Short blog series (part59) How-to guides for non-tech people

Manyanshi Joshi
18 hours ago
2 min read

What makes a good how-to guide for non-tech people

1. Plain language, zero assumptions

Avoid acronyms and buzzwords
If a term must be used, explain it immediately
“A browser (like Chrome or Safari) is the app you use to visit websites.”

2. One goal per guide

Bad: “How to use Google Drive” Good:

“How to upload a file to Google Drive”
“How to share a Google Doc with someone”

Small wins build confidence.

3. Step-by-step, no skipping

Each step should:

Start with an action verb
Do only one thing

Example:

Open your web browser (Chrome, Safari, or Edge).
Go to www.google.com.
Click the Sign in button in the top-right corner.

If you think a step is “obvious,” it probably isn’t.

4. Tell them what they should see

This is huge for non-tech users — it reassures them they’re on the right track.

“You should now see a blue button that says Create.”

If something looks different:

“If you don’t see this, scroll down or look on the left side.”

5. Screenshots > words (when possible)

Circle or highlight what to click
One screenshot per step is ideal
Don’t overload a single image with arrows everywhere

6. Common mistakes section

This reduces panic and support requests.

Example: If something goes wrong:

“If you can’t sign in, double-check your email address for typos.”
“If nothing happens when you click, refresh the page and try again.”

7. Reassuring tone

Non-tech people often feel “bad at this.” The guide should feel friendly, not judgey.

Use:

“Don’t worry if…”
“This is normal.”
“You can’t break anything here.”

Conclusion

How-to guides for non-tech people work best when they are simple, clear, and reassuring. By using plain language, breaking tasks into small steps, and showing users what to expect at each stage, these guides reduce confusion and build confidence. The goal isn’t to teach technology itself, but to help people successfully complete a task without feeling overwhelmed. When guides are written with empathy and patience, non-tech users feel supported, capable, and more willing to try again on their own.

Thanks for reading!!!!