Your SaaS isn’t simple. So why do we pretend it is? Nobody learns to drive by sitting in a Formula 1 car on day one. Just imagine …

Here’s the steering wheel with 35 buttons. One changes fuel mapping. One button deploys DRS. One resets the engine. Don’t mix them up. Good luck.

But the problem isn’t complexity itself. It’s how, and when, you reveal it.

Too much info overwhelms. Too little confuses.

The answer? Progressive disclosure.

That’s a structured approach to revealing your product’s depth. Not hiding complexity. But organizing it into logical layers.

Each building on the understanding created by the one before. Here’s how you can layer complexity in product messaging …

1. Essential understanding

Introduce core concepts that create foundational orientation. Think of it as the minimum info needed to make sense of your product. These are the organizing principles that everything else builds upon.

2. Functional understanding

Present practical info needed for basic use. Introduce key relationships between major components. Think of it as contextual info that creates meaning.

3. Expanded understanding

Add info on capabilities that extend core functionality. Include detailed info on implementation. Focus on broader context & integration.

4. Expert understanding

Showcase advanced capabilities and customization. Introduce edge cases and specialized applications. Think of it as building system-level understanding.

Each level is complete in itself. But sets the foundation for the next. Common progressive disclosure mistakes to avoid …

• Discussing advanced concepts before basics are understood
• Overprotecting people from complexity they actually need
• Creating isolated info silos without clear connections
• Providing insufficient guidance between layers

To make this work, you need …

• Clear indicators of complexity levels. People should know which layer they’re exploring.
• Intuitive paths between layers. Clear routes to both deeper & broader info.
• Contextual triggers for introducing complexity. Reveal new depth only when people are ready and choose to learn more.
• Consistent frameworks across layers. The same organizing principles should work at all complexity levels.
• Complete layers that connect to others. Each depth level should feel whole while revealing more is available.

When done right, progressive disclosure creates …

• A website that guides visitors from curiosity to full understanding
• Product pages that reveal enough at each stage of evaluation
• Feature descriptions that start broad & deepen based on interest
• Sales materials that adapt to different knowledge levels
• Help docs that structure knowledge in layers, not silos

The goal isn’t to hide your product’s depth or complexity. It’s to create the right sequence of understanding.

One that balances both simplicity & complexity.