6 Reasons Why You Should Care About UX Writing
A few weeks ago I posted about why companies care (or should) about UX writing. Now I’m back here to share why you should care about UX writing, especially if you’re a freelance writer looking for a new niche or focus.
1. There’s a growing need for it.
In my previous post, I wrote that almost every company has an app or website (or uses another platform) these days and that that’s how brands communicate with their prospects and customers. If all the communication is happening via digital interfaces… somebody’s gotta write them, right? As I noted, even brands using the most “plug and play” platforms often need a writer to help them customize it or fill in the gaps.
2. You have an actual impact on products.
Words are so central to the user experience, and when you’re responsible for writing them, you get to directly influence how users use and interact with the product. You get to engage with the team creating the product and shape the experience via the words you choose. Plus, most of us go into writing because we want people to read our words (otherwise we would just be diarists, no?), and in a funny/ironic way, that can actually happen with UX writing! Of course, UX writing isn’t a novel that people sit down and read in their free time, and the best UX copy typically goes unnoticed, but users often have to read the words to take in the experience, so why shouldn’t those words be yours?!
3. It’s more interactive.
Sure, a lot of people go into freelance writing precisely because they’re introverts who would rather avoid people, but if you, like me, have even the slightest extrovert or ambivert tendencies, UX writing can be just the thing for you. UX writing can’t be done alone, full stop. It’s all about the product, design, and copy coming together to provide a great user experience, and unless we’re talking about a solo operator launching something from their garage, chances are there will be at least a couple of people involved, each one weighing in with different perspectives and expertise. For me, being a UX writer has been a great way to be part of a team, even as an external agency or freelance writer. It offers the perfect balance of meeting with people and retreating to my writing “cave” to work quietly on my own.
Photo by Daniel Thomas on Unsplash
4. You’re not churning out tons of words.
Most freelance writers cut their teeth and end up focusing on deliverables like web copy, sales pages, blog posts, emails, technical documents like user guides, and more. Those are the options that most of us are familiar with—and for the most part, they involve a lot of words. In 2023, SEO guidelines say that blog posts should be at least 1,000 words to rank. Yowza. With UX writing, on the other hand, you’ll be focusing more on short text strings. Don’t mistake that for being fast, easy work—the perfect two-word button or title can still take a long time—but you’re less likely to have to pack your copy with extra words or paragraphs.
5. The market’s not saturated yet.
While there are lots of copywriters and content writers out there, there aren’t that many people with the right skills and experience for UX writing—yet the need is there. Even amid layoffs, new products are being created and released, and companies are looking for full-time or freelance UX writers, or even content writers who can show that they’re UX minded. Although you may feel like you’re not hearing about many opportunities, the population of freelancers is growing, and there’s still room for more freelance UX writers to join.
6. Companies are willing to shell out for it.
UX writing is a cornerstone of user experience and part of many companies’ growth strategy and communication with users. It’s one of the easiest and most critical ways to take a product from meh to great, and companies are recognizing that importance and putting their money where their mouths are. Since UX writing is a specialized and more technical field, UX writers can often command higher rates than other freelance writers (this is true of full-time, in-house UX writers versus content writers, too), so it can be quite lucrative for writers who are making the transition now.
If you’re getting burnt out from writing sales copy and uber-long blog posts or looking to interact with a team and users, UX writing can be a great chance to apply your writing skills and experience in a different way.
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