Craft Effective Wix Ecommerce Client Guides

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you'll be able to:

• Create clear, user-friendly documentation for eCommerce clients
• Structure step-by-step guides for common store management tasks
• Use multimedia tools like screenshots and videos to improve guide clarity
• Write in plain language for clients with varying technical skills

Introduction

Handing over a Wix eCommerce store means more than just delivering a finished website. Your clients need to know how to manage their online business day-to-day. This chapter covers how to create documentation that actually helps clients succeed.

Good client guides reduce support calls and give your clients confidence to run their store independently. You'll learn how to document essential processes like adding products, managing orders, and setting up promotions in a way that makes sense to beginners.

Lessons

Lesson 1: Structuring Your Documentation

Start with the tasks your clients will do most often. Here's how to organise your guides effectively:

Step 1: List the essential tasks your client needs to know
Focus on daily operations like adding products, processing orders, updating inventory, and managing customer enquiries.

Step 2: Break each task into clear steps
Write each action as a single step. Avoid combining multiple actions into one instruction.

Step 3: Arrange steps in logical order
Follow the natural flow of the task. Start where the client starts and end with the completed action.

Use clear headings for each section. Group related tasks together, such as "Managing Products" or "Order Processing".

This is the bit most people miss: test your instructions by following them exactly as written. If you get stuck, your client will too.

Lesson 2: Using Screenshots and Videos

Visual guides work better than text-only instructions. Here's how to add them effectively:

Step 1: Take screenshots of each major step
Capture what the client will see on their screen. Include enough context so they can orientate themselves.

Step 2: Record short videos for complex processes
Keep videos under 3 minutes. Show the complete process from start to finish without interruption.

Step 3: Place visuals right after the relevant text
Don't make clients scroll up and down to match instructions with images.

Keep screenshots current. Wix updates its interface regularly, so outdated images confuse clients more than they help.

Tools like Snagit or even your operating system's built-in screenshot tools work well for capturing clear images.

Lesson 3: Writing in Plain Language

Your clients aren't web designers. Write for people who just want to run their business:

Step 1: Use simple, direct sentences
Replace "Navigate to the product management interface" with "Go to your products page".

Step 2: Write in active voice
Say "Click the Add Product button" rather than "The Add Product button should be clicked".

Step 3: Include real examples
Instead of "Enter product details", write "Type your product name, like 'Red Cotton T-Shirt'".

Read your instructions aloud. If they sound awkward or confusing when spoken, rewrite them.

Get someone outside your industry to read through your guides. They'll spot jargon and unclear instructions you've missed.

Practice

Create a short guide for adding a new product to a Wix store. Include:

• At least one screenshot showing where to find the Add Product button
• Step-by-step instructions in plain language
• A real example of product information being entered

Test your guide by asking someone unfamiliar with Wix to follow it.

FAQs

How do I keep screenshots current when Wix updates its interface?
Set a reminder to review your documentation every three months. Update screenshots when you notice interface changes during client support calls.

What's the best format for client documentation?
PDF guides work well for comprehensive handover documents. For ongoing reference, consider a simple website or shared document that you can update easily.

Should I include troubleshooting sections in my guides?
Yes, but keep them brief. Cover the most common issues you've encountered during previous handovers.

Jargon Buster

Wix: A website builder platform that lets users create websites and online stores without coding

Client documentation: Written guides and instructions that help clients manage their website independently

Plain language: Clear, straightforward writing that avoids unnecessary jargon and complex terms

Handover: The process of transferring a completed website project to the client along with training materials

Wrap-up

Effective client documentation transforms your handover process. Clear guides reduce support requests and help clients feel confident about managing their store.

Focus on the tasks clients do regularly, use visual aids to support your instructions, and write in language that makes sense to business owners, not web developers.

Your next step is putting these techniques into practice. Start with one common task like adding products, create a guide following these principles, and test it with a real client.

Ready to create documentation that actually helps your clients succeed? Join Pixelhaze Academy for more practical web design business skills: https://www.pixelhaze.academy/membership