diff --git a/release-tools/readme.md b/release-tools/readme.md
index 0474be1..118cce3 100644
--- a/release-tools/readme.md
+++ b/release-tools/readme.md
@@ -1,11 +1,15 @@
-1. Infrastructure requirements
+## Setup
+
+### Infrastructure requirements
 
 - Pivotal VPN account
 - User account (for SCP access) on `docs.af.pivotal.io`. Needs to be registered within local `settings.xml` for a server named `static-dot-s2`.
 - Credentials for `buildmaster` accounts on https://repo.spring.io.
 - Credentials for https://oss.sonatype.org (to deploy and promote GA and service releases, need deployment permissions for `org.springframework.data`) in `settings.xml` for server with id `sonatype`.
 
-2. Add an `application-local.properties` to the project root and add the following properties:
+### Prepare local configuration and credentials
+
+Add an `application-local.properties` to the project root and add the following properties:
 
 - `git.username` - Your GitHub username.
 - `git.password` - Your GitHub password or API key.
@@ -17,19 +21,24 @@
 
 See `application-local.template` for details.
 
-3. Run `mvn package appassembler:assemble && sh target/appassembler/bin/spring-data-release-shell`
+### Build and execute the release shell
 
-4. Pre-release checks
+Run `mvn package appassembler:assemble && sh target/appassembler/bin/spring-data-release-shell`
+
+## The release process
+
+### Pre-release checks
 
 Make sure that:
 
+* All work on CVEs potentially contained in the release is done (incl. backports etc.)
 * Upgrade dependencies in Spring Data Build parent pom (mind minor/major version rules)
 * All release tickets are present (`$ tracker releasetickets $trainIteration`)
 * Review open tickets for release
 * Self-assign release tickets (`$ tracker prepare $trainIteration`)
 * Announce release preparations to mailing list
 
-5. Commands to execute
+### Release the binaries
 
 ```
 $ release prepare $trainIteration
@@ -37,14 +46,19 @@ $ release build $trainIteration
 $ release conclude $trainIteration
 $ git push $trainIteration
 $ git push $trainIteration --tags
-$ release distribute $trainIteration
 $ git backport changelog $trainIteration --target $targets
 $ foreach $target -> git push $target
 ```
 
-6. Post-release tasks
+### Distribute documentation and static resources from tags
 
-* Close Jira tickets and GitHub release tickets.
+```
+$ release distribute $trainIteration
+```
+
+### Post-release tasks
+
+* Close JIRA tickets and GitHub release tickets.
 * Create release tickets for the next train iteration, archive old release versions. Close Jira versions/GitHub milestones.
 
 ```