3 Ways UX Writing Can Turn an App from Flop to Top
UX writing is turning heads these days. But maybe you’re not yet clear on what it is and the vital role it plays in making your digital product simple, intuitive, and engaging. If so, read on!
The goal of UX writing is communication, and communication in Digital Land is successful when it helps users move through an app or website efficiently and successfully. Good UX writing creates a product that is not only more usable but also desirable.
We’re going to take a look at three ways UX writing can improve any app or website, but before we go deeper into what UX writing is, let’s clear up some confusion and cover what it isn’t.
What UX writing isn’t
UX writing isn't about making your website or app sound good or clever. It's not about writing copy that people like.
UX writing isn’t about being the most creative or the funniest. (Though when creativity or humor are used wisely, they can add to a brand experience and lead to user loyalty.) But clarity, simplicity, and connectivity are always priority number one.
What UX writing is
UX writing involves creating all the text users see as they interact with digital products (e.g., websites, apps, and games). This means all the buttons, short descriptive text, menus, pop-ups, fields to be filled in, and more.
UX writing makes it possible for users, like you and me, to engage with these products by helping them understand how to move through them seamlessly— without any glitches, misunderstandings, or frustrations.
For audiences ranging from everyday consumers to highly technical engineers, UX writers craft end-to-end user experiences (i.e., they think through every step a user will take as they move through a product), making sure it all makes sense, is easy to understand, and works together well.
In other words, UX writing aims to move the user of an app or website through the “experience”—from the login page to the final action—in a way that makes them feel guided, clear on what they’re meant to do next, and safe and comfortable doing so.
UX writing, also known as microcopy, strives to make each word on the “page” as impactful as possible without using more text than necessary. This might mean breaking up blocks of text, translating technical terms into conversational language, or adding or changing a word or two to help the user feel safe in proceeding.
So what does all this mean?
Let’s look at three ways UX writing can turn an app from FLOP to TOP.
1. UX writing helps users connect with the product.
UX writers make a digital product sound and feel more human, relatable, and trustworthy, always aiming to make users feel “at home.” UX writing helps users feel that the product they’re using actually understands them, their needs, and what they’re looking to do or achieve.
UX writing makes a product accessible and easy to use and understand, even if the users aren’t techy and don’t actually know what’s happening “behind the scenes.” The simpler and more natural, the better.
2. UX writing helps people understand how to use the product.
UX writing helps make the user experience clear and glitch-free. UX writers make it their business to know how a product improves users’ lives and how (and how often) users will use it. UX writers use this information to choose the right words and design the content that’s critical to the “flow” (the way a user moves through the product), step by step.
3. UX writing helps users avoid frustrating experiences.
UX writers show intuitive awareness of what someone might be feeling as they use the product—hesitant, impatient, fearful of choosing the wrong thing—and they write to ease these concerns.
UX writing places a strong emphasis on empathy—anticipating where consumers might get confused, feel annoyed by being asked to do something that takes too long, or be hesitant to give too much personal information—and they write to alleviate these considerations.
UX writing is all about clear and simple communication that permeates the entire user experience and drives users to engage.
When done well, UX writing makes all the difference between a good product and a bad one.
Do you want someone to turn your app from flop to top? Let’s talk!
Are you interested in learning more about UX writing? Join the waitlist for UX to Success!
