3 examples of how to use visuals in a how-to guide (with real examples that actually teach)

Why start with real examples of how to use visuals in a how-to guide

Before we get into the examples of 3 examples of how to use visuals in a how-to guide, let’s talk about why visuals matter so much right now.

Readers skim. They scroll fast. They’re often distracted. Visuals act like road signs: they slow people down at the right moment and say, “Look here. This is the important part.”

Research backs this up. Studies on health communication from organizations like the National Institutes of Health and CDC show that clear visuals improve understanding, especially for step-by-step instructions. That applies just as much to “how to change a tire” as it does to “how to log in to your new software dashboard.”

So instead of talking theory, let’s walk through three big categories of visuals you can use, with several real examples in each.

Example 1: Step sequences that show progress, not just steps

The first of our examples of 3 examples of how to use visuals in a how-to guide is the classic step sequence. But we’re going to make it smarter than a basic numbered list.

Think of a step sequence as a mini comic strip for your process. Each frame should:

• Show what changes from one step to the next
• Make progress feel obvious at a glance
• Reduce the amount of text your reader needs to interpret

Here are several real examples of how to do that well.

Cooking instructions with before-and-after visuals

If you write any kind of food or recipe content, this is one of the best examples of visual help you can offer.

Instead of writing:

“Cook the onions until they’re translucent, about 5–7 minutes.”

You show two visuals:

• Onions just added to the pan (opaque, firm)
• Onions when they’re actually “translucent” (so readers know what success looks like)

This is a textbook example of how to use visuals in a how-to guide: you’re translating vague cooking language into something concrete. Readers don’t have to guess what “translucent” means; they can compare the pan in front of them to the visual in your guide.

You can repeat this approach for other confusing steps:

• Dough “before kneading” and “after kneading”
• Pancakes “ready to flip” (bubbles on top, edges set)
• Caramel “light amber” versus “burnt”

Each of these is an example of turning an abstract instruction into a visible target.

Software tutorials with highlighted click paths

Software guides are where many writers lose readers. A wall of text like “Click Settings > Account > Security > Two-Factor Authentication” looks simple, but users get lost fast.

A stronger approach uses a sequence of visuals, each focusing on one action:

• First visual: the full dashboard, with the Settings icon circled and labeled
• Second visual: the Settings page, with Account highlighted
• Third visual: the Security tab, with Two-Factor Authentication boxed in

You keep the text short and pair it tightly with each visual:

“On your dashboard, select Settings in the top-right corner.”

“On the left menu, click Account.”

“Under Security, choose Two-Factor Authentication.”

This is one of the best examples of how to use visuals in a how-to guide for software: instead of one giant, cluttered screenshot, you use a short visual sequence that mirrors the user’s exact path.

DIY and home repair with zoomed-in process shots

DIY content lives or dies by its visuals. When someone is trying to install a shelf, hang a door, or swap out a faucet, they need to see the tricky parts.

You might have a four-step sequence like this:

• Visual 1: Marking the wall with a level (bubble clearly centered)
• Visual 2: Drilling the pilot hole at the right angle
• Visual 3: Anchors correctly inserted (flush with the wall)
• Visual 4: Final shelf mounted, with screws fully seated

Notice what these examples include: you’re not just showing the glamorous “before and after.” You’re zooming in on the small moments where beginners usually mess up. That’s a pattern you can repeat in any how-to guide.

Example 2: Annotated visuals that explain why, not just where

The second of our examples of 3 examples of how to use visuals in a how-to guide focuses on annotation: arrows, labels, callouts, and short notes.

Annotations turn a plain visual into a teaching tool. Instead of just pointing at a button, you explain what it does, why it matters, or what to avoid.

Interface walkthroughs with labeled hotspots

Say you’re writing a how-to guide for a new analytics dashboard. You could drop in a single screenshot and call it done. Or you could create a labeled version that shows readers exactly what matters.

Real examples include:

• Arrows pointing to key metrics: “Monthly traffic,” “Conversion rate,” “Average order value”
• Short callouts explaining each section: “Use this filter to narrow results by date”
• Color-coded labels: green for actions, blue for data, red for warnings

This is a practical example of how to use visuals in a how-to guide to reduce onboarding time. Users don’t have to hover over everything to guess what it does; your annotations pre-teach the interface.

Safety and health instructions with warnings and “don’t do this” labels

Health organizations do this very well. If you look at instructions from sources like Mayo Clinic or MedlinePlus, you’ll see visuals with clear annotations:

• Inhaler guides with arrows showing where to place the mouthpiece and how to tilt your head
• Bandaging instructions with labels like “leave this area uncovered” or “do not wrap too tightly”

For your own guides, you can borrow this style. For example, in a “how to lift safely” workplace guide, you might annotate a visual with:

• A green outline on the legs: “Lift with your legs, not your back.”
• A red X over a rounded spine: “Avoid bending at the waist.”

These examples include both “do this” and “don’t do this,” which is especially helpful when the risk of doing it wrong is high.

Comparison visuals that show good vs. bad outcomes

Another powerful example of how to use visuals in a how-to guide is the side-by-side comparison.

Imagine a guide on “how to format a professional resume.” You could:

• Show a cluttered, hard-to-read resume next to a clean, well-spaced version
• Annotate the bad one with notes like “Too many fonts,” “No clear headings,” “Dense paragraphs”
• Annotate the good one with “Consistent font,” “Bullet points under each role,” “Clear section labels”

Readers instantly see the difference, and your annotations explain why one version works better. You can use this same pattern for:

• Photo editing (overexposed vs. correctly balanced)
• Interior design (cluttered room vs. simplified layout)
• Writing (confusing email vs. clear, structured email)

These are real examples where visuals do more than decorate—they teach judgment.

