It’s a great way for release notes to be actually helpful. Product release notes to inform about the launch of new features or the latest version of a product. “My approach to tackling release notes I didn’t understand was to ask the developer to make the release note longer, but hopefully making it clearer in the process,” says Anne. At the time Anne joined, the company developers were writing the release notes. It might spring to your mind that you have already done the hard part in developing a complicated product, why invest more time and energy into release notes. Well, we are here to clear your doubts about why release notes matter.

• When drafting release notes or other product documentation, ensure it’s well-organized.
• When a new update of the software is launched, release notes detail what features have been added, what issues have been fixed, and what has been specifically improved by the company.
• — Here, describe all the issues that your new release fixes.
• Do you plan to release a game-changing update redefining the value of your product?

Release notes can also contain test results and information about the test procedure. List of specific actions needed by users or functionality impacted by the changes. A brief overview of the product, feature update, or bug fix. It’s still important to keep your users in the loop with all the information as your product develops and grows so they feel like they know what is happening. Release notes can boost engagement, drive users back to your product, and keep users informed about the progress of your product. Implementing these tips will get you even more user engagement.

Feature spotlight

Headway AppHeadway offers a changelog-as-a-service and a public page to keep the customers informed. It’s just a changelog, so if you want a user feedback board, integrations, and a product roadmap, you must look at its alternatives. This is essential in product development because it helps customers feel more connected with your company and product.

Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Consider using your sales force and account managers to proactively reach out to clients and inform them about major changes you just published. Getting coverage on HackerNoon or some other internet publication is probably enough.

Who should write release notes?

Release notes don’t need to be on every communication channel you have; it’s down to your business to decide where’s best to publish them, as well as how to do so. A survey conducted by James Scott from Google found that 83% of users are actually reading release notes and updates—so keep going with it. In Figma’s in-app launcher, you always have access to the release note section, allowing users to have a self-serve resource at all times and learn as they go. Let’s step backward and examine why release notes exist in the first place. What is the point of telling the user about the details of your new release? The obvious answer is, to get them to use the very things you worked on.

They need to have access to the technical information so they can handle any issues that your revisions, additions, and deprecations may cause the team they support. Changelogs are ideally suited to the back-end of your product or service, as customers seldom need to know about every revision or change an item goes through. Now that we know what release notes are and what they can do, let’s examine changelogs and what they’re all about.

Product Management Newsletters Worth Landing in Your Inbox

But it lacks feedback boards and integrations like Intercom, with release notes. Lastly, inform your roadmap with the most critical feedback, and let your customers know what’s new with release notes. Release Notes can also generate excitement and interest in an upcoming product release. They are a way to show the customer how your product is constantly improving and staying up-to-date with their needs.

A good example here is ClickHelp which has a dedicated release notes page. Each release has its own menu to segment changes by category. A release note is an ongoing instructions manual that guides the user on how to get the most out of a new product or product update.

Final thoughts on release notes (and a checklist!) #

Offer a CTA to compare a release note with previous release notes to communicate the full magnitude of your improvement. Don’t overload your release notes with text that readers will just skim through and not get any real value out of. Make sure that the point of the update is clear with visual elements that catch attention. Anne’s overall advice when it comes to release notes and style guides is to adapt whatever you write to the environment you’re working in.

Without reading further, you can tell what they’re trying to introduce by referencing the image. If you’re unsure of how to achieve this, get help from a copywriter. They’ll gladly help you find the right tone and write in your brand voice. Remember way back in the old days when you’d download software on your desktop PC or need to have to put a CD in? You’d have a file with all the instructions and notes, sometimes coming in the form of a booklet. Quick-Start Videos Learn the ropes of Chameleon with short videos Help Centre Advice and answers from the Chameleon team Chameleon 101 New New to Chameleon?

The art of saying “no” as a product manager

At Whatfix, we display our release notes on a subdomain and use an accordion-style navigation menu on the left side of the page to make it easy for users to learn about our updates. We also liberally use screenshots and GIFs to pique user interest and to go into more detail about our updates without taking up a lot of room on the page. For ease of navigation, it has a tab on top for announcements and another for its roadmaps.

To put it plainly, release notes matter to create clout around your product or upgrades. My philosophy is that you should also create internal release notes for your internal stakeholders. You should also create what is release note a release notes feed that website visitors can scroll through to read all of the recent announcements. Frill allows you to add this to your website, and this feed can also be pulled into your widget.

Teamwork

The reader should tell which product in the release is updated. Release notes pave the way for building trust and confidence in your product or service. The bare bones https://globalcloudteam.com/ format doesn’t have to apply to all changelogs, however. While they do include developer-speak, some make an effort to recognize that those developers are humans, too.