The Internet is a great way to learn to do things. There is a large audience of people who are interested in learning things on the Internet, so a great way to receive visits and expose yourself to people from all over the world is by writing tutorials. These should be specific, concrete and clear, and if you follow these steps, you could become an internet celebrity.
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Choosing a topic to write about
Step 1. Find a problem that you can fix
It is likely that, if something interests you or you want to learn how to do it, there is another person who also thinks the same. Brainstorm interesting topics that you could write about.
Step 2. Research existing tutorials.
If you really want people to read your tutorial, it's best to choose a topic that isn't often written about. You can search for tutorials that already exist online so you know what your competition will be.
Step 3. Narrow the scope of the topic
Too broad a topic will make it difficult to cover everything that is important. In many cases, people lose interest when they have to deal with material irrelevant to their interests. If your topic is broad, you should consider how you can define it more narrowly.
For example, you could write a tutorial on how to insert spaces between chapters in a Word document instead of writing one on how to use Microsoft Word
Part 2 of 4: Perfecting Your Style
Step 1. Keep it short and simple
Avoid using big words or dwelling on irrelevant issues. You have to be careful that the reader can skim the tutorial quickly and grasp the meaning.
For example, when writing a tutorial on how to clean a stain, simply say "Apply dishwasher detergent to the cloth" without giving the chemical name of the detergent type or including a list of other detergents and the reasons why they don't work as well.
Step 2. Describe each of the steps well
Don't skimp on the details, but rather describe each step as clearly and precisely as possible, leaving nothing to the imagination.
Step 3. Write the instructions in a friendly tone
Imagine that you are chatting with a friend. You should not sound like you are speaking to the reader in a patronizing way or as if you consider yourself to be smarter than him. The writing should look natural, like what you would say out loud if you were talking to someone.
Instead of saying something like "List both analytical and thematic observations in adjacent chunks of text," you can write "Write helpful notes in the margin."
Step 4. Give credit to your sources
In some cases, the material you use in the tutorial may be copyrighted. If you use images, information or other materials that come from other sources, you will need to give them credit. If you don't, you could be violating copyright laws, not to mention the ethical implications of taking credit for someone else's work, images, or ideas.
Step 5. Include images or videos
If you include images or videos showing what you are doing, your instructions will be much easier to follow. Screenshots often make good illustrations. You should try to have one at each step.
- You can take screenshots by pressing "Print Screen" and "Ctrl". Then you can use a photo editing program like Photoshop or Gimp to make the image cleaner. With some programs, you will be able to write more instructions on the image itself, allowing you, for example, to point to a particular button that the reader should press.
- To record a video, you can use a program like Camtasia or an open source one like Camstudio.
- In case you are filming a video tutorial, the audience should see more than just your face. You should also include screenshots, photos, or images of yourself physically performing the task. This will help viewers to conceptualize the process.
Step 6. Provide more than one method
You may want to include a number of ways something can be done so that readers have more options if they have difficulty with a method.
Step 7. Give examples
For less specific topics, it may be important to give examples so that what you say is clearer. However, you should avoid overloading the article with examples so that it is long and bulky.
For example, if you are writing a tutorial on how to introduce yourself to new people, you could provide several examples of specific icebreakers you could say
Step 8. Explain the reasons why the topic is important
A person is more likely to read your tutorial if they know what it will do for them. You should explain in the introduction what are the benefits of learning this skill. For example, if you are explaining a photo processing program, you can tell the reader about some fun things to do with photos.
Step 9. Choose a quiet place to record the video tutorials
In case you are going to carry out a video tutorial, you should be careful to record it in a place where there are not many distractions. Ideally, in a basement that is far away from traffic noise.
Step 10. Speak clearly and slowly
For audio and visual tutorials, it is important not to speak quickly, as it will be easier for viewers to understand you the slower you speak. You must pronounce the words clearly.
Part 3 of 4: Write the tutorial
Step 1. Write the title
It should clearly describe what the tutorial is about, as well as be short and precise.
- Consider the following title: "How to Insert Page Numbers in Microsoft Word." Omitting the words "Microsoft Word" would not be accurate enough, as the reader would not know which program you worked with.
- Consider the following title: "How to Insert Footnotes, Endnotes, References, and Citations in Microsoft Word." Both footnotes and endnotes are types of references, so they can be simply called "references." So if you want the title to be short, you could write "How to insert references in Microsoft Word".
Step 2. Write the introduction
You should write a short paragraph in which you clearly inform the reader of what you are going to write about. You should explain the reasons why the topic will be useful and try to get the reader excited about it.
You may find it useful to put an image of the final product at the end of the introduction. The reader is more likely to be excited about the tutorial if you give them some idea of what they are going to work towards
Step 3. Write the steps
Each of them should be clear and brief, and you should strive for each to have an illustrative image. You should not leave anything to the imagination.
Step 4. Divide the steps that are complicated
In case you consider that a step is too long or complicated, you might wonder if it would not be best to divide it into two steps. It should be possible for you to summarize the essence of each step in a single sentence. It is more advisable that there are many short steps than one long one.
Step 5. Practice what you preach
When finished, try to follow your own tutorial by carrying out each of the steps. Consider whether you need to do anything to finish the project that is not listed in the tutorial, and if so, incorporate that step.
Step 6. Write an FAQ section
This can be a great way to incorporate more information without interrupting the flow of steps. Take into account whether any term or topic that was discussed in the tutorial might not be obvious to all readers and, if so, you could discuss them in the FAQ section.
For example, if the task involves the use of a computer program that the reader may not be familiar with, you could inform them in the FAQ section about where they can download it
Step 7. Follow the same outline for the video tutorials
You need to have a written draft even if you are recording a video tutorial, as improvising is likely to beat you around the bush. You should include a clearly defined introduction and several steps, just like in a written tutorial. You could also include a conclusion that summarizes the issues or explains any questions the audience might have.
Part 4 of 4: Finish the tutorial
Step 1. Consider the audience when reviewing the tutorial
Who is the audience? Is the tutorial aimed at beginners or advanced users? Also think about additional information that might be necessary for your audience to understand the tutorial.
Step 2. Reread and edit the tutorial
Even the best writers have to read something several times in order to catch all the mistakes. You could walk away from the tutorial for a few days and then read it again. In this way, you will review it with new eyes.
- Go through the basics like grammar and spelling, also making sure the tutorial has a logical flow and is easy to understand.
- You could also ask someone else to read the tutorial to see if they can detect typing errors, as well as tell you if something else needs to be added to the tutorial to make it clearer.
Step 3. Publish the tutorial
You could post it on your own website, on wikiHow, or on your blog. If you've made a video tutorial, you could upload it to YouTube.
Step 4. Be sure to check it out
Posting the tutorial does not mean that you are done. When you start getting feedback, it will be clear that there are more ways you can improve the tutorial. You should pay attention to the comments and consider whether it is possible to add something to the tutorial or remove something in a way that addresses the concerns of the readers.