Example 3: Visual frameworks that map the whole process

The third of our examples of 3 examples of how to use visuals in a how-to guide zooms out. Instead of showing only individual steps, you show the whole journey in one view.

Think timelines, flowcharts, or process maps. These visuals help readers understand where they are, what comes next, and how long it might take.

Timelines for multi-day or multi-phase projects

If your how-to guide covers something that takes days or weeks—like “how to train for a 5K” or “how to launch a new blog”—a timeline visual can keep people from feeling overwhelmed.

Real examples include:

• A 4-week training plan with each week labeled and color-coded by intensity
• A content launch plan showing research, drafting, editing, and publishing phases

You don’t need to show every tiny step. The timeline’s job is to give readers a mental map. They can then dive into detailed step visuals later.

Flowcharts that help readers make decisions

Sometimes a how-to guide isn’t linear. It depends on conditions:

• “If you see this error message, go here.”
• “If you don’t have this tool, use this alternative.”

That’s where a flowchart becomes one of the best examples of how to use visuals in a how-to guide.

For example, in a tech troubleshooting guide you might:

• Start with: “Can you connect to Wi‑Fi?”
• Branch to “Yes” and “No” paths
• Under “No,” branch again based on whether other devices can connect

Readers follow the path that matches their situation instead of wading through instructions that don’t apply to them.

You can do the same for:

• “How to choose the right paint finish for your room”
• “How to pick the right savings account”
• “How to decide which exercise is safe after an injury” (with medical guidance and links to sources like NIH)

Checklists and visual summaries at the end

A final example of how to use visuals in a how-to guide is the visual checklist.

After walking readers through a process, you can create a one-page summary that shows:

• All tools or ingredients laid out together
• Key milestones or checkpoints
• A short, visual list of “Before you start” and “Before you finish” items

For a “how to host a backyard barbecue” guide, for instance, you might have a visual summary of:

• Grill tools, food, and safety gear arranged and labeled
• A tiny timeline: “24 hours before,” “2 hours before,” “30 minutes before,” “During,” “After”

This gives readers a quick reference they can skim right before they act, instead of rereading your entire article.

Pulling it together: how to choose which visuals to use

We’ve walked through examples of 3 examples of how to use visuals in a how-to guide—step sequences, annotated visuals, and visual frameworks. The question now is: how do you decide which one to use in your own content?

Here’s a simple way to think about it:

• Use step sequences when the order of actions matters and each step changes what the reader sees or does.
• Use annotated visuals when the reader needs to understand what something is or why it matters—interfaces, tools, safety positions, or layout choices.
• Use visual frameworks when the process is long, branching, or overwhelming, and the reader needs a big-picture map.

Most strong how-to guides mix all three. For example:

• A software onboarding guide might start with a framework (“Here’s the 3-part setup process”), then use annotated screenshots to explain the dashboard, and finish with short step sequences for common tasks.
• A beginner workout guide might show a 4-week timeline, then step-by-step exercise visuals, with annotations on posture and safety.

If you’re looking for real examples to model, pay attention to how health, government, and education sites structure their instructions. The CDC’s visual communication guidelines and many patient-education resources on MedlinePlus show consistent patterns you can adapt to any topic.

The more your visuals answer the question, “What would this look like in real life?” the more helpful your how-to guide becomes.

FAQ: real examples of how to use visuals in a how-to guide

Q1: What are some simple examples of visuals I can add to an existing how-to guide without redesigning everything?

Start small. Easy examples include:

• Adding one annotated screenshot for the most confusing software step
• Inserting a before-and-after visual for a key transformation (messy desk vs. organized desk)
• Creating a short visual checklist at the end of the guide

You don’t have to overhaul the entire article. Focus on the one or two places where readers usually get stuck.

Q2: Can you give an example of when a visual hurts more than it helps?

Yes. A common bad example is a giant, cluttered screenshot with tiny text and no labels. Readers can’t tell what to look at, and the visual becomes noise. Another weak example is a decorative stock illustration that doesn’t match the actual steps. If the visual doesn’t clarify an action, decision, or outcome, it probably doesn’t belong.

Q3: Do I always need multiple visuals, or can one strong example be enough?

One strong visual can absolutely carry a short how-to guide. For a simple task—like “how to tie a specific knot” or “how to position your hands on the keyboard”—a single, clear, well-labeled visual might be enough. Longer, multi-step processes usually benefit from several examples of visuals: a big-picture framework plus a few detailed step shots.

Q4: How do I make visuals accessible while still keeping them helpful?

Write alt text that explains the purpose of the visual, not just what it looks like. For example: “Screenshot of the dashboard with the Settings icon circled in the top-right corner.” Also keep contrast high and text labels readable. Accessibility guidelines from organizations like Harvard’s Digital Accessibility can help you check your work.

Q5: What are the best examples of visuals for mobile readers?

Mobile readers do well with:

• Tall, narrow step sequences they can scroll through
• Simple annotated visuals with only a few labels
• Short visual summaries at the end of sections

Avoid tiny, dense visuals that require pinching and zooming. If someone can’t understand your example of how to use visuals in a how-to guide on a phone screen, it’s time to simplify.