diff --git a/xarray/conventions.py b/xarray/conventions.py
index 74dc686ee95..780172879c6 100644
--- a/xarray/conventions.py
+++ b/xarray/conventions.py
@@ -197,10 +197,11 @@ def ensure_not_multiindex(var: Variable, name: T_Name = None) -> None:
     if isinstance(var, IndexVariable) and isinstance(var.to_index(), pd.MultiIndex):
         raise NotImplementedError(
             "variable {!r} is a MultiIndex, which cannot yet be "
-            "serialized to netCDF files "
-            "(https://github.com/pydata/xarray/issues/1077). Use "
-            "reset_index() to convert MultiIndex levels into coordinate "
-            "variables instead.".format(name)
+            "serialized to netCDF files. Instead, either use reset_index() "
+            "to convert MultiIndex levels into coordinate variables instead "
+            "or use https://cf-xarray.readthedocs.io/en/latest/coding.html.".format(
+                name
+            )
         )