What’s All This Fuss About UX Writing?

Everyone’s talking about UX writing and we want to tell you why

Though it’s been around for a while, UX writing is the new buzzword hitting the digital space.

The term ‘UX’ stands for ‘User Experience’ and focuses on exactly that – the experience a user has when they interact with your product in the online realm.

It’s all about providing meaningful and purposeful online experiences for customers, potential customers and (because we don’t discriminate), eVen indifferent passers-by.

What is UX writing?

That being said, UX writing does lean more towards pre-existing customers or regular users of products than to people who are just browsing.

General web page, blog and sales copy aligns more with the marketing side of things than UX writing, which goes hand-in-hand with the overall UX design.

UX writing covers copy for buttons, error messages, menu labels, Ts&Cs and security announcements. Also known as microcopy, the main goal of UX writing is to guide users around a product and encourage them to interact with it.

There are four key ways in which UX writing differs from copywriting. Here’s how:

1. Using a designer’s perspective

Being a UX writer means thinking like a designer. The overall user experience must be taken into consideration, including things like aesthetic, spacing and functionality.

UX writers adopt a problem-solving approach in order to iron out the creases and create a microcopy that works.

2. A focus on user experience

As we’ve already established, UX writing is all about the user experience. It examines user needs, customer feedback and business goals to deliver an easy to navigate digital product.

A good UX writer will listen to all of the factors that come into play, accept feedback openly and adapt their work to best suit your customers’ needs.

3. Copywriting sells, UX informs

Copywriting across your website or application creates a platform upon which you can better sell your product. It educates potential customers and new leads on the benefits of what your business has to offer.

UX writing, on the other hand, informs your current and ongoing customers about using your product and enables them to easily interact with it.

4. UX microcopy is subject to ongoing change

Microcopy works best when used in conjunction with feedback from users. This feedback can often lead to ongoing changes in order to accurately capture the right turn of phrase.

Engaging and enticing microcopy comes from testing what works and what doesn’t; figuring out what does can mean a train of continuous change.

Why do you need UX writing on your website?

Providing a positive user experience for your customers is all about relating at every touchpoint.

Depending on your target audience, you need to use language that they understand, can relate to and ultimately, that encourages them to interact with your product.

UX writing is an important part of the design (and overall website build) process. For your business, it could mean the difference between losing customers and gaining customers.

For professional UX writing that matches your brand, talk to Ven >

Steve Aylward