“If you can’t explain it simply, you don’t understand it well enough”
-Albert Einstein
Every organization thrives with detailed, up-to-date documentation, but despite the existence of technical writing in every workplace, effective documentation is often an afterthought in the workflow of product development.
When assessing the value to the business, knowledge of the product is every bit as important as the product itself. Information management is the primary directive for a technical writer, and with its many applications, targeted technical writing is critical to the success of any company looking to scale.
What is a Technical Writer?
“A technical writer is a professional information communicator, whose task is to transfer information between two or more parties, through any medium that best facilitates the transfer and comprehension of the information. Technical writers research and create information through a variety of delivery media.” (David Farbey, Technical Writer Career Information)
In many workplaces, when there is a need for documentation, the responsibility usually falls to the person closest to the product – generally the developer. While a developer's writing might safeguard technical accuracy, it does not ensure readability for the intended audience.
Hiring a technical writer provides you with a person fully engaged with creating high-quality, user-friendly documentation that is easily digested.
The role and relevance of a technical writer are far-reaching and more flexible than many may assume. They may assist with the creation of training materials, tooling, visual content, curation, copywriting, maintenance, and more. Below is a non-exhaustive list of projects handled by Cloudwerx Technical Writers.
Project Types
Playbook / Runbook creation & refinement.
Consolidate content in client’s CMS environment.
Templatize, update, & organize SOPs.
New SOP document creation.
Canned Response creation & refinement.
Training video creation.
Documenting & notating large events.
Analyzing documentation to identify trends.
PRD & BRD document editing.
Communication plan development.
Articulate 360 training creation.
Designing custom graphics.
Tech writing is a multimodal endeavor involving collaboration, analytical thinking, user advocacy, and technological proficiency. The goal is to reshape a company’s communication by designing hyper-personalized user experiences while accomplishing essential organizational objectives.
The contribution of a Tech Writer relates directly to employee awareness and can be quantified in a reduction in the time spent on a given task and the amount of IT tickets created.
If you feel your company may be in need of a technical writer, reach out to us today for a free consultation.