·3 min read
MVP Documentation for Users
Good docs reduce support load and help users succeed. Here is the minimum viable documentation.
MVP Documentation Essentials
- •Getting started guide: First 5 minutes
- •Core feature walkthrough: How to use the main thing
- •FAQ: Top 10 questions
- •Troubleshooting: Common problems and fixes
- •Contact: How to get help
Documentation Tools
| Tool | Cost | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Notion | Free | Quick start, simple docs |
| GitBook | Free tier | Developer-focused products |
| Mintlify | Free tier | Beautiful API docs |
| ReadMe | Free tier | API documentation |
| Built-in help | Dev time | In-app contextual help |
Writing Good Docs
- •Write for beginners, even if you have advanced users
- •Use screenshots liberally
- •Keep paragraphs short
- •Start with what, then why, then how
- •Test with someone unfamiliar with your product
What to Document First
- •Look at support tickets: document the top 5 questions
- •Watch user sessions: document confusion points
- •Document your onboarding flow step by step
- •Create a page for each core feature
Keeping Docs Updated
- •Update docs when you ship features
- •Review quarterly for accuracy
- •Add links to docs in support replies
- •Track which docs are most viewed
Documentation that exists beats perfect documentation that you never write. Start simple.