Technical Writing - How to Make Sure the Information in Your Technical Document Fits the Audience

Today as I was driving past the firehouse in myoperate it, and turn it off. But save the
neighborhood, I saw an electric billboard with thedescription and diagram of how Wire A connects
following message lit up on a bright red LCDto Terminal B to the "Installation Manual" because
screen and aimed at the motorists:that's the kind of information an installer, and not
"NEVER PLAY WITH MATCHES!"a user, would love to have.
Who usually plays with matches? A child.As a technical writer you have to serve your
Who is driving past that billboard? Adults.audience well by asking these two important
Would a child ever drive a car? Never.questions before writing anything:
Would a child who is riding in a car (usually in the1) WHY do my end users need this information?
back seat) would ever see and read the sign?What are they hoping to achieve with it?
Perhaps; if he or she knows how to read.2) HOW can I write my technical document so
The way that sign was ill-suited for its audiencethat it will help my end users achieve the goal
reminded me the way some technical documentsthat THEY (and not me) have in mind?
are equally ill-suited for their end-users.Serve your users by finding out what they're
If you have not considered the PERFORMANCEhoping to do with your information. That way
GOAL of your audience, that is, what youryou'll always be on target and continue to be a
audience wants to ACCOMPLISH by reading yourtechnical communicator in high demand.
manual, then you cannot it in a way that will helpP.S. I'm still thinking about that firehouse billboard.
them achieve that goal. It will be effort gone toHow about "DON'T LET YOUR CHILD PLAY
waste.WITH MATCHES"? If you have a better one, let
An example. If you are writing a hardware "Userme know.
Manual," tell them how to turn on the system,