The post Top 26 books anyone in UX should read in 2024 (designers, writers, and researchers) appeared first on UX WRITING HUB.

We’ve compiled our favourites so you can enjoy them and share them.

1. A taste of UX Writing Course

We collected all of the knowledge we have about content design and UX and synthesized it into a short free course you can check out today.

Don’t miss it

2. Content design london

Coined the term content design and focused on user-centric techniques to create user interfaces, written content, and publication strategies that work.

We had the chance to interview their founder for a quick podcast episode of writers in tech.

Listen to it here

3. Frontitude

A fantastic tool that helps you to manage your product’s copy in one place. Frontitude is an innovative platform that provides a single source of collaboration for UX and product teams.

4. WordTune

A Chrome extension that uses artificial intelligence to guide you to create and design your content. Using it you can say exactly what you mean through clear, compelling and authentic writing.

https://www.wordtune.com/

5. Content style guides Collection

We compiled a list of all the open sourced content styleguides available.

You could use it in order to write, design and manage your voice and tone in the most effective and professional way.

6. Content design and UX portfolios

Our team created a list of portfolios for you all so that you could get some inspiration from other people’s work and see what they’re all about.

https://uxdesign.cc/best-ux-writing-portfolios-2019-update-7e6a066631af

7. Best Podcasts

UX Writing and Content Design are closely related disciplines. Listening to the UX writing podcasts will help you become a better content designer.

https://leonardoraymundo.medium.com/5-podcasts-every-ux-writer-must-listen-to-3e0758e20fbe

Do you know of any other content design resources we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments!

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🧙‍♂️ Wanna give UX writing and content design a go? Try our free course A Taste of UX Writing

The definition of UX writing

In one sentence, UX writing is the craft of researching, creating and testing content for digital products and services.

What do UX writers do?

Digital products are found in most industries, and job descriptions vary from company to company. If you work in a small company or startup, you may be wearing many hats and UX writing may be one of several content-related tasks in your job description. In a large corporation, your work will most likely be more streamlined, focusing on UX writing for one or a few specific products.

Still, there are a few things all UX writers have in common:

• Creating copy based on UX research and testing results, instead of relying on their own judgment alone
• Working closely with designers and developers to get an understanding of the whole user journey in a given flow or section
• Using words to solve user problems and meet business goals

You can read more about what UX writers get up to here.

Skills UX writers need

Writing skills

The first thing that springs to mind is, doh, writing skills. But it’s vital to be aware that one thing that makes UX writing different from traditional writing gigs is all that other stuff. Things like:

Content strategy

UX writing is a kind of strategic writing. What does that mean? Well, instead of working with words on the surface — writing or revising a whole product from start to finish — UX writers are often tasked to identify and solve specific user challenges. 

You will often tackle one user flow at a time. Using insights from UX research, analytics, and a style guide, you will figure out how words can help the users move forward and complete tasks. 

UX research and testing

UX writing done right is research-based, data-driven and open to testing and user feedback. New insights will give you new tasks to complete and user challenges to solve. 

Many large companies have separate UX research departments. In that case, you probably won’t carry out the research or create the statistics yourself. But you need to be familiar with common research methods so that you know what to do with the material. Plus if you are aware of UX research, you can suggest research needed to the relevant department.

It’s also a good idea to familiarize yourself with research methods that are unique for UX writing, such as conversation mining and cloze tests. Read more about these and other testing methods in the article UX research for beginners. Another great resource if you’re new to the game is this podcast with UX researcher Natalya Sarana.

UX research is a lot of fun and will transform how you view writing forever, so it’s definitely worth the effort.

Design thinking

UX writers and content designers belong in the design department. This means that you will take part in daily or weekly standups, workshops, brainstorms and you name it. If you’re used to polishing your copy to perfection in a quiet corner, sending it off to your client, and moving on to the next writing task, it’s best to brace yourself for something quite different.

Design thinking is an iterative process where early and regular feedback is as common as pierogi in Poland. Get used to getting opinions of your work long before you’ve had a chance to finalize it–and be thankful for the input. Remember that your best critics are not necessarily other writers but people who are going to read your copy.

Design tools

You’re going to need at least basic competence with common design tools like Figma. Definitely learn how to navigate in Figma. It might not be the most intuitive tool to start with if you’re new to design. The good news is that it’s enough to start with the absolute basics. You’ll be working *with* designers, not replacing them. There may be a few brain balls out there who are just as good with copy as they are with design, but in the vast majority of cases, this is not required.

Learn more about UX design tools for UX writers.

AI-driven language tools

Recent developments within AI have both amazed and horrified our industry (I’m updating this article in March 2023). OpenAI’s ChatGTP has taken generative AI to new impressive levels. ChatGPT pumps out natural-sounding language at a speed no human can compete with. What’s a UX writer to do?

One thing’s for sure: How UX writers work is going to change. Our best chance to stay relevant is to stay on top of it all. Understand the potential and limitations of these tools so that you can use them to power up your own writing.

