diff --git a/RELEASE_GUIDELINES.md b/RELEASE_GUIDELINES.md
index f0856c6ad63d9d3a6720705a264d4f13482954a5..f3dc40b40e9022907e5dbeab20b5c4bb7395c48e 100644
--- a/RELEASE_GUIDELINES.md
+++ b/RELEASE_GUIDELINES.md
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ guidelines of the CaosDB Project
 
 2. Check all general prerequisites.
 
-3. update src/doc/conf.py version
+3. Update `src/doc/conf.py` version
 
 4. Merge the release branch into the main branch.
 
@@ -28,4 +28,6 @@ guidelines of the CaosDB Project
 
 7. Merge the main branch back into the dev branch.
 
-8. Prepare CHANGELOG for next release cycle.
+8. Prepare for next release cycle:
+   * `CHANGELOG.md`: "Unreleased" section
+   * `src/doc/conf.py`: Bump to next version number and `x.y.z-SNAPSHOT` for the `release` variable.