1. USE A SYSTEMATIC AND RECURSIVE PROCESS
TO CREATE READER-BASED TECHNICAL
DOCUMENTS, THAT ARE CONSISTENT WITH
PROFESSIONAL
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INTRODUCTION
• Technical documentation is essential for all
companies, regardless of their industry. Whether it’s
consumer-oriented, such as assembly instructions
for furniture, or internal procedures for invoicing,
every standardized process requires proper
documentation.
• These documents provide users with an overview of
the product or process, explain what to expect, and
guide them through each step or challenge to
achieve the desired outcome.
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1. Product manuals
2. Repair manuals
3. User guides
4. API documentation
5. SDK documentation
6. Project plans
7. Business standards
8. Test schedules
9. Market requirements documentation
10.White papers
11. Case studies
12.RFPs & proposals
12 COMMON TYPES OF TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS IN 2023

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• Product documentation encompasses in-depth guides, training manuals, and information that show users how a
product should work or how to use a product.
• When most people say “technical documentation,” they’re usually talking about product documentation. Product
documents typically cover instructions and tutorials to help end-users accomplish a task. They include guides,
illustrations, and reference sheets that cover:
❖ Information on the requirements or system specifications users need to run the product efficiently
❖ Installation and usage instructions
❖ Frequently asked questions (FAQs) or knowledge base
For product documentation, it’s recommended to leverage technical writing software and software documentation
tools to create easy-to-use and help documentation.
PRODUCT DOCUMENTATION

5. P R O C E S S D O C U M E N TAT I O N
Process documentation, on the other hand, is a document that shows an internal team what they need to know to
execute a task properly. It covers information that helps create consistency and accountability within your
organization, including:
❖ Plans, schedules, and notes that establish standards and patterns for different processes
❖ Reports and metrics that track project, staff, and resource performance
❖ Internal wiki

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Sales and marketing documentation present information to help your organization establish its niche in the market
and provide sales enablement content to win more customers. A few technical writing examples of these types of
documents include:
• Market requirement and business plan documents that help set the groundwork for a company
• White papers and case studies to show potential customers the real-life application of your product or service.
• RFPs and proposals that help attract and secure business partners and new contracts.
• 12 Types of Technical Documentation +Examples (2023) (whatfix.com)
SALES AND MARKETING DOCUMENTATION

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• Product documentation encompasses in-
depth guides, training manuals, and information
that show users how a product should work or
how to use a product.
• When most people say “technical
documentation,” they’re usually talking about
product documentation. Product documents
typically cover instructions and tutorials to
help end-users accomplish a task. They include
guides, illustrations, and reference sheets that
cover:
PRODUCT DOCUMENTATION

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• Product documentation encompasses in-
depth guides, training manuals, and information
that show users how a product should work or
how to use a product.
• When most people say “technical
documentation,” they’re usually talking about
product documentation. Product documents
typically cover instructions and tutorials to
help end-users accomplish a task. They include
guides, illustrations, and reference sheets that
cover:
PRODUCT DOCUMENTATION

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• A product manual explains the parts of a product, where you can
find each part, and what each part is used for. It details everything a
user needs to know about how a product functions.
• Although product manuals are most common with physical products
because most of them contain product part diagrams and
illustrations, they can be created for any kind of product.
• To create product manuals, there are three main steps that
need to be followed:
• Decide what the manual is going to cover
• Create appropriate illustrations for the sections
that need them
• Write clear explanations of each step in the
process
PRODUCT MANUALS

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• Repair manuals explain the correct way to fix a
damaged product and make it easy for
customers to navigate hardware problems or a
combination of issues.
• When people deal with these kinds of
situations, it’s helpful to have clear, concise
information that walks them through repairs
quickly and efficiently. To create an effective
repair manual, you need to anticipate every
kind of product damage customers may face,
then explain how to navigate it.
REPAIR MANUALS

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• User guides are a common form of user
documentation that explain how a product works to
its users. They are particularly useful during the
onboarding process, especially interactive step-by-
step guides, as they help users achieve their desired
results quickly. These guides employ simple language
and demonstrations to explain complex features and
troubleshoot common issues, making them easy for
beginners to understand.
• To create a helpful user guide, it’s important to know
what users want to achieve and adjust the language
accordingly. For instance, if the guide is intended for
developers, it may be helpful to provide code
samples. However, for non-technical users, it’s best to
provide clear and easy-to-understand guidance.
USER GUIDES