The new tools may be fast, but speed is far from everything a writer needs. One thing AI tools lack is context. You can ask them to write almost anything, but they are blissfully unaware of your company, your product, your goals, your users, your users’ pain points and needs, and your style guide. They haven’t been part of any discussions and they haven’t seen your user research or testing results. This is why they can be helpful to generate ideas or provide a first, rough draft of copy – but the output has to be checked, edited and approved.

So instead of panicking about technological advancement, explore the new tools that make you a faster and better UX writer. Two examples are Writer and Wordtune. One smart way to use Writer is to feed it the company style guide. This way, both writers and non-writers in a company can be prompted for style guide recommendations directly on the screen. In other words, it eliminates the need for locating and searching the style guide. Grammarly Business has a similar function. And things are moving fast — as of the time of writing, Grammarly is working on a Figma plugin.

Wordtune works quite differently. Rather than generating content for you, it helps you rephrase sentences you’ve written yourself. So it’s a handy companion if you’re the kind of writer who easily comes up with a first draft but find editing a drag.

Check out the article Top 6 AI writing tools for more tips. You’ll also get an intro to AI for UX writers in our free course A Taste of UX Writing.

How much do UX writers make?

UX writers, content designers, and other writers in the tech industry tend to earn above-average incomes. In some places in the world, UX writers even enjoy six-figure salaries.

According to our 2022 salary survey, the global average salary for writers in tech 2022 was 67K USD. But as you can imagine, this figure can vary enormously across countries, age groups, and years of experience, to name a few things. 

Head over to our salary survey for more exciting numbers and stats related to what UX writers make.

Is UX writing the same as content design?

The term content design was coined by Sarah Winters (was Richards), who led the mammoth task of transforming the UK government website. Sarah then went on to found Content Design London and write the brilliant book Content Design.

So the roots of content design can be traced back to the strategy, content creation and publishing needed to make text-heavy websites like GOV.UK more user-friendly. This is quite different from the job of many UX writers, at least those who work with user flows in mobile apps and other digital interfaces.

For some time, local preferences for UX writing and content design was clearly geographical:

In the last year or two, something interesting has happened. Several large companies (for example Facebook, Shopify, and Dropbox) have changed the job title of their UX writers to content designers. Why? The reason I’ve heard most often is to make it clear that UX writers should be part of the product design team. Content design also signals that the job is about so much more than writing. Valid points!

Still, the terms UX writing and content design are often used interchangeably, as Aaron Raizen discovered when doing some research and a podcast on the subject.

The titles UX writer and content designer are far from the only ones floating around for the same or similar jobs. It’s quite a mess. If you’re looking for a UX writing job, be sure to keep an eye open for content strategist, UX copywriter, product writer, UX content designer, and content editor jobs too (to mention a few).

The difference between UX writing and copywriting

Traditional copywriting is strongly associated with the work of advertising agencies. Ad copywriters produce adverts, brochures and sales letters using persuasive language to entice users to start using a product or buy a service.

The term copywriting is also often used for other types of text production, including web content, marketing copy and blog writing.

The main difference between UX writing and copywriting is that the bulk of UX writing is done after a user has completed a purchase or signed up for a service or app. As a result, there is no need to try to sell something. Instead, the goal of the writer is to make sure it is easy and pleasant to use the product or service.

Long-form copy vs. microcopy

Another fundamental difference is that copywriters often work with long-form copy. UX writing on the other hand has a huge connection to microcopy. And what’s microcopy? We have a whole separate article on the subject. Here’s just a quick explanation and one example:

Microcopy is the small snippets of text found all over digital interfaces. These texts serve many functions: They are there to help people move forward in the flow, remove friction, explain what’s gone wrong, and sometimes even give the user a smile on their face. 

See this example from Spotify: In a few short phrases, the microcopy assures us not just that we don’t have to pay, but that they will not ask for our credit card details:

The overlap between UX writing, copywriting and marketing

Anyway, back to copywriting and UX writing. There is plenty of overlap between the two. There is a lot of typical UX writing to be done before a purchase has been made (sign-up forms, for example). Another cross-over example is the copy needed to persuade people to upgrade from a free to a paid version.

Personally I think copywriters and UX writers have a lot to learn from each other. And marketing teams can benefit massively from introducing UX methods and design thinking into their content production. But that’s a topic for another article!

The relation between UX writing and content strategy

Content strategy can be described as a plan for content creation. It describes what type of content you should create, why you should create it, who should create it, how it will be created, and where it should be published and distributed.

A good content strategy is based on clear business and user goals.

UX writing is closely related to content strategy because UX writers aim for the sweet spot where they help users reach their goals while keeping business goals on track. You could say that UX writing is a strategic kind of writing. Check out Torrey Podmajersky’s book Strategic writing for UX for lots of examples of UX writing in practice.

