What should release notes include

Here's a non-comprehensive list of terms that will likely confuse the average B2B user and that you're better off avoiding if possible:. Release notes should be a brief summary of the change. When necessary, link to additional details. If an image or video will help explain a change, include them in the release notes or link to an additional piece of content such as an article in your help center.

But balance this with keeping things easy to understand and not too cheeky. That way the reader can quickly focus on the areas that interest them the most.

Be clear in your release notes which plans and play types may be impacted by a particular change or improvement. Anticipate what your customers might be thinking to ask you next. If you changed something, explain how it was before the change. If you released a new feature, walk through how to access and enable the feature. If you fixed a bug, ensure you include which version s the bug impacted. A template can ensure your release notes are consistent and include all of the necessary bits of information.

It can be a simple checklist such as:. Remember, a release communication strategy is all about your customers. Struggling to keep your teams in sync ahead of big releases? Spending half your day answering the same questions about what's shipping when? Hearing about new features from your users? LaunchNotes can help. Begin a free 7-day trial today to see why companies like Atlassian, Loom, and Twilio trust LaunchNotes to keep their teams aligned with upcoming releases and their users ahead of product change.

Jake Bartlett January 12, Focus on the value to the customer. Include images, videos, gifs, and links to additional information. Inject your brand's tone of voice. Release notes explain new features added, issues resolved, and improvements in a product or software by the company. This document also supports the process of maintaining end-user experience, user guides, and training materials.

Release notes are an important way of communicating updates made to a platform to the end-user and internal team.

Release notes also act as a direct line of communication with your power users and loyal customers. Add the title of the new release. This may be just the version number or a specific name given to the update. Make it short and catchy and try to name it something that conveys what the update is about. The reader should clearly know which product is being updated in the release.

Add details about the credentials for the release version. What can they expect from the new release? How will it impact the current product and its users? Mention the Date that when the new version will be available to the general public. If there is a beta version coming out, mention when it will be available and who will eligible for beta testing.

Include the new features that were added during this release. Be descriptive and add media like images and videos of the new features to substantiate the text. The readers should really get an understanding of what the new features are so that they get excited to download the new release! Include any enhancements and improvements made from the previous version.

This is the most important part as this section gives the readers incentive to update to the new version. Include any resource manuals, videos, etc. To create release notes, you need a proficient tool that can make the process of documentation more efficient. This is where Bit comes in!

Bit serves as a central hub where collaborators, content, and knowledge can be accessed in one all-inclusive document. Technical writers can use Bit to create release notes, collaborate with their team in real-time, and store all assets in one place for easy and fast access.

This tool provides a common workplace for technical teams to collaborate, document, track and share their knowledge, brainstorm ideas, store digital assets, and innovate together.

Various team use Bit to create release notes document, UX research plan, API documentation, roadmap, project charter , product requirements, pitch decks, business plan, SWOT analysis, competitive research, etc. Simple, Clean UI: Bit has a minimal design aesthetic to it, allowing a newbie to quickly get on board with the platform. Even though the platform is feature-rich, it does a great job as to not overwhelm a new user and provides a systematic approach to work.

The one factor that makes release notes documentation so important is the fact that they help people use your software product to its full potential.

Make your current users aware of your last developments, give updates on most-known bugs, and turn your existing users into champions. Everyone should be able to use your software just the way it was designed.

Release notes are incredibly beneficial to the software development and launch process because they:. This opportunity is key and you should be taking full advantage of it. It allows you to send them additional information as it comes up, as well as nurturing your hopefully long-term customer relationships. Release notes can be used to share information with your customers, rather than them having to contact you through other means. This is beneficial to both your company and your customers.

Especially when any issues or bugs arise, release notes give you the ability to explain yourself after the fact. Basically, they help prevent your customers from feeling like they're in the dark. They give you the opportunity to explain what fixes and features are being released and worked on.

They also give customers the impression that their voices are being heard and that your company is invested in delivering an excellent product. Excellent release notes are a massively untapped resource. At the end of the day, it looks a lot more professional if your new software goes along with clear, comprehensive, and aesthetically appealing release notes.

Release notes are often overlooked and thrown together as afterthoughts. That's why we want you to care about it.