How to write a product update
Lead with what changed for the user, not what you built. A good update says what’s new, why it matters, how it works if that isn’t obvious, and what the reader needs to do, if anything. Small updates run 50 to 150 words.
Last updated October 5, 2026
By Christopher Vigneron, who has spent more than 20 years as a teacher, editor, copywriter, and content designer.
At a glance
- Purpose
- Tell users what changed, why it matters, what they can now do, and whether they need to act.
- Typical length
- 50 to 150 words for a small update, 150 to 400 for a medium one. Major releases can run longer when the length is justified.
- Structure
- What’s new, what changed, why it matters, what to do
The ruleDon’t tell users what you built. Tell them what changed for them.
How to structure it
- 1What’s new
- 2What changed
- 3Why it matters
- 4How it works (if needed)
- 5What you need to do (if anything)
Style and formatting
- Lead with the benefit to the user.
- Write for your audience, not for developers, unless developers are the audience.
- Use official product names consistently.
- Skip unnecessary technical detail.
- Skip exclamation marks.
- Make any required action impossible to miss.
A template to start from
Include the optional steps only when the update needs them.
- 1
What’s new
One sentence on the change, in the user’s terms.
- 2
What changed
What is different from before.
- 3
Why it matters
The benefit to the user.
- 4
How it works (if needed)
Two or three steps, only if the change isn’t obvious.
- 5
What you need to do (if anything)
The one action, or say plainly that nothing is required.
A weak version and a stronger one
“We’re excited to announce that we’ve made significant improvements to our platform to provide an enhanced experience for our users.”
“Onboarding just got shorter. You can now skip setup steps you don’t need yet and finish them later.”
An illustration of the difference, not a real company’s update.
Common mistakes
- Writing a product update like a press release.
- Describing the build instead of the benefit.
- Calling the same feature by three different names.
- Hiding the one thing the reader has to do.
A checklist before you publish
- It leads with the benefit to the user.
- It says what changed, not what was built.
- It’s written for the audience, not for developers.
- Product names are used consistently.
- There are no exclamation marks and no press-release language.
- Any required action is clear and easy to find.
- It stops when the point is made.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a product update be?
A small update runs about 50 to 150 words, and a medium one 150 to 400. Major releases can run longer when the length is justified. Say what changed and why it matters, then stop.
What should a product update include?
What’s new, what changed, and why it matters. Add how it works if the change isn’t obvious, and what the reader needs to do if any action is required. Make any required action impossible to miss.
Who should a product update be written for?
Your audience, not your developers, unless developers are your audience. Describe the change in terms of what the reader can now do.
Should a product update sound like a press release?
No. Skip the announcement language and the exclamation marks. Say plainly what changed for the user, and use your official product names consistently.
How much technical detail should I include?
Only what the reader needs. Unnecessary technical detail buries the benefit. If some readers want more, link to a fuller explanation instead of putting everything in the update itself.
What Levragd looks for
Levragd’s quality check reviews every draft against 21 criteria. For this format, these matter most:
- Usefulness
- Clarity
- Terminology
- Unsupported claims
- CTA quality
These are guidelines, not rigid limits. A piece that lands slightly outside a range isn’t wrong if it works for its audience, purpose, and format. See how Levragd works or the rules for all eight formats.
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