UX writing vs. technical writing

What about the connection between technical writing and UX writing or content design? They definitely share some common ground. 

Like UX writers, technical writers aim to make complex information clear and easy to understand. Both need to be fully briefed on the project and the context, including style preferences, the target audience, and goals.

A difference between technical writing and UX writing is that tech writers tend to work with text-heavy documentation (online help files, instruction manuals etc.) rather than user journeys in digital interfaces. As such, the two roles require very different mindsets.

In today’s digital products, there are only traces of typical technical writing texts–for example tooltips and flows that guide the user. The goal for many digital products is to make the UI so friction-free and easy to use that support documentation is no longer needed. And this is precisely one reason many technical writers are transitioning to UX writing and content design.

Read our full article about technical writing and its relation to UX writing.

Who should do UX writing?

Who is best suited to become a UX writer? Writers who supplement their skillset with strategy and design tools, or designers who advance their writing skills?

I’d say that both are in an excellent position to transfer to UX writing. And not just writers and designers – there are numerous examples of people from other disciplines who have entered the world of UX writing. Journalism, customer service, and even baking, to name a few.

The important thing is to appreciate that there is a lot to learn, even if you have experience from a related field.

A typical day as a UX writer

OK maybe there’s no such thing as a typical day for UX writers. As mentioned above, job descriptions and tasks vary from company to company and project to project. So let’s pick an example day when the UX writer didn’t write a single word:

You kick off the day with a team meeting to go through what everyone’s up to. The lead UX writer has received a report showing that 21% of all users drop out of the checkout process at the address screen in the checkout flow. She asks you to look into the flow and the copy and come up with an action plan for improving the numbers.

The first thing you do is to familiarize yourself with the flow and see if you spot any glaring issues. So you run through the process, deliberately entering the wrong information in all fields to generate error messages and taking notes as you go along.

You’ve spotted a few possible obstacles for users, but need to dig deeper. So you scan through the full report for information about the users who drop out but feel unsure about the numbers. Hmmm, best to have a chat with the analyst who generated the report. You set up a call with him later in the afternoon.

Time for lunch 🥙

The call with the analyst reveals that the biggest group of checkout flow dropouts lives in other countries. You suspect the issue is due to lack of information on how to complete the fields if the address contains diacritics or non-latin letters. One of the error messages you spotted earlier was the Yoda-like “Error with this field occurred”, without any other explanation. More detail for the user at this stage might help.

You slack customer services to see if they are aware of any problems. You also slack the developers to ask for all the relevant error strings.

While you’re waiting for a response, you start preparing your action plan. Your hypothesis is that explanatory copy will reduce the dropout rate. Running a usability test with a couple of people in the affected countries might be an option. This would give you their feedback both on the functionality and how the copy resonates with them.

Customer services get back to you to say that two Polish customers have written to them in the last two weeks, because they couldn’t complete a purchase. Seems that you’re definitely on to something here. Tomorrow you’ll find out how many other countries are affected. If the lead UX writer agrees with your action plan, you’ll then start drafting copy for the error messages and go ahead with the usability test.

FAQs: How to become a UX writer

First of all, is it really worth transitioning to UX writing – aren’t UX writers going to be replaced by new technology à la ChatGPT?

The recent development within AI is impressive, to say the least. Naturally, many professional writers are concerned that their jobs will be replaced by technology.

As I hope to have shown in this article, UX writers and content designers do a lot more than write copy. We’re involved in the whole content creation process, from ideation and research through design to testing and data analysis. Our best assets, besides being able to write, are our communication and problem-solving skills.

If the new tools can help us produce copy more efficiently, great! Get to know those tools so that you can use them wisely. Hint: They’re not perfect and need to be handled with care.

Will we live to see AI replace humans in meetings, discussions, planning and ideation sessions, user interviews and so on? Who knows? Well if it comes to that, the rest of society has probably also changed fundamentally. And if so, we’ll all be living completely different lives. But it would be a gradual process, not something that happens overnight.

In any case, the best way to stay relevant in this profession is to keep up to date and adapt along with the technology.

Where can I get the skills needed to land a UX writing gig?

If you like to learn by taking courses, there are plenty to choose from. The first question is, should you do a UX design course or a UX writing course? Many people do both, but it really depends on the skills you want to achieve.

If you are a UX designer already, you probably won’t need another design course but should rather go for a course with lots of UX writing assignments. What about writers? Again, it depends – just be aware that UX writing is very different from other types of writing.

Our own courses combine UX writing and design practices and we have students from all sorts of backgrounds.

But do I have to take a course?

No, not necessarily–it depends on how you prefer to learn. You can develop your UX writing skills through self-study or by creating a portfolio that you can use to apply for jobs. If you have good self-discipline, motivation and networking skills, you’ll find all the information and resources you need online.

OK but can’t I just learn on the job?

Well, sure, there may be companies that are happy for you to learn as you go along. Look out for internships and junior positions! Oh and seek out UX writing