What is UX writing?

UX writing is creating text in a user experience to improve it by engaging the user. Examples include notifications, buttons, instructions, labels, descriptions, controls, and warnings.

Microcopy is the small pieces of text within an interface that help the user understand how to use the product or service, e.g. button labels and error messages have short texts that guide the user through the experience.

Collaboration between designers, researchers and stakeholders is vital throughout the design process to ensure clear and concise language aligning with the user's needs, the business goals and the brand voice. By testing the concept, UX writers will enhance usability and should stay consistent and have accessible communication throughout the brand.

Difference between UX writing and Copywriting

“Copywriting is a marketing discipline. It’s the process of writing copy that is used in marketing and advertising materials, with the main goal of attracting new customers or users and persuading them to take a certain action, such as buying or subscribing to something. “ - Emily Steven - UX Design Institute.

UX writing is the art of writing copy to aid the user experience. It’s the process of planning and writing all the text that features on a digital product interface, such as error messages, menu labels and button copy. - Emily Steven - UX Design Institute

Examples of copywriting

• landing page copy
• blogs
• Copy for marketing emails
• ads copy
• social media post
• advertising slogans
• downloadable content

Examples of UX writing

• error messages
• text on buttons
• messages from a chatbox
• Instructions that prompt to a certain area
• task completion success messages

Copywriters tasks

• writing marketing channels
• Develop marketing content like blogs
• brainstorming new ideas and concepts
• analysing performance data to measure the success of content types
• proofreading and editing work

UX writing tasks

• UX research
• microcopy for apps, websites and other digital products
• Develop and oversee content strategy
• running A/B tests to test different copy variations

UX writing is a part of UX design focusing on combining good copy into the product from the start. UX writers will collaborate with the product manager and the designers as part of a product team. At the same time, copywriting is more marketing and focuses on promoting the product. They work with marketers and social media managers to create materials that drive engagement.

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When reading the NNgroup entry of the UX writing study guide, I took a further look into understanding how people read online by looking at

Layer-Cake Pattern of Scanning Content on the Web

People usually scan instead of reading every word; we focus on the headings and the subheadings that stand out. The layer cake scanning method involves the fixations on headings and sometimes the body text, allowing for efficient navigation and discovery of content. Effective subheadings are noticeable, e.g. bold or coloured, so these summarise the text. Using the proper spacing and organisation will improve usability, which will help users quickly find relevant information. The f pattern is less effective than the layer cake pattern, boosts efficiency, and guides the attention of users to the key sections of the web page. Using clear subheadings and structured layouts is essential for improving content readability.

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This week, I explored UX writing, which focuses on using clear, concise text to improve user experience. I learned that UX writing involves writing microcopy such as buttons, error messages, and instructions, aiming to guide users through a digital product. I found it more appealing than copywriting.

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