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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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Andrew Isherwood
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
Neri Raanani
@andrew_isherwood1 Definitely, Loom is a good approach here. I'll look that up. Thank you!
Kate Dalessi
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:)
Neri Raanani
@katyaveremeichik Amazing, loved your comment. Thank you!
Bhumi Khokhani
I prefer written instructions over video for detailed information. The text allows me to quickly jump to any area. Furthermore, I frequently need to copy/paste samples or search for a certain topic.
Neri Raanani
@bhumikhokhani Important note! Thank you
Sean Song
Both. For myself, some cases I won't watch video because I cannot turn the sound on. So in that case txt works. And then when sound is on or AirPod with me, video is better.
Neri Raanani
@seansong Important case scenario to consider, thank you.
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!
Jennifer Guerra
I like both. I usually watch the video and if I need to check some extra info I look at the written content
Neri Raanani
@jennifer_guerra Same here!
I actually prefer written just because I don’t need to keep rewinding the video to see
Neri Raanani
@maxwellcdavis So true. Thanks!
Joanne Hurley
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.
Neri Raanani
Lubna Amber
I like video content.
Amelia Charlie
Video content is always easy to understand and more appealing.
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