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• API documentation explains how developers
can integrate other products with your product
using an API (application programming
interface).
• When creating API documentation, it’s
important to think about both the advantages
that clients will gain from using your product
(business value) and the technical
specifications for how the API should be
consumed to work effectively. This means
including details about the API’s functions,
classes, arguments, and return types in your
documentation.
API DOCUMENTATION

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• API documentation explains how developers
can integrate other products with your product
using an API (application programming
interface).
• When creating API documentation, it’s
important to think about both the advantages
that clients will gain from using your product
(business value) and the technical
specifications for how the API should be
consumed to work effectively. This means
including details about the API’s functions,
classes, arguments, and return types in your
documentation.
API DOCUMENTATION

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• SDKs are helper documents or libraries that
describe the tools used to develop apps for a
specific platform or product. Developers
use SDK documentation to guide them when
they create apps for a specific
product/platform.
• To create your product’s SDK doc, you’ll need
to compile a library of tools, compilers,
debuggers, code samples, APIs, etc.
SDK (SOFTWARE DEVELOPMENT KIT) DOCUMENTATION

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Project plans
• Project plans define a project’s goals and
objectives and offer a map of how to get there.
They describe every step you and your team
need to follow to complete a task or deliver a
product. They help you stay focused on your
overall goals and also document key dates so
you can track progress toward them.
• At the start of a project, project managers
develop plans, whether it’s for implementing
new accounting software or developing a new
computer program.
TYPES OF PROCESS-BASED TECHNICAL DOCUMENTS

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• Business standards define the rules, guidelines,
and benchmarks your business should always
meet in particular areas (e.g., customer service
benchmarks, quality benchmarks, operations).
They’re used during employee onboarding and
as helpful references in a moment of need.
• To create your company’s business standards,
define your company values, explain how staff
should respond to situations in ways that
reflect your values, and set your organization’s
benchmarks.
BUSINESS STANDARDS

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• Test schedules explain the steps, tasks, dates,
and responsibilities involved in software
testing. They’re used to anticipate and assign
resources, like the equipment and engineers
needed to run a test. Test schedules help to
minimize the risk involved with software
development because it allows you to catch
issues earlier with constant testing. They help
to prevent accidents — or at least reduce the
duration of those accidents.
• When creating a test schedule, it’s important to
start by developing a test plan that outlines the
process for reviewing, tracking, and approving
tests. Once the plan is in place, then list
specific dates such as release and beta entry
TEST SCHEDULES

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Creating technical documentation that is clear, concise, and easy to understand is essential for any product or
service. To achieve this, here are some helpful tips and best practices:
• Understand your audience: The first rule of any writing is to know who you’re writing for. Tailor the complexity,
tone, and style of your documentation to match the knowledge and needs of its intended readers.
• Use clear, concise language: Avoid jargon and unnecessary technical terms where possible. If you have to use
technical terms, provide a glossary and make definitions short and easy to understand.
• Organize information logically: Structure your documentation in a way that makes it easy for users to find the
information they need. Use headings, subheadings, and bullet points to break up text and make it more
digestible.
• Include visuals: Diagrams, screenshots, and other visuals can help explain a concept more clearly than text
alone. You can use them to illustrate complex processes or workflows.
TIPS FOR CREATING TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION

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• Write step-by-step instructions: When explaining a process, break it down into simple,
step-by-step instructions. This makes it easier for users to follow along.
• Provide real-life examples: Whenever possible, include real-life examples to illustrate
your points. This can make abstract or complex concepts much more relatable.
• Keep documentation up-to-date: Outdated documentation can be worse than no
documentation at all. Make sure to regularly update your documents to reflect any
changes or updates to your product or service.
• Test your documentation: Before releasing your documentation, have someone who is
not familiar with the product try to use it based on your instructions. This can help
identify any gaps or areas that are unclear or confusing.
TIPS FOR CREATING TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION

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• Use tools and templates: There are several tools and templates available
that can help streamline the process of creating technical documentation.
These can help ensure consistency and save time.
• Gather feedback: Encourage users to provide feedback on your
documentation to help you identify areas for improvement and better
meet the needs of your users.
• Accessibility: Make sure your documentation is accessible to all potential
users. This might involve considering font sizes, language, color contrasts,
devices, and providing alt text for images.
TIPS FOR CREATING TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION

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FORMAT

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