If you’re reaching out to tech support to address a problem with your website, the more useful information you can give them up front, the better. Here is a basic checklist to consider.

  • Expected result vs actual result
  • How long the problem has been happening
  • Any changes that might have preceded the problem
  • The full text of any error message you’re seeing
  • Screenshots of the problem
  • Circumstances that might affect the result (browser, platform)
  • What you’ve tried and whether or not it made a difference
  • Some sort of appreciation or thanks – it goes a long way!

You can leave off any item that you’re sure isn’t relevant – a screenshot may not be necessary if you’ve given the full text of the error message.

Don’t leave off the appreciation, though!