UX Writing 101- Part 1
By: Jas Deogan
Tags: Product Design, Design, New York, Ux Writing, UX

UX Writing 101- Part 1

What are UX writers, and how do they fit with the design process.

The role of a content strategist/writer continues to evolve into its new form, which is a UX writer.

As content is a vital part of the design process and the user journey, the role of a UX writer has never been more critical. And in this two-part article, I want to share with you what I discovered through my journey of learning and how UX writers create more tangible user experiences.

Let’s begin, shall we?

What is a UX writer?

An interesting question. Isn’t a UX writer the same as a content strategist/writer. Well, for a long time, I held this view.

Simply put, a UX writer is someone who writes for the user experience. Whereas a content strategist/writer typically creates content for the web.

The role of a UX writer

The role of the UX writer is to help connect the dots, guide and encourage the user to complete an action during the user journey.

“Bringing writers in at the end of the creative process is like trying to put toothpaste into a tube.” — John Steinbeck

And done effectively, UX writers help create a frictionless journey by writing clear and concise copy while maintaining your brand’s personality. As the text is designed and tested throughout the design process, placing your brand in a better position that can help drive more value.

3 top tips for UX writing

#1 Be crystal clear

Make your content easy to read and understandable. Remove any jargon words and offer context. Writers, in general, need to shift from using software language to language recognised by the everyday consumer.

Tip: It’s always good to focus on the action that you want the user to complete. And use doing words, verbs, to craft the copy so that it relates to the action.

#2 Be concise

Get to the point. This doesn’t always mean shorter is better. But the words you put on a page have a job to do, so make them count.

Tip: Put the most relevant content at the beginning of the sentence. Examine how your users consume your content. You’ll find that most, will read the first sentence, and then they’ll scan read.

#3 Be useful

A call to action is there to guide the user to the next step or complete a task. Use your copy to help your user reach the end goal.

Tip: Make your call to actions resonate with what you want the user to do. And think about the journey. Is the user in discovery mode, and do they want to explore other useful content? Or are they in a transactional flow, in which case remove all obstacles and get out of their way?

“Writing is easy. All you have to do is cross out the wrong words.” — Mark Twain

Tone of voice

So it’s all great that your UX writer is crafting copy that is clear, concise and useful. But how do you make your copy stand out?

Do you remember in the film Sister Act, where Sister Mary Clarence is teaching the choir to sing? She points to Sister Mary Robert and coaches her to find her voice so she can be heard.

Well, that’s what your tone of voice is for. Your tone of voice helps give your brand it’s personality, or it’s attitude as Sister Mary Clarence puts it.

You want your brand to stand out against all the chit chat. And so your tone of voice needs to strike a balance of being clear and concise while being true to your brand’s personality.

So there you go. A quick overview of what a UX writer is, what they do, and how they can elevate your design process. Helping you to craft better experiences for your user.

Check out my follow up article, UX writing 101 — part 2, coming soon. Where we’ll explore how UX writers can help build on the design, who they work with, and how they help connect the dots.