How to Write Release Notes That Users Actually Read

Release notes are often treated as an afterthought, hastily written minutes before shipping. But they're actually a golden opportunity to engage users, drive feature adoption, and show your product's value. Here's how to write release notes that people will actually read.

The Problem with Most Release Notes

Let's be honest: most release notes are boring. They're filled with technical jargon, vague descriptions, and don't explain why users should care. Here's a real example (anonymized):

"Updated authentication flow to use OAuth 2.0 with PKCE extension"

Who is this for? Certainly not the average user. And definitely not exciting.

The Golden Rules of Great Release Notes

1. Write for Humans, Not Developers

Your users don't care about your tech stack. They care about what changed in their experience.

Before: "Refactored database queries to reduce N+1 problems"

After: "Pages now load 3x faster, especially when you have lots of data"

2. Focus on Benefits, Not Features

Don't just say what you built—explain why it matters.

Before: "Added keyboard shortcuts"

After: "Work faster with new keyboard shortcuts: Press 'N' to create a new post in seconds"

3. Use Action-Oriented Language

Make users feel empowered and excited.

Weak: "Dark mode is now available"

Strong: "Switch to dark mode for a comfortable viewing experience in low-light environments"

4. Show, Don't Just Tell

A picture is worth a thousand words. Include:

• Screenshots of new features
• GIFs showing interactions
• Short videos for complex changes
• Before/after comparisons

5. Structure for Scannability

People skim. Make it easy:

• Use clear headings
• Break into categories (New, Improved, Fixed)
• Use bullet points
• Highlight the most important changes
• Keep paragraphs short

The Perfect Release Note Structure

Here's a template that works:

1. Compelling Headline

Start with a clear, benefit-driven title.

Example: "Collaborate Better: Real-time Editing Now Live"

2. The Hook

Open with why this matters in 1-2 sentences.

Example: "Work with your team simultaneously in the same document. See changes appear in real-time and never worry about conflicting edits again."

3. What Changed

Clearly explain the change in simple terms.

Example: "Multiple team members can now edit the same changelog entry at the same time. You'll see their cursors and edits as they type, just like Google Docs."

4. How to Use It

Give users actionable next steps.

Example: "Try it out: Invite a teammate to edit a changelog entry with you. Open any draft and you'll automatically see who else is viewing or editing."

5. Visual Proof

Include a screenshot or GIF.

Category-Based Organization

Organize your changes into clear categories:

✨ New Features

Major new capabilities that users should know about.

Example:

✨ Custom Domains

Host your changelog on your own domain (like updates.yourcompany.com) with automatic SSL certificates. Perfect for maintaining brand consistency.

🎨 Improvements

Enhancements to existing features.

Example:

🎨 Faster Search

Find past updates instantly with our rebuilt search. Results now appear as you type, and you can filter by date range or tags.

🐛 Bug Fixes

Yes, users care about bug fixes—when you frame them right.

Example:

🐛 Fixed Image Upload Issues

Large images (over 5MB) now upload reliably. We also added a progress bar so you know exactly what's happening.

Tone and Voice Guidelines

Be Conversational

Write like you're talking to a friend.

Formal: "We have implemented a new notification system"

Conversational: "You'll now get notified when someone comments on your changelog"

Be Enthusiastic (But Authentic)

Show excitement, but don't oversell.

Too Much: "🚀 AMAZING REVOLUTIONARY FEATURE!!! 🎉🎊"

Just Right: "We're excited to launch real-time collaboration—a feature you've been requesting for months"

Be Honest About Problems

If you're fixing a significant issue, acknowledge it.

Example:

"Fixed a bug that caused notifications to be delayed by up to an hour. We know reliable notifications are critical for your workflow, and we apologize for the frustration this caused."

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Using Jargon

Bad: "Implemented GraphQL subscriptions for real-time data synchronization"

Good: "Changes now appear instantly without refreshing the page"

2. Being Vague

Bad: "Various improvements and bug fixes"

Good: List specific improvements, or at least categorize them meaningfully

3. Forgetting Mobile Users

If you have a mobile app, call out mobile-specific changes.

Example: "Mobile: Added swipe gestures to quickly navigate between changelog entries"

4. No Call-to-Action

End with a clear next step.

Example: "Try the new editor by creating a changelog entry today →"

Examples of Excellent Release Notes

Example 1: Feature Launch

🎨 Introducing: Beautiful Changelog Themes

Make your changelog truly yours with customizable themes. Choose from 10 professionally designed color schemes, or create your own with our theme editor.

What you can customize:

• Primary and accent colors
• Typography and font pairings
• Layout styles (compact, spacious, or magazine)
• Dark mode settings

Get started: Go to Settings → Appearance to try it out

[See an example →]

Example 2: Improvement

⚡ Search Just Got Smarter

Our search now understands what you're looking for, even if you don't use the exact words.

Try searching for "bugs" and you'll also find entries tagged with "fixes" or "issues." We've also improved search speed by 10x—results appear instantly as you type.

Example 3: Bug Fix

🔧 Fixed: Email Notifications

We fixed a bug that prevented some users from receiving email notifications. If you missed updates in the past week, check your changelog for any you may have missed.

Notifications are working perfectly now, and we've added a test notification feature so you can verify they're working for you.

Tools and Resources

Writing Tools

• Hemingway Editor - Makes your writing clearer and more concise
• Grammarly - Catches grammar and tone issues
• Readable - Checks reading level and complexity

Inspiration

• Study changelogs from Linear, Notion, Figma, and Stripe
• Save great examples you come across
• A/B test different writing styles with your users

Measuring Effectiveness

Track these metrics to improve your release notes:

1. Read rate - What percentage of users view release notes?
2. Time on page - Are people actually reading or just glancing?
3. Click-through rate - Do users try new features after reading about them?
4. Support tickets - Fewer "how do I..." questions means better communication
5. User feedback - Ask users if your release notes are helpful

Conclusion

Great release notes are an art form that combines clear writing, user empathy, and strategic communication. They're not just documentation—they're a marketing channel, a support tool, and a way to show users you care about their experience.

Start applying these principles to your next release, and watch your user engagement improve.

---