Brandon Coppernoll Web content management, internet marketing and social media in Indiana

Do you read the “User Manual?”

On any given day I'm sure that many of you in a service or product-based industry have run into daily questions and concerns about something you provide that could be solved only with a few moments reading the help documentation you sent. I'm a victim of this and sometimes the villain as well when I'm trying to work with something I am unfamiliar with and want answers right away.

In this day in age I find it surprising how many people never even look at the help or user manuals that product providers send with their goods. It's almost staggering. Any time I am diving into a new development tool or CMS platform I try to read as much information as possible to get better acquainted before I start pushing buttons and trying things. On a personal level I always look at the user manual when I buy a new video game. I like to have an idea what I'm getting myself into before I am blown away by some polygonal-based villain.

So my question is how often do you refer to the manual? Do you look at it before you start using the product or service? Do you use it only when something is not working right? Do you only look at it to give someone a call or shoot them an email detailing your struggles?

The other side of the question is how often after you discuss with someone at the company that provided the manual have you found the answer was in the manual itself? I am very curious about this. It's really not meant to be a rant even though I guess it came out this way. Are any self-starters out there?

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