Smashing magazine explains how to use the User Interface to without resorting to help screens. And as always gives the actual real world examples of the best practices. Ofcourse you must have help, faq and site map page on your site to guide your users. But it is very important to help or guide them inline, i.e. when they are actual on that page and performing a particular activity. This can be achieved through communication, graphics or the action items itself.
For example, most of the sites do it by having a active voice instead of just using the label. "Join" is just a label, and "Join now and make friends" is more active voice which may drive the user to click instead of dropping the user. LinkedIn on it’s home page, clearly states the benefit of ‘finding people’ and the button at the bottom says "Join Now and connect with them".
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