This documentation outlines the key standards and requirements for creating or duplicating guides across different template formats. Follow these guidelines to ensure consistency, accessibility, and readability across all user-facing guides.
Global guidelines
Across all Pendo-created templates
| Accessibility standards |
Readability standards |
User Experience standards |
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All guides must meet keyboard accessibility requirements:
- Focusable via Tab key navigation
- Proper tabindex and ARIA attributes
- Activation via both Enter and Space keys
- Role attributes properly set
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- Always left-align instructional content
- Keep headings concise and brief
- Use emojis purposefully to support meaning, not for decoration
- Maintain consistent emoji placement across similar guides
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- Provide multiple dismissal options
- Avoid blocking critical UI elements
- Match product UI labels exactly in instructions
- Structure content with purpose/value before action
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Guide-specific guidelines
Based on template type
Collect structured user input within the product experience.
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Notification/Informational messages
Communicate important information without requiring user interaction to proceed.
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Walkthroughs
Step-based interaction designed to guide users through a defined sequence of actions.
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Pop-ups/Badges
Contextual, anchored UI elements designed to draw attention to a specific feature, action, or change within the interface.
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Forms/Polls

| Purpose |
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Designed to collect structured user input within the product.
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| Key requirements |
| Headings |
- Use H1 level for primary heading
- Use H2 for any subheadings
- Keep headings concise and brief
|
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Alignment
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- Left-align: Headers, Body text
- Right-align: Buttons/Actions
- Avoid centered paragraph text as it reduces readability for instructional content
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Content structure
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- Lead with purpose/value, then state the action
- Limit to 1-2 short sentences total
- Use direct action sentences
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Emoji usage
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- Limit to ONE emoji at H1 level only
- Place emoji either before OR after header text (maintain consistency—don't alternate placement)
- Do not use emojis in body paragraphs, navigation buttons, or instructional steps
|
| Form fields |
Adhere to template guidelines allowing width to fill the body of the element |
Notification/Informational messages

| Purpose |
| Communicate important information without requiring user interaction to proceed. |
| Key requirements |
| Headings |
- Use H1 level for primary heading
- Keep headings concise and brief
|
|
Alignment
|
- Left-align: Headers, Body text
- Right-align: Buttons/Actions (if applicable)
- Avoid centered paragraph text as it reduces readability for instructional content
|
|
Content structure
|
- Lead with purpose, then state the associated details
- Limit to 1-2 short sentences total
- Use direct action sentences
- If using a salutory remark, bold text for consistency
|
|
Emoji usage
|
- Limit to ONE emoji at H1 level only
- Place emoji either before OR after header text (maintain consistency—don't alternate placement)
- Do not use emojis in body paragraphs, navigation buttons, or instructional steps
- Limit to one emoji at H1 level only
- Place emoji either before the header text OR after the header text
- Do not alternate placement across guides
- Do not use emojis inside body paragraphs, navigation buttons, or instructional steps
- Emojis must support meaning (e.g., success, warning, celebration), not decoration
|
| Form fields |
Adhere to template guidelines allowing width to fill the body of the element |