Today, I want to tell you about hot technical writing trends for 2020. So, you’ll be prepared for the new technical writing year. Let’s get started!
Cloud Help Authoring
Nowadays, there are many remote technical writing vacancies available. Ordinary word processors are not enough for such positions — it’s just uncomfortable to send your document via email, and just imagine if your document is lengthy, the formatting of your document can be damaged on another PC. That’s why using a cloud help authoring tool is a hot trend. It allows you to write documentation from anywhere — all projects and changes are saved on servers. You will not have to worry about whether your document was reviewed or not. You and your team members can work in one online portal, so nothing will be missed.
Full-text search
Full-text search refers to techniques for searching a single computer-stored document. Full-text search is distinguished from searches based on metadata or on parts of the original texts represented in databases (such as titles, selected sections, bibliographical references or abstracts).In a full-text search, a search engine examines all of the words in every stored document as it tries to match search criteria (for example, text specified by a user).
Full-text search is useful for users and technical writers, as well. If your document is long, full-text search will save time for your tech writers on searching for a necessary topic. From the users point of view, thanks to full-text search, they can find the necessary doc part, so users don’t have to read the whole topic.
Mobile Optimization
Smartphones become the number one devise:
- In January 2019, 4.4 billion people were active internet users and 3.5 billion were social media users.
- More than half of all video streaming comes from a mobile device.
- In the US, consumers spent 90% of their mobile time on apps.
- Mobile internet has grown 504% in daily media consumption since 2011.
I think these points should inspire you to create your documentation available on any device in order not to lose users.
Use Technical Writing as a Marketing Tool
Yes, your documentation can be your marketing tool, again, thanks to online help authoring tools. As your documentation is created online and published publicly, your document can be indexed by search engines like Google, if this integration is available in your tool: ‘Technical Writing as a Marketing Tool’.
