UX Writing 101- Part 2
Who does a UX writer work with and how can they help evaluate the design.
My journey continues. In my previous article, UX writing 101 — part 1, I looked at who UX writers are, what they do, and how they can craft copy that is clear, concise and useful.
Now let’s look at how UX writers can help build on the design, elevating it to new heights, helping you deliver an iconic online experience.
The words are important
Writing for product design has its quirks. The process is similar to cooking. You experiment with the ingredients and flavours. Adding a little of this, a touch of that and a sprinkle of magic to create something scrumptious.
With UX writing every word needs to have a purpose. Every word needs to count. The sentences you choose must be essential. The space and time you have are limited. You need to convey the right message at the right time.
A UX writer will need to:
- Do the research
To write about your product well you need to understand it and how it works. You also need to know how your users are using it and how fits into their daily life. - Check out the competition
All brands have some sort of competition. Continually review competitor activity, use this intel as insights to help elevate your brand’s copy and designs. As they say, imitation is the best form of flattery. - Know the unknown
You’re having a conversation with your user. And so naturally they’ll have questions. Make the conversation run through the design, so it feels natural to the user answering any questions. - Break things down
Engage with your users. Make your product desirable to them. Help the user understand what your product can do for them. And how it benefits them.
“Words are really important because the graphics don’t make sense sometimes.” — John Maeda
Working together
While it’s the UX writers job to create the content for the product. I’ve found that the content can be much more fruitful when they collaborate with a wide range of teams.
- UX designers
I’ve hugely benefited from working closely with UX designers so that we can craft and build designs together and define the scope of the problem. - Stakeholders
They provide us with a better understanding of the metrics we’re trying to influence. And it’s an excellent opportunity to educate them about what good experience looks like. - Product managers
Help us to understand the roadmap and set the priorities. We, in turn, provide them with the context of the user journey. - Developers
As they bring our designs and concepts to life, we work with them as small tweaks and changes may be required. - Optimisation team
We’re always learning and discovering. Running A/B tests on designs and copy changes allow us to see if we’re on the right path.
Collaborating with these partners is key to the design process. We want to bring these folks on this journey with us, and not take them by surprise when revised designs or copy are put in front of them.
Designing with words
Yes, writing is tough. But to be a good designer, you need to have a good understanding of the content.
When you design or create user flow, you’re telling a story. And to tell a good story, it helps to have a UX writer beside you. As they can help narrate the customer journey from screen to screen.
The UX writer is an advocate for the customer along with the designer so that they consider every element of the user experience from the customer’s perspective.
Dot to dot
UX writers tend to juggle several projects, as they are needed in multiple areas. While this can be daunting, it can be an advantage as they’re able to connect all the dots, as they have a good overview of what’s going on. Bringing more insight into your design, helping to elevate it to the next level.
UX writers are the champions of consistency throughout the product language. And consistent brands are worth as much as 20% more than those with inconsistent messaging.
So there you have it. Hopefully, a better understanding of who UX writers are, what they bring to the table, and how they can help lift your designs. So invite them to the party, because it’s all about the experience, make it count.
