A buyer opens your download, sees a ZIP with twelve files, and has no idea where to start. That moment is where many refund requests and “how do I use this?” emails begin. A short quick-start guide fixes most of it.
It takes about an hour to write, and you can reuse the structure for every product you sell.
What to put in a quick-start guide
Keep it to one or two pages. Your buyer wants to get going, not read a manual. Cover these points in order:
- What’s inside. A short list of every file or folder and what each one is for.
- Where to start. Name the single file to open first.
- What you need. Any software, apps or accounts required — for example, a free PDF reader, Canva or a spreadsheet program.
- How to use it, step by step. Three to six numbered steps from opening the download to getting the first result.
- Printing or editing tips. Paper size, “fit to page” settings, or how to make an editable copy.
- License summary. A plain-language line on what the buyer may and may not do, with a pointer to the full terms.
- How to get help. One support email or contact page.
Write it for someone in a hurry
- Use short sentences and numbered steps.
- Name buttons and menus exactly as they appear on screen.
- Add one or two screenshots for the trickiest step, not for every step.
- Skip the sales pitch — they’ve already bought.
Match the file names
Your guide should use the same names your buyer sees in the download. If the guide says “open the workbook” but the file is called final_v3.pdf, you’ve created confusion. A consistent naming system helps here; see our post on file names and folders for digital product downloads.
Where to put it
- As the first file in the ZIP, with a name like “00-start-here.pdf” so it sorts to the top.
- As the first page of a PDF product, if there’s only one file.
- In the delivery email or the download page, as a short version with the same steps.
If you’re selling PLR or resale rights
Products sold with PLR or resale rights need a little more: say which files are editable source files, which fonts or images are included and under what terms, and where the full license lives. Your buyers will rebrand the product, so tell them clearly what they can change. Our guide to creating a fillable PDF workbook shows one way to package editable materials.
Test it with a fresh pair of eyes
Before you launch, ask someone who has never seen the product to download it and follow only your guide. Watch where they pause. Every pause is a sentence you need to add or rewrite.
Featured image: Photo: StockSnap (CC0)