Why create Help?

What are the benefits of using Help to communicate your message? Why should you consider publishing online? The benefits of Help systems include:

Instant access. Users don't have to hunt for printed materials. As long as they're at the computer, Help is literally at their fingertips.

Increased control. Help puts the reader in charge. The reader determines where to go next and what paths to take, limited only by the ways the author has set up and linked the information. Help encourages exploration and can aid learning.

Decreased costs. You can increase the bottom line by decreasing the paper, printing, production, and distribution (shipping) costs.

Rapid publishing. Help systems offer timely and rapid publication because it eliminates the printed production process. You distribute the product electronically. You can even update the product electronically. If you use the Internet or intranet, you can offer your readers automatic updates. Or you can allow them to download updates at their leisure.

Added features and functionality. You add images, sounds, videos, buttons, automatic page-turners (called browse sequences), and more. Help allows you to take the printed book idea into the next level by taking advantage of electronic design and delivery.

Increased reader base. Publishing online often means reaching more people - especially if you're publishing on the Internet or an intranet. Even if you're distributing your Help on CD-ROM or diskette, it's much quicker and more portable than a book.

Improved support. Help systems are proven to add value to software applications because they integrate the application with the documentation. Help systems provide quick and easy support for users. Help can even anticipate questions by "knowing" the context of where the user is in the application - what screen or where on the screen. You can lower support costs by providing application Help or knowledge-based Help systems.

Related documentation sets. You can combine more than one Help system to deliver a unified set of documentation.

Up-to-date information. You can quickly create and easily maintain shrink-wrapped Help systems for software applications, as well as in-house information systems and online books.