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Video or written content? How do you prefer to read product help guides/documentation? 🛠
You're trying out a new product and need some help, so you turn to the company's help center. Do you look for how-to videos or written instructions?
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It really depends on the complexity of the product! I generally prefer text describing steps with screenshots of the product's interface. But when I was figuring our Google Analytics back in the day, I was grateful to have video tutorials:)
Both? Haha it really depends on the topic. If it's a quick guide or questions answerable by 1 or two words/sentences, I'd go for text. But if it's more about technicality, I usually prefer video. But if it doesn't work, I resort to written content.
I think that's why both video and written content is important and a valuable factor for Google algorithm.
If it's documetation, I preferred it written, and in a concise and comprehensible way, with examples.
However, if it is some sort of a "how-to" guide, i'd prefer a video.
Attractive videos capture the audience's interest and keep them engaged throughout the video. That's why I'm all for videos!
@evgeniyyakubovckiy Videos do attract attention, but for help guides/documentation it's less about hooking the audience and more about being helpful and efficient to a user in need. Still, videos are indeed a good fit here as well - probably both written and video together. Thanks for sharing!
Usually both. A video that is under 10 minutes followed up with a bullet point explanation step by step.
I prefer to watch if there is any how to videos rather than written content. But for more detailed information I'm looking at documents.
I prefer both videos and written instructions. This allows me to understand as accurately as possible what the new product is like.
I prefer Images and written content for a first peek. A video is better when the product catches me and I am more interested in how it works
Both. Loom is great for doing short guides, and then doing a transcript (not word for word but a guide following the video) once you've recorded it is easy.
Then you have two pieces of content to publish instead of one :D
Written instructions with screenshots/images over videos. Videos are great for new features or product demos but if I'm stuck somewhere I'll 9/10 go for the written version.
For detailed information I prefer written instructions over video. I tend to get bored by videos while text allows me to go to any section easily. Additionally most of the time I need to copy/paste samples or search for a specific topic.
For a presentation or features introduction, video is probably better.
You mentioned interesting scenarios, some of which I had not thought about and should be taken into consideration. Thank you for sharing!
It should be a mix of both as we are in the digital era and customers are looking for omnichannel support. We can't expect customers to be satisfied only with product tour videos they may also look for product documentation or a manual.
I suggest embedding product videos in the manual and publishing them online via a knowledge base on your website.
Something like this https://docs.biztalk360.com/docs...
I guess it's a mix of both :-) It would depend on the context & information the customer is looking for: Quick insights / facts about the product should be listed down and quickly to read - actual product usage is fun and way more educative to consume in video formats!
For me both. It depends on how my attention span is on the day. I like video for an overview if it's short and sweet.
Demo videos for quick help and thorough product docs for deeper explanation
@dylan_merideth Hey, nice seeing you here too, i noticed you from indiehackers. Love the vapour wave aesthetic btw.
Usually how-to videos, but if they're too long, I skim through articles. The more engaging and to the point the content is, the better.
I did a ton of research on this when building searchegg.io,
most users don't even go to the help center even when they're stuck, and the ones that do, don't stick around for long.
Curious to know if that's your experience too
Nougat-sized videos if it's something specific, otherwise written content. Written content still has a lot of advantages over the video format, the one standout for me is searchability. On the other hand, it's much harder to update video content in case of product updates.
I like both. I usually watch the video and if I need to check some extra info I look at the written content
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