When your company updates its software, it needs to inform its customers. Writing release notes requires to be precise, while providing all the information that the person will need, in order to use the product to its full capacity. Below, you will find a few points that will help you create great release notes and that will increase customer’s satisfaction.

Don’t treat Them as an Afterthought

Some companies don’t take the time to write coherent and informative release notes. That is a mistake that can be costly. If a software is updated, it is often because there were minor issues that needed to be addressed. Treating them as if they were unimportant will not rub customers the right way. At the opposite, if they learn that your company has solved the issue and made their life better in the process, they will be satisfied and will continue to use your product.

Therefore, if you don’t know how to go about it, look for a release notes template. It will help you create your own, as you will only need to insert the precise information relating to your particular software inside of it. However, take the time that is necessary for the notes to become easily readable, or else customers will just skip them to the detriment of your company.

Don’t get Overtechnical

Customers are not all friendly with technology. If you start using complex terminology in your release notes, they may get lost or they will stop reading it. It is not always easy to simplify information for people that don’t work in the software industry, but it is still a must. Before you have them go out, have friends or family read the notes, in order to make sure that all users can understand what you wrote, when they receive them.

Use it as a Communication Tool

It is difficult to get customers attention, simply because they are bombarded by information from all kind of different businesses. Therefore, when you do catch their eyes for a few minutes, you should benefit from it as much as you can. The release notes should be written in a way that shows customers how much you care about them and that you aim to create the best products possible for them to use. They will believe you, since you are telling them in the notes that you have just made the software better for their daily use.

Make Sure it is being read

This last point just may be the most important one. If no one reads your release notes, there is no point writing them in the first place. If you have your customers e-mail addresses, you should definitely send the notes to their inbox (and if you don’t, it is time to start collecting them). You can also position the release notes on your website. Just make sure that they are easily accessible once customers get there. Finally, use social media to make sure that you reach as many people as you can. No communication channel should be left unused, when it is time to inform customers on new release notes.