A reference & guide is a document that helps people understand and use a product. It provides an overview of its main features and how to use them. The information is designed to be easily digestible and to facilitate user retention. This type of documentation can be used to train employees, teach new customers, or even serve as a quick reference for users. However, creating an effective guide takes time and resources. Therefore, it is important to get the guide right the first time around.

In addition to being a tool for educating customers and workers, a reference & guide is also a reflection of a company’s brand. Often, it will contain information about how the company treats its employees. Creating an effective guide can help to improve customer retention, promote employee efficiency, and provide an overall good experience for all parties involved.

Regardless of whether you are creating a quick reference guide, an employee handbook, or a training manual, the most important thing is to make sure the text is clear. There are software tools that can help you create a user-friendly document. These tools offer various object styles, allowing you to include icons, photos, and video. You can also add a table of contents.

Quick-reference guides are short documents that contain the most useful information. They are typically one to two pages in length and are meant to highlight key aspects of a product or feature. They are not meant to replace a complete user manual, though some do. They are usually designed to simplify the complicated information of a product or software application.

To create an effective quick-reference guide, you need to know what kind of information your audience wants. For example, you can choose a font that is easy to read, include screenshots or images that will help with comprehension, and include a table of contents.

Unlike a standard user manual, a quick-reference guide should be concise. Avoid big blocks of text. Choose an easy-to-read font, such as Sans Serif, or use a color scheme that will enhance the reader’s perception. Make sure you include a table of contents, or use self-adhesive tabs to indicate which sections need more attention.

Quick-reference guides are a great way to introduce employees to new features and functionality. They can be helpful in transitioning between different software applications, and they can also help to educate users about the UX of a product. While the most useful guides will cover the basics, some are going to need more detail.

One of the most common types of quick-reference guides is a procedural guide, which provides step-by-step instructions to how to use a product. This type of document can be particularly useful for non-technical individuals. If you want to make your manual more searchable, you may consider adding a list of commands for readers to follow.

Another helpful feature of Microsoft Word is the ability to add graphics and link them to other objects. You can add a QR code or a link to a staff portal to share digital work instructions.