What they are
Detailed guides tell users the steps they need to take to complete a clearly defined task.
Use this format for content that is regularly updated, for example if the process to complete a task changes.
A detailed guide:
- usually answers a specific, task-orientated user need
- addresses professionals and practitioners
- is something government has a duty to provide
- is written and updated by agencies and departments themselves
NB guidance for mainstream audiences (citizens and any general audience) is created by GDS and then fact-checked by the agency.
Examples:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/tick-surveillance-scheme
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/the-uks-exit-from-the-eu-important-information-for-uk-nationals
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/register-your-clients-trust
Why use
- the 'Publication: Guidance' format is for more traditional print publications and requires a PDF/Word/Excel/ODS/ODT or html attachment. It can be too broad and vague, and written like a report or factsheet rather than answering a specific user need. We should try to provide HTML content in a detailed guide about a specific task.
- detailed guides don’t require a publication attachment – they’re dynamic
- easy to update in Whitehall Publisher – no additional publishing requirements
- accessible – meet our legal requirements for providing accessible content
- good for SEO - detailed guides have a prominent place in the GOV.UK architecture
When to use
- To explain a task
- To incorporate internal and external links to web pages and collections
- To include links to video and other media
- To include images/infographics
What NOT to include:
Information about the history of the guidance, the reasons for it or the policy objectives, should not be included.
If your content does not fit the criteria, you will find that it is most likely:
- a policy paper
- a document collection
How to create
Titles
Do:
- make titles active (for example, ‘Submit Statutory Declarations’ not ‘Using and submitting Statutory Declarations’
NB PHE has some detailed guides called ‘psittacosis’ and ‘chlamydia abortus’ which don’t tell users who they’re for and what exactly they’re about – these need fixing.
- use a colon as a separator, if you need one (for example, ‘Breast screening: education and training’ or Brucella: laboratory and clinical services)
If the guide does not involve a direct action and is information-led:
- front-load the title with the most popular search terms
- make sure the title provides a full context (use ‘potato growers: guidance’, not ‘potatoes’)
If there are a number of guides with a repeated phrase in the title (for example, Manufactured goods: automotive, Manufactured goods: electronic), change it so the most important information or phrase comes first, like ‘Automotive sector: import and export regulations’ or ‘Chemical sector: import and export regulations’.
Summary
Use the summary to explain the point of the guide, what it will help users do or understand, and who it’s for. Remember:
- you can use ‘An introduction to…’ if it’s an introduction (for example, the guide is short and links to other sources for the main information)
- using ‘How to xxx’ and ‘Find out xxx’ etc is good
Example:
Title: Organic produce: how to become an importer
Summary: Find out which organic products can be imported into the UK, how to register as an importer and how to get import authorisation.
Structure
Do:
- make section titles active (so, ‘Apply for a licence’ not ‘Applying for a licence’)
Do not use:
- technical terms in section titles unless unavoidable - and then only if you’ve already explained them
- ‘introduction’ as your first section – users do not want an introduction, they want the most important information
- questions in section titles
- FAQs - you will not need them if your content is concise, well structured and written in plain English
- ‘we’ - users can arrive at your page from anywhere, so ‘we’ may not be clear to them
Further reading
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/content-design/content-types
https://insidegovuk.blog.gov.uk/2014/01/07/detailed-guides-when-and-how-to-use-them/