If you type “How to” on the Google search bar, you will see various topics as suggestions. Same as most people searching their questions with how to, for example, How to start a blog, how to turn on carplay, and how to mass delete emails.
But as a writer, it is necessary to write a useful, correct, and engaging how-to guide that helps user to get their answers quickly without any hassle. I’ve been writing How-to guides for a time about different topics, so I have developed this guide to help you create effective how-to guides.
What are How-to-Guides?
How-to guides are a content category that contains information about specific topics to solve the user’s queries that they are looking for. These guides contain step-by-step instructions to perform an action with proper guidelines, videos, photos, or screenshots.
How-to guides can be precise solutions or complete or detailed guides in the form of documents, videos, or infographics.
How to Create Effective How-to Guides
Here are some steps to follow for effective how-to guides:
1- Understand Your Target Audience
First of all, it is necessary to know who you are writing for. You are writing for a specific group of people to help them solve their problems. So, you must know whether they are beginners or have a certain mentality level.
For example, if you have to write about how to resolve common computer issues, you don’t need to start with “What is a computer?” because they already know about computers. You should start with a brief tone of communication about PC issues.
2- Research Your Topic
A well researched topic has more chances to provide a correct information to users. Even if you are familiar about subject topic, must conduct a research thoroughly to know the complete facts and figours.
Search your topic on the Google search engine and analyze your competitor’s articles about your topic.
- Search on different forums to know what people are talking about.
- Use different tools to know more about keywords and questions search about your topic.
- Determine what you know and what you need to know.
- Discuss with seniors if they know any facts.
This good research how-to guide has more chances to rank or provide a complete solution to readers and build trust.
3- Know What’s the Main Focus
After conducting thorough research on your topic, you may have reached the main point of focus for your key phrase. Writing relevant to key phrases and topics is an effective way to rank in SERPs and catch the attention of your target audience.
For example, “How to troubleshoot common computer issues.” Here is a computer common issue that is the main focus of the article. So, you have to focus on and write about computer issues and how to resolve them, offering tips, user experience, or effective solutions.
4- Provide a Solution Glimpse in the First Paragraph
If you confuse the reader in the first paragraph, it will lead to a poor bounce rate, and users will leave the page as early as they can. Nowadays, people are looking for straightforward ways to find solutions.
Provide a glimpse or hint to the user that makes to understand that you really provide an effective solution in the guide or video. Start with normal and communication tone feel like you are just taking with reader.
5- Add Headings
Outlines are effective and helpful for users and search engines to recognize what your content contains. Yes, when you are writing how-to guides, it is important to practice a unique and compelling outline that defines your topic.
Add keywords to your outline or write a catchy outline that grabs users’ attention and makes them want to stay and read. If necessary, add mean headings (H2) and subheadings (H3) or (H4).
6- Write or Brief Step-by-step
As I discussed above, don’t confuse users; provide a simple solution. Sometimes, users understand the writer’s mind through outlines and content structure, so structuring your content is important.
Organize content well and create portions for each stage so that users can easily find their solutions. So, write step by step and first write the steps that are necessary. This will help you write accordingly with less time.
Here is a structure that you can make for your how-to guides:
- Introduction
- Definition (If necessary)
- How to Heading (H2)
- Heading 3
- Instructions with screenshots or images
- Resources or source links of official pages
- Conclusion
- FAQ’s
7- Add Your Expertise
You can make the how-to guide most effective by reflecting on your expertise or case studies. If you have thoroughly researched the topic, you can add your expertise, which builds trust with the user and makes your how-to guide more authentic.
Add specific examples about the topic, and add references to add authenticity. Don’t be over smart just write what you know.
8- Brief with Screen Shots or Video Guide
You know search engines prefer content with authentic data. When you write a how-to guide, you surely have to provide useful data and use that data yourself to write correct information.
For example, if you are writing about how to use an app or website, first use it yourself and take a screenshot of each step. Then, write one step and add a screenshot under the line so that users easily understand.
However, you can also add infographics and how-to videos to provide your users ease to understand and solve trouble shots.
9- Share Your Experience
Some how-to guides are complete guides or cover topics that you have experience with. For example, if you are using a company’s services or products, you can share your experience with users to inform them about products or services in real time.
However, there are other types of how-to guides, like How to Grow a Website’s Organic Audience, where you can share your own website experience, how the strategies you have leveraged, and what strategies remain successful. You can also share experiences with proof after/before to offer an authentic source for users.
10- Offer Personalize Tips
Before you finalize for publishing, review your content yourself and correct any mistakes. However, you can offer your personal tips to your audience on how to get the best solution or how to help them in the best way.
You can offer the tips that you have adopted and find the solution because if you give them the wrong tips, they will become untrusted users. So make sure to offer personalized and effective tips.
Quick Summary
How-to guides are step-by-step instructions about specific topics. When writing them, try to follow best practices and provide authentic and correct information. Keep the guide simple and precise, and stick only to the topic; don’t add additional information.
It is important to research the topic and know all the facts about the steps. Briefly describe the steps stepwise and add screen-short videos and infographics for best practices. Share your personal experience and tips to help users get a quick solution.
FAQ’s
What are the key elements of how-to guides?
How-to guides must include a catchy introduction, step-by-step instructions, screen shorts, user experience, and personalized tips.
Why is how to guide important?
How-to guides provide information on how to do anything properly, like using software, completing profiles, deleting accounts, or anything else. These guides help users learn quickly and do things correctly.
Can I share my personal experience of how to guide?
Yes, if you have personal experience with any company, software, product or activity, you can share it with users to let them know.
What is the difference between How-to guides and complete tutorials?
Tutorials are reviews or complete details about anything that a user might not already know. How-to guides are instructions about any process that a user already knows, and how-to guides provide them with a way to do it correctly.
