Every day, the number of applications and websites grows. Furthermore, due to the simplicity of their use, more people engage with them more frequently. Not only does the design of the interfaces influence the level of convenience, but the texts inside them. Under these circumstances, UX-writing is gaining traction and becoming a crucial element of industry development.
UX writers are already employed by big technology companies such as Facebook, Google, Microsoft, and Amazon. What exactly are UX texts, and how should they be written to attract a readership?
What Does A UX Writer Actually Do?
Writers have long been employed in a wide range of professions. They created content for appliances and instruments, written instructions and guidance, and provided well-written texts for product sale and promotion.
As a result, companies have been forced to turn to custom writing reviews websites like Writing Judge to find specialists for that purpose. In recent years, this trend has been supplanted by UX-writing, which combines elements of several professions. So, who is a UX-writer?
A UX-writer is someone who creates the text that a user sees when browsing a website/application/program. It includes:
- Small shortcuts;
- Buttons and icons for call-to-action;
- Slogans;
- Warnings about errors;
- Pushes;
- Hints;
- Instructions, etc.
Rules Of Effective UX Writing
The goal of UX-texts is to direct, warn, or encourage the user on his journey to the goal. UX text is an important component of both design and user experience. As a result, it must be:
- Clear – easy to understand and read;
- Short – without useless words and within your area’s limits;
- Useful – Informative and helpful in answering the user’s questions;
- Proportional – utilizing consistent terminology and style throughout the interface.
The UX writer’s duty resides in making it easy for customers to engage with the product. UX texts help clients get the most out of your interface and support the product.
From the very beginning, the UX writer is involved in the design process. He collaborates with UX designers to identify the target audience’s wants and challenges.
He must think like a designer and grasp the dynamics and structure of user interfaces to produce meaningful and cohesive microcopy that will appeal to clients. To achieve it, he should follow the following rules:
Include Authentic Text Early In The Creation Process
When working on the interface, designers frequently utilize the ubiquitous text. And it is hardly ever published as it is in a sample.
The original phrasing may be unable to fit it, and the design will need to be adjusted or completely rebuilt. To save effort, it is critical to engage the UX writer in the development process from the very beginning.
Text Organization
Text structure helps the user scan it and pick up on the meaning. This applies to headlines, subheadings, and body text, which must be of varying sizes and coupled with a screen image if present.
Put It Simple
Given that the primary responsibility of the UX-writer is to advise his customer, his recommendations should be as straightforward as feasible. Stick to the following guidelines while designing UX-friendly text:
- Make a text hierarchy to allow for quick page skimming;
- There should be no technical words or professional jargon;
- There should be no super-long or complex terms;
- Do not use the passive voice.
Catch Readers’ Attention Using Numbers And Marks
If a number appears in the text, it should be written as a number rather than as a word. It conserves space while grabbing attention.
Because numbers are perceived as vital information by the brain, the reader prioritizes them in the text. You can highlight them and move them to another field, but do not overdo it.
Important textual sense points can be bolded and marked with a marking, while essential information can be emphasized in colour:
Speak Of The Present
To guarantee that the consumer receives the information, copywriters use accurate dates in advertisements and instructional materials. Because the user interacts with the product in the present, the UX language should contain terms related to the present. For example, “today,” “tomorrow,” and “yesterday.” The indicated date would just result in customers’ confusion.
Make Your Text A Reflection Of Your Brand’s Tone And Voice
All of the content you write should match the tone and voice of the brand you create the project for. What is your brand’s identity?
How does it sound when it speaks to its customers? Does it provide services or products?
The tone of voice of your brand is how it communicates with its target audience. As a result, you should employ the same vocabulary and linguistic patterns throughout your content.
Keep Track Of The Register
Use a single style for a group of headers and other phrases. There are three options possible in this case:
- Caps Lock should be used for all text;
- Start each new word with a capital letter;
- Use lowercase letters for all text except for the first letter of the phrase, names of people, cities, brands, etc.
The important thing is to choose one and stick with it across the entire site page and all windows of the application.
Create User-Friendly Text
The content on the website or in the application assists the potential customer in understanding what the brand is and what it offers. Therefore, it is essential for the UX-writer to consider not only how to write, but also what to write and for whom:
- Blog;
- FAQ;
- A piece of advice;
- Button names.
Texts must address the product and urge the consumer to learn the benefits that he can get.
Be Grammar-Flexible
A well-written work will surely have good grammar. However, when it comes to UX-writing and producing text for small buttons with a limited number of characters, it is best to be grammar-flexible, i.e., eliminate difficult formulations and decrease the number of components that are not essential.
Avoid Using Slang
Slang refers to any particular technical phrase that may confuse readers Are you certain that a user understands what you mean when you say the video is “buffering?” If so, that is an excellent choice for the text?
If not, you should look for a more basic term. Another example is the word “enable.” Do not use it to replace “turn on” as not many people can guess what it means at once.
Conclusion
You now have a firm grasp on the foundations of creating high-quality UX content. They should only be utilized in certain circumstances, as decided by research and analysis for a specific consumer. Many factors influence the overall style of your design, from the design to the overall brand strategy, which influences the style of customer communication.
Images from:
https://blog.tubikstudio.com/user-experience-tips-ux-writing/ (pic 1, 2, 4, 6, 7)
https://usabilitygeek.com/how-ux-writing-can-help-create-good-design/ (pic 3, 5)
