> ## Content Index
> Fetch the complete content index at: https://blog.helpdocs.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further.

# Introducing Our First Guide: Building a Knowledge Base from Scratch
- URL: https://blog.helpdocs.io/building-a-knowledge-base-from-scratch/
- Published: 2018-03-30T12:43:12.000Z
- Updated: 2018-03-30T12:43:12.000Z
- Author: River Sloane
- Tags: Announcements, Support Smarter

It’s easy to leave setting up a knowledge base at the bottom of your to-do list. Or y’know, assign that one to another teammate. No biggie. 🤨

Like an author getting started on their next novel, writing and organizing a knowledge base can be a daunting, confusing task. Thinking about how to fit everything into neat little buckets of information that everyone can understand could make you break a sweat on your brow.

Besides, do you even *need* a knowledge base? Is it too early? What if customers don’t use it? Am I overthinking this?!

These are all questions we wanted to answer in our first guide: [Building a knowledge base from scratch](https://www.helpdocs.io/guides?ref=blog.helpdocs.io).

In it, we’ll show you how to work out if you even need a knowledge base (and if you don’t, what else you can use), how to start creating categories and which ones users might find useful with templates, plus a host of extras like tips on keeping docs updated and using them within your customer support ticketing or live chat system.

Here’s the full breakdown by chapter:

- Introduction
- The need for self-serve
- The matter of scaling support
- The humble FAQ page
- Transitioning from an FAQ page to knowledge base
- Getting started writing your docs
- Growing and updating your knowledge base
- Increase customer success using your knowledge base
- Final word

Yes I admit, there’s a little self-promotion in there but what can I say? We try to make the tools our users need the most. If you’re a busy bee and wanna take it with you there’s an [ePub](https://www.dropbox.com/s/rlddtki3awt964v/Building%20a%20knowledge%20base%20from%20scratch.epub?dl=1&ref=blog.helpdocs.io) and [PDF](https://www.dropbox.com/s/w061bh7fyd2i2jb/Building%20a%20knowledge%20base%20from%20scratch.pdf?dl=1&ref=blog.helpdocs.io) version available for download too.

To start reading head on over to [this page](https://www.helpdocs.io/guides?ref=blog.helpdocs.io "HelpDocs | Guides"). As always, we’d love your feedback on the guide if you have any questions or comments. Just get in touch.