No One Reads Your Release Notes: Here's What They'll Watch Instead
Did you know that almost 70% of release notes remain unread?
Not because the updates aren't important, but because they fail to engage their target audience with their usual long texts.
If you put yourself in the user's shoes, when was the last time that you read the entire release note instead of just reviewing it?
Chances are, it’s been a while. All important updates frequently go unnoticed, putting teams, users, and stakeholders out of sync. Most of the product managers admitted that they were releasing excellent features, but no one seemed to care.
The reason? People do not remember simple facts; instead, they remember stories that create emotion.
In this blog, you will explore why traditional release notes fail, what truly captures attention, and how you can make your updates more impactful and engaging.
The Problem with Traditional Release Note
Traditional release notes frequently fail to generate interest or engagement for users. What is supposed to inform users is eventually ignored, leaving teams frustrated and audiences disengaged. Here's what causes them to fall flat and why the old format is no longer effective.
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Text-heavy, boring, and long: Text-heavy notes are extremely difficult to read. However, instead of highlighting improvements, they bury users in paragraphs that blur what is truly significant.
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Information overload: Listing every minor fix or tweak simply overwhelms readers. If there is no structure or context, the most significant updates are lost in the shuffle.
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Missing the Story, Losing the Connection: Facts are easily forgotten, but stories remain in people's minds and hearts. When release notes omit the why, users miss the point of the updates and fail to recognise the value they bring.
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Timing & delivery issues: Updates frequently arrive too late or through channels that no one checks. Even the best release notes will fail if they do not reach their original users at the appropriate time.
Example: One tech company released a 2,000-word changelog with significant improvements. However, no one read it, as there was no engagement, no reactions, only silence. The problem was the format, not the content.
The takeaway? Traditional release notes may be informative, but they are rarely engaging for the users.
Why Do People Prefer Video & Visual Content
Let's take a fresh look at it: why do videos, even brief ones, always perform better than written communication? It all comes down to how the human brain handles information.
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Cognitive reasons: Our brains process visual information 60,000 times faster than text. A two-minute video can convey the same information as a full-page document, but in a more understandable and memorable format.
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Short attention spans: People now scan before they read, as their average attention span is less than 8 seconds. A narrated visual update conveys meaning instantly.
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Engagement & shareability: Videos are more likely to be shared and discussed. A quick product update video on Slack can spark interaction that plain text never could.
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Real-life analogy: Most of the users will prefer a 2-minute narrated video that highlights what's new over a 500-word Jira note because it's faster and easier to understand and far more engaging.
Short, visual, narrated updates = higher retention.
Teams nowadays want quick "watch-and-understand" information. It's not about adding more words; it's about telling stories that appeal to your users' emotions. That’s where AI-powered videos step in.
Introducing AI-Generated Avatar Videos for Release
Notes
What if your release notes didn't just inform but could also talk with your users?
That's exactly what AI-generated avatar videos achieve. They turn plain text or Jira reports into engaging and human-like video summaries that explain your updates.
An AI avatar video uses synthetic narration and realistic virtual presenters to read out your product updates, similar to a mini news broadcast for your release notes. The tone may be professional, friendly, or brand-specific.
Think of a friendly digital presenter saying:
"In this week's release, we've improved search performance by 25%, added dark mode for greater accessibility, and fixed a few reported bugs."
It's concise, visually appealing, and easy to understand, even for those who aren't on your tech team.
Benefits of Visual Release Notes
The transition from written updates to video-driven communication has both tangible and intangible benefits for your organisation.
- Higher engagement and retention
People are more attentive and retain information longer when updates are presented visually. Teams that used video summaries reported increased feature adoption and enhanced departmental stakeholder awareness.
- Time efficiency and reduced manual effort
AI automation simplifies the tedious writing and formatting tasks. Once configured, videos can be created in minutes, giving teams valuable time to focus on innovation and strategic priorities rather than routine communication.
- Stronger cross-team communication
A brief, two-minute video can bridge the gap between developers, QA, marketing, and executives. Everyone has a common understanding of what's released, why it's important, and how it affects users.
- Consistent branding and tone
Branding voiceovers, visuals, and avatars strengthens product identity and ensures a polished, consistent look across all releases.
- Easier understanding for all audience
Videos simplify complex technical updates, making them clear and accessible to clients, partners, and even new employees. It ensures that everyone is informed and aligned.
Best Practices for Video Release Notes
Do you want your video release notes to truly engage viewers and provide value each time? Here are a few tried-and-true methods to make your updates stand out:
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Keep it short: Keep your video to 2-3 minutes. Audiences often lose focus after that point, especially during frequent product updates. Keeping it concise ensures that viewers stay engaged until the end.
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Focus on impact: Prioritize what truly matters. You should highlight major features, improvements, or fixes that add significant value to users. Avoid making minor internal changes that have no impact on the user experience.
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Add context: Don’t just tell, you need to show. Create visuals, short demos, or screen recordings to show how a feature works and what problem it solves. This makes updates easier to grasp and remember.
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End with action: Conclude with a clear call to action. Provide a link to the release page, ask for feedback, or request users to test out new features right away.
Conclusion
Traditional release notes are becoming obsolete, with visual updates taking their place. People remember what they see and hear, not what they browse through.
By turning updates into short, visual stories, you ensure that your product's evolution is not only noticed but also understood. Whether it's a sprint recap, product update, or bug fix summary, AI-generated avatar videos add value to every release.
The switch from writing updates to demonstrating progress is clear.
So, instead of just writing your release notes, show how your product has evolved through AI videos. Your audience is prepared to watch.
Make captivating video summaries from your Jira data by using the Automated Release Notes & Reports App. This makes your updates more engaging, motivating, and informative for your teams and stakeholders.
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Mithila _Amoeboids Technologies_
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