Welcome to Helpful Words – your gateway to exceptional technical authoring, project management, and business analyst services.
At Helpful Words we understand the critical role that clear and concise documentation plays in the success of any technical project.
Challenges our clients have faced with their documentation
No dedicated author or style guide
One client explained that their documentation had no ‘voice’ and different documents even looked different as documents were being written by different individuals with differing styles, and often using different templates.
We can give your documentation a voice that resonates with its readers and reflects your company’s brand and values.
As well as writing your documentation for you, Rob can create a writing style guide for your organisation or team.
What is a writing style guide?
This is a guide to writing different types of documents.
It contains tips and examples on how to structure information and the way to converse with the reader within your documentation outputs.
We can even include review checklists and example sign-off templates so that everyone involved in the production of your documentation – from product owners, author, and reviewers know precisely what they need to do in order to provide the best documentation for the user.
When used alongside your brand guidelines, a writing style guide can be a powerful tool that ensures your documentation is written in a user-centric way, and when linked to your latest templates, goes some way to ensuring your documentation looks, feels, and works for its intended users.
Lack of a robust documentation process
Does it feel like there is a lack of control over what is included in the documentation and how long it takes to write, review, package, and release?
Do you struggle to get your user Help topics written and ready for release at the same time as your product releases along with all the other release artefacts?
One client told us that they simply document what is in the release and have no time for improvements or to properly review everything before it is released, and have even started to document changes that have been dropped from a release.
You are not helping yourself or your users if you ship incorrect documentation, and give yourself no room to make improvements to the information you have, or fix any errors that have crept into the documentation.
We have developed documentation processes that dove-tail to your development approach (whether waterfall or one of the many agile approaches).
For one client we looked at their development schedules and were able to:
- Construct a documentation backlog bringing in previously silo’d information from other teams (support and training).
- Develop an authoring approach that mirrored the development schedule.
- Gave time in the authoring process to fully review – topic authoring tailored to the user needs and availability of SMEs to support the authoring and review cycle.
Suitable tools and formats
This is quite a common issue facing organisations – especially established organisations with lots of documentation.
Remember the good old days when our user information was a printed booklet, a paper manual or a .chm file?
The lack of choice made the decision about delivery formats easy.
Now we have websites, portals, Web-based help, Wikis, chat-bots and all manner of wonderful ways to get our message across, and that’s before we even get into the social media platforms available to us.
We can look across your communication and user assistance channels, advise on the best to suit your organisation’s needs, and help you get there effectively and efficiently.
Whether you’re a cutting-edge tech startup, an established enterprise, or an individual innovator, our team is dedicated to transforming complex concepts into accessible and engaging content.
Some of your initial questions answered
What sets us apart
- Customised solutions
No two projects are alike, and we recognise the importance of tailoring our services to meet your unique requirements. From user manuals and API documentation to Standard Operating Procedures and training materials, we’ve got you covered.
Rob is happy to visit your site or work fully remotely from his office in Nottinghamshire (Sheffield is our closest city). - Expertise across industries
Rob is a seasoned technical writer and business analyst with diverse industry experience, ensuring that we can cater to the specific needs of your field, be it software development, engineering, healthcare, or any other technical domain. - Collaborative approach
We believe in collaboration. Rob works closely with your in-house subject matter experts to ensure accuracy and relevance in every document we produce. Your insights combined with our writing prowess create a powerful synergy for effective communication. - Adherence to industry standards
Our commitment to excellence extends to adhering to industry standards and best practices. Your documentation will not only meet but exceed expectations, providing a solid foundation for your users. - Scalability and timeliness
Whether you’re a startup experiencing rapid growth or an enterprise managing a large-scale project, we have the scalability to accommodate your needs. Our efficient workflows and commitment to deadlines ensure that your documentation is delivered on time, every time.
Why choose Helpful Words?
- Quality Assurance
Rigorous quality checks at every stage of the documentation process to ensure precision and clarity. - Client-Centric Approach
Your satisfaction is our priority. We work closely with you to understand your needs and deliver solutions that exceed expectations. - Innovation in Communication
We believe in making technical information not just understandable but engaging, ensuring that your audience stays informed and interested.
Meet the team
The Managing Director and chief scribe – Rob
With a degree in Technical Communications and over 20 years of experience as a technical author, business analyst, and project manager, Rob brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the project.
He has worked for banks, software houses, and public & private sector organisations in the UK, the Middle East, and America.
When not creating user assistance, technical documentation, and e-learning systems, or developing and improving business processes, he likes to spend his spare time outdoors, with mountain biking and walking being among his passions.
Check out some of his certificates (The name is Bertie as Rob asked someone to set up his account for him!):
The prodigy: Alfie
Meet Alfie, our young prodigy who defies conventional expectations by seamlessly blending the worlds of academia and technology.
Currently enrolled in Thomas Rotherham college, Alfie is pursuing courses in Economics, Business Studies and IT, a testament to his commitment to mastering the intricacies of the digital landscape and combining those technical skills with a sharp business brain.
Alfie supports Rob by maintaining the security of this website, provides some business support, and has also started his own web design and social media management company: 3 Amigos Designs.
The rest of the team
We dip into a pool of contractors that we call upon when needed. These contractors are experts in various fields, such as:
- Technical Authoring
- Instructional Design
- E-learning design and development
- Business Analysis
- Project Management
The advantage of having a pool of contractors is the flexibility it gives us as we work towards meeting your specific needs.
