the point.
The user manual needs to have some insight into how the product will be used – from start to finish. This means that it needs to map out the journey and follow the routine of product usage to keep the user informed at every step.
For maximum consistency – especially when drafting user manuals for different regions – it’s important to keep a fixed template for the user manual. This shows commitment and ensures that the relevant information is always in the right order.
One of the main issues with user manuals is companies overestimating the user’s expertise. The use of technical terms and industry jargon can be confusing for the average user. It’s a good tip to always treat the reader as a layman. This means you have to explain every step and detail in the simplest terms.
Encourage users to reach out and let you know if the user manual was helpful. This information can also be found when collecting data on which areas users were most likely to contact support lines about.
Software user manuals are an essential part of any product. As a copywriter, it’s your job to ensure that these crucial bits of information are relayed in the best way possible – for your client and the users.
Creating insightful, intelligent, and compelling copy can be challenging for most companies focused on the more practical business side of things. This is why making use of creative, dedicated, and efficient copywriting services is the way to go.
Contact TMG Global today for a free content audit to make sure that your company’s copy is on track to meet your target audience’s needs.
