Show, Don’t Tell

Whenever possible, use photos, animations, videos, and screenshots to communicate information and instructions.

Less is More

Long blocks of text take time and concentration to comprehend. Break your articles into smaller sub-sections to make it easier for viewers to follow and to understand what you seek to communicate. This rule of thumb applies to videos, as well.

To Explain, or not to Explain? That is the Question

The rule of thumb here is to assume no prior knowledge with the content you’re trying to explain, though assume a basic level of prior knowledge with everything else. For instance, if I write a getting-started guide for working with the vinyl cutter, I would assume a viewer would have basic familiarity with Adobe Illustrator but would never have used it for vinyl cutting before.

Double Check

While you should always check your own work for spelling and step-by-step errors, if you have a detailed article it’s best to have a friend or colleague look it over before you publish.