In the fast-paced world of software and product development, staying ahead of the game is crucial. Release notes have long been vital to keeping users informed about updates and improvements.
Too often, these essential messages get lost in the sea of mundane and uninspiring content.
That’s why we are here to show you how to improve your release notes and turn them into engaging, informative, and even enjoyable pieces of communication.
We’re exploring the significance of release notes, sharing some outstanding release notes examples — as well as some examples that could be improved — and most importantly, revealing key strategies to create top-notch notes that captivate your audience.
Follow along for ways to transform your release notes game and make a lasting impact on your users.
Get release notes set up for your brand in less than 30 minutes. Simple, easy, and automated.
Product release notes are a document or set of documents that accompany the release of a new product, feature, or update. They usually include:
Software release notes, for example, come in a bulleted form that comes alongside a software release to tell users what has changed.
Release notes can easily become a boring, technical document nobody likes to read or write. Our mission as product managers is to make these notes more appealing, interesting, and informative.
If you don’t announce a new update to your users, they may not notice it. No one wants to develop new features that are not going to be used.
Product release notes can help businesses keep track of how well their products are performing and identify potential issues. They also provide a way for customers to learn about new features and updates and provide feedback on them.
Developing new features and announcing new updates can increase user adoption. This is one of the most wanted things by companies and is key for companies to have a loyal customer following. 🤝🏻
Three main problems associated with release notes typically involve:
The biggest problem companies face is a lack of communication within their teams. Even in small companies, the technical team may find it difficult to explain what has changed.
Leaving release notes tasks to the development team is another place where companies go wrong. The development teams tend to write very technical release notes that only people with a Ph.D. in computer science could understand.
Ultimately, it comes down to not having the right tools and processes in place to consistently push out relevant and engaging release notes. AnnounceKit has a comprehensive, yet easy-to-use, release notes tool to help with that.
Readers don’t care how something was fixed; they only care about the final result and how they can benefit from the update.
Good release notes are clear, concise, and user-focused. They provide users, customers, and stakeholders with essential information about the changes and improvements made in a software update or new release.
Good release notes generally include the following information:
Release notes play a vital role in building trust and transparency between the software provider and its users, which is why they should inform and engage users.
They should be easy to read, free from technical jargon, and provide a positive and user-centric perspective. This ensures they understand the value and impact of the changes.
Get release notes set up for your brand in less than 30 minutes. Simple, easy, and automated.
