What a UX writer is and why you need one
The benefits of truly putting your audience first.
A lot goes into a stellar product. First, there’s the idea. It must solve a relevant problem in a fresh and simple way.
There’s the engineering and the design. The former makes your machine run, the latter makes it visually appealing. And I’m sure you did your business plan long ago.
So what is it that you’re missing? A UX Writer.
UX means user experience and often hides behind many other names. At the end of the day, if you’re making decisions based on user data and needs, you’re practicing UX.
UX Writers are the newer kids on the block. But in a few years, UX writing will be much more prominent. If you’re looking to get ahead of the curve, you will want to invest in a UX Writer.
So what exactly do UX Writers do?
Some call them Content Strategists (Facebook, Airbnb), while others refer to them as UX Writers (Google, Amazon). While the role can vary from company to company, a UX Writer usually handles any/all of the following, and then some:
- The words that help users navigate an app or online product
- Error messages (such as password errors and 404 pages)
- Email and SMS notifications
- Content guidelines
- User personas
- Journey mapping
- Information architecture and hierarchy
Here are some examples that were written by a UX Writer:
But UX Writers don’t just look at the words. They play a heavy hand in the strategy behind it as well.
UX Writers know the importance of putting the user first. How do they do this? By looking at data, research, and collaborating across teams. A strong UX Writer will do a good amount of data-digging and question-asking before ever putting pen to paper.
They look at what has and hasn’t worked in the past, and strive to make products as intuitive as possible. If you strip a product from its design, you’re left with the words. A product can communicate using only words. It’s much harder to communicate with only design. When both work in unison, beautiful things can happen.
What kind of beautiful things, you ask? Higher conversion, better retention, and happier users. And happy users keep using products. These products are easy to understand, cause little frustration, and at their very best, are accepted as adjuncts to daily life.
It’s one of the reasons why big tech companies are big. Next time you use Facebook, Uber, or Airbnb, pay attention to those tiny words that help you get things done.
Why do I need a UX Writer?
It’s a tale as old as time (or at least since the dawn of the online world).
A product is in its final stages and is missing the words. They’re just words, right? Chances are the developers and designers know how to write. Heck, some of them might have even studied Journalism or English Lit.
So they add the words that are designed to guide users through the product and help them understand its functionalities.
Time for a game. How do these screens make you feel?
Confused? Annoyed? Angry?
That’s the power of words (or lack thereof). They can be your training wheels until you learn to ride the bike, or they can be a massive pothole that catches your front wheel and sends you flying over the front of your bike.
The first time a user engages with your product, it will be a completely new experience. The right words will help them get through that onboarding flow or solve that recurring error. Your user will eventually learn what does what through repetition and learning. That means consistent language and predictable patterns.
So back to how those screens made you feel. Imagine your user feeling confused, angry, or annoyed.
Fine, maybe they don’t like your app. But more than that, you wasted their time. You had their attention for a moment. Not only did you lose it, but you also frustrated them. That might have been your one shot. Imagine this happening over and over again to every new user who tries your app. Chances are slim that they will give you a second chance.
Feelings are at the core of UX writing. Empathy maps are yet another way that UX Writers determine the best words for a certain feature. That’s why the tone might be different after you successfully upload a picture (you’re feeling excited about all the likes you’re going to get) versus when you’re trying to file your taxes online (you’re feeling stressed and worried about making mistakes).
When you create for people, people will like you. Dale Cargenie famously wrote:
“You can make more friends in two months by becoming interested in other people than you can in two years by trying to get other people interested in you.”
Translate that to online experiences. You can get more engagement in two months (or less) by creating products for users than you can get in two years by creating products that you think look nice.
Isn’t a Copywriter the same as a UX Writer?
While Copywriters might teeter from time to time into UX Writer territory, the short answer is no.
Copywriters create words designed to sell and influence. Any user who has not yet converted, signed up, or entered that imaginary “door” is usually spoken to by a Copywriter. Take the example of Facebook.
This is their homepage if you don’t have an account, and was probably written by a Copywriter. The words communicate the benefits of Facebook. It makes you want to make an account. Maybe the form was written by a UX Writer.
Now compare that to the words once you’re logged in. The tone here is much simpler. It’s human. It tells you exactly how to do what you want to do without saying how it will benefit you. Why? Because you’re already through the door.
A UX Writer creates words designed to help people use and understand an app or an online interface. They always prioritize simplicity, clarity, and context.
UX Writers tend to also have backgrounds in research or at least a solid understanding of how to use and interpret it. They connect the dots between teams an extract unique insights about your user that you may have never thought of. While Copywriters can be strategic, UX Writers need to be strategic.
You would be surprised how difficult it can be to write a “simple” error message. I spend more time on UX writing than on copywriting. Why? Because the stakes are higher. This person has invited you into their life. They allocated space on their phone for your app! You’ve got to continuously remind them why you’re worth it.
Looking for more UX writing insights or curious about how a UX Writer can help you? Get in touch with me today.
