What is and what is an instruction manual for?

The instructions are text documents that are basically in charge of giving the guidelines and directives to a user on how to carry out a certain activity or handle a product.

They can be used to indicate how to proceed in certain types of public or private events, in activities of any kind, to know the rules of a company, both internally and towards customers or to teach how to handle an instrument, whatever it is.

In summary, many different uses and qualities can be given to this format of regulations and instructions, depending on the specific case that we want to reflect.

Basic characteristics of an instructional

Thanks to these text diagrams, users can learn step by step the rules to follow in a company, at an event, or they can facilitate the task of carrying out activities such as assembling parts of a product or performing certain procedures without seeing the need to discover each step themselves.

This means that the user can know in advance everything they must do or comply with and thus can facilitate their tasks, which helps them create a good vision regarding the company or brand that offered them this option.

Although there are some elements that may vary depending on what explanations are being given in the text, such as the design or the order of the elements, there are certain cable qualities that the instructions have, such as those that we will see in detail below.

Vocabulary

The form of expression used in these texts is direct, it is explained simply and concisely what you want to convey.

In addition, specialized languages ​​may be used, depending on the subject that is handled and the terms that need to be used in each case.

Structural elements

These formats are mainly composed of:

• A title, which must be directly related to the topic to be dealt with in the text, giving the user to understand what the information they will receive next is about.
• Subtitles to differentiate the different points that are broken down on the same topic. In this way the information is segmented and can be assimilated more easily
• Colors: The instructions usually have colors and illustrations related to the topic. For example, if you are talking about rules to take into account during the winter, blue colors are used in the design of the instructions and possibly related images.
• Boxes, bullets, and graphics can also be applied. These text structures are usually very visual, to facilitate the understanding of the person who is going to read them.
• The steps to follow are listed, in this way the information is more easily differentiated within the already segmented spaces.
• The message should be simple, without dwelling on long and complex explanations.
• The language will depend on the topic being discussed.

Design

The designs, as we already mentioned, may vary, but an important point in these documents is that they have a striking base for the recipients, which is achieved through the range of colors used depending on the issuer and the message to be transmitted, the organization of the text within the space and the images that accompany the information.

The more elements you have such as images or graphics, the more attractive it will be to the recipients and the faster the message will get through.

It is important that all information is transmitted in the simplest and most dynamic way possible.

Main uses of a tutorial

With products

These formats are often used for example, in the case of products sold, to facilitate the task of the user using it properly and thus avoid ethical and legal conflicts with customers due to mishandling of some equipment.

This is the way that manufacturing companies ensure that customers can use their products properly, so that they are not damaged by misuse and users who use it are not accidentally injured due to improper handling.

At the business level

Companies of any kind usually use it to explain in this way to customers (in the case of companies related to customer service) how their work modalities are, or to their own employees, whatever the branch of the company, know the internal labor standards by which they should be governed.

In this way, misunderstandings or abuses by employees or superiors in companies are avoided, since with these instructions they make sure to present in a simple way the rules and benefits that are assumed when entering the corresponding job position.

Importance for companies

In all cases where an instructive can be used, they must be handled with care and seriousness always since these are elements that show the company’s commitment to the readers and the future treatment that those users, clients or staff, could receive from part from them.

These formats are a sample of the creativity, seriousness, responsibility and modalities of the entity that is issuing it. For this reason, they are crucial to attract customers, get a good impression and maintain it over time.

They are used not only to facilitate clients’ tasks or to publicize their regulations. They are also, in a subtle way, a way in which the company avoids legal responsibilities for any type of breach or error on the part of users.

Importance for users or customers

These documents allow the user to know all the steps to follow to carry out the activities that he needs to fulfill. They allow you to know how to use or assemble a product that you have purchased, or how to proceed for a procedure, at an event or in a new job.

In this way, it is much easier for the customer to follow the rules or use the purchased product correctly, without complications or fear of damaging it due to misuse.

In these instructions there may not only be rules that the user must comply with, but also benefits that a service can provide.