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Neri Raanani

Video or written content? How do you prefer to read product help guides/documentation? 🛠

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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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theakson
video augmented with lashings of REAL examples. My weekly routine s to pop over to Northwestern with a starbucks Pike's ( ok so I'm NOT HIP :-)) and crank up youtube to watch Talk Julia, Dj's office hours related to Julia and anything by Dave Beasley on Python. It educates and motivates me. I take notes using my shorthand ( thinking about making it a product), come up with a goal that can be put into a function (best way to approach julia), take a stab at it myself. Fail miserably and then seek out examples that can help me improve my approach. It's something I started in Palo Alto when I'd attend weekly presentations by home brewers. In those days SIR was Tom Perkins ( kpcb) so I'd keep an eye out for interesting things,approaches and people.
Neri Raanani
@theakson Sounds like a great routine! I am talking more about explanatory videos to answer a specific question related to our product's function. But it's true - there's nothing like learning from a good video! Thank you for sharing!
theakson
@neri_raanani Hi there sorry I wasn't clear. I treat languages as a product. The videos serve to show me the utility of the language, it's tools, and show me worked examples to reinforce the concepts. The same is true of products, at least in my case. So, my new answer to your question would be that I would prefer an overall video of the concepts married with a living set of examples that users have created that they found useful. This would all augment the written documentation. I would point out that I have made ALL the mistakes humanly possible in this area.
Neri Raanani
@theakson Got it - sounds to me like we have similar preferences when it comes to consuming product guides. thanks so much for sharing this!
Dylan Merideth
Demo videos for quick help and thorough product docs for deeper explanation
Neri Raanani
@dylan_merideth Probably the best strategy, I agree. Thank you! :)
Khalid M.
@dylan_merideth Hey, nice seeing you here too, i noticed you from indiehackers. Love the vapour wave aesthetic btw.
Luis Hernandez Peña
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.
Neri Raanani
You mentioned interesting scenarios, some of which I had not thought about and should be taken into consideration. Thank you for sharing!
Denis Pimenov
I prefer both videos and written instructions. This allows me to understand as accurately as possible what the new product is like.
Neri Raanani
@new_user_11620223ff4de5436 My thought exactly. Thanks!
Brad
I prefer Video content.
Neri Raanani
@brad_fusion Thank you for sharing! 💪
Fares
I prefer the video! I find it more fun and faster
Neri Raanani
@fares_aktouf I appreciate you sharing this!
Sergul Sungur
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.
Neri Raanani
@sergul_sungur1 Same here 💪
Selman Babayigit
Both. Written content will probably give me more information, but a page with video content would be more interesting.
Neri Raanani
@selman_babayigit That's what we're aiming for! Thanks for your comment! 💪
Pramit Marattha
I'd take both of them.
Iya Mendoza
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.
Neri Raanani
@iyamendoza01 I definitely agree with you! Thanks for sharing!
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