Ideas portal guide template
Help customers submit ideas and track idea statuses in your portal
Use template
About the ideas portal guide template
An ideas portal helps you gather feedback from customers and teammates at scale. But it only works if people know how to use it. And they are more likely to share feedback when they are clear about what happens next.
This template gives you a straightforward way to explain how your portal works — from who can submit ideas to how each one is reviewed and tracked. Use it to clarify submission guidelines, highlight review processes, and show how feedback informs product decisions. A transparent, well-communicated process builds trust and encourages ongoing participation.
Included in the ideas portal guide template
This ideas portal guide template includes built-in capabilities like:
A simple structure to explain how your portal works
Pre-filled prompts to help you define submission rules and status updates
Inline comments to gather feedback, questions, and ideas from teammates
A voting tool to quickly gauge internal support before publishing
How to use the ideas portal guide template
Use this template to document how your ideas portal works and guide people through submitting and following their ideas. It is built for product managers who want to keep feedback organized and transparent — either while managing customer input or running an internal portal for stakeholders.
Start by tailoring the text to reflect your approach. Outline who can submit ideas, what each status label means, and how often you review the queue. Add callout boxes to answer common questions or link to support documentation.
Keep this guide updated as your idea management process evolves. If you adjust categories, tweak review steps, or add new status definitions, revise your content here too. A clear, current guide helps customers and teammates submit more relevant ideas. And it makes it easier for everyone to follow along as the team reviews and acts on feedback.
Best practices
Make it easy for people to share feedback and understand what happens next.
Write for your audience: Use plain language that customers or internal users will understand. Avoid product jargon and clarify any terms related to statuses or workflows.
Outline your process: Detail how often you review ideas, what happens in each stage, and when submitters can expect updates. This reduces confusion and encourages thoughtful submissions.
Prove it matters: Point to a few real examples of how past feedback has shaped your plans. Customers love seeing this.
FAQs about the ideas portal guide template
Why is using an ideas portal guide template important?
Customers are more likely to share feedback when they understand how you will use it. This template lets you explain how to submit ideas, what your review process looks like, and how you keep people updated — so they feel their input truly matters.
What are some best practices for using an ideas portal guide?
Keep it simple and user friendly. Focus on the most important details: who can submit, what happens next, and how people will know the team is considering their ideas. Update the guide as your workflows evolve.
Who is the ideas portal guide template for?
This template is for anyone who manages or contributes to an ideas portal, including product managers, UX researchers, and customer-facing teams. You can also share it directly with customers or internal stakeholders to set expectations and encourage quality feedback.
Is this template free to use?
Yes. To use this ideas portal guide template, sign up for a free 30-day trial of Aha! Whiteboards. (You can also try this template in Aha! Roadmaps if you need a complete product management solution.) Easily customize the template to suit your needs, then share it with as many people as you want (for free) to streamline collaboration.
