But what does it take to deliver a perfect user manual online?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nCreating a user manual is neither a one-step nor a one-person job. It must meet numerous standards, including technical correctness, readability, writing style, format and structure, user accessibility, marketing goals, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Obviously, experts from different fields need to collaborate to make this happen. The product manager, manufacturer, technical writers, subject-matter experts, the technical team, translators and localizers, marketing managers, and testers are usually engaged in finalizing a user manual. And of course, end-users are the last who interact with the user manual but are the ultimate target and can even contribute to improving it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Such documentation for sure has to go through many steps such as planning and scheduling, writing a technical brief, drafting, editing, reviewing, publishing, and continuous improvement. Yet each team involved might face some challenges.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n
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<\/path><\/svg><\/span>What are the challenges of writing a quality user manual?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Technical Writers challenges<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nTechnical writers write the main body of user manuals. They translate complex and technical concepts into plain language. Based on the company size and policy, technical writers may have other responsibilities too, be only in charge of writing, or work as freelancers for different clients. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
In either case, they usually need other members collaboration to write a useful guide. As a technical writer you may face the following challenges and needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Close collaboration with the technical team to make sure you understand and learn everything.<\/li> You need a powerful platform to create rich text, edit, and share with other experts. Outdated writing tools are usually a pain in the neck..<\/li> You constantly need expert opinion and need everyone in one place (tired of sharing and waiting)<\/li> You need great fillers, which can be called templates and samples in this context, to get rid of the writer\u2019s blackness attack.<\/li> You need an advanced tool to easily handle versions and updates<\/li> You need to make your guide engaging using images and videos<\/li> Keeping up with the last-minute changes to the product<\/li> You need information about the target audience to write a practical guide so you probably need to keep in touch with:the marketing team to learn about the marketing persona<\/li> the customer service to learn about users\u2019 frequently asked questions and problems<\/li> And ideally with testers and the end-users themselves<\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\nOvercoming inconsistency and disorganized structure in documentation (When a guide is written by several people in different stages)<\/li> Make sure the text is written in plain language with standard readability<\/li><\/ul>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/path><\/svg><\/span>Subject matter experts\/technical team challenges<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\nAs the subject matter expert, you are directly or indirectly involved in the design and developing the product. You have the subject knowledge and are aware of the product\u2019s requirement, its basic and advanced features, probable errors, maintenance, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You may be asked to teach the product to other members of the company, write a brief draft about the product, or even write the whole process and product documentation. You probably want to leave the extensive writing to the technical writers but still have some concerns:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You need to make sure the product documentation is technically correct and probably need to proofread and comment on some parts.<\/li> You need to make the writers aware of the advanced features they might have missed.<\/li> You need to answer the writers (Users\u2019) questions<\/li><\/ul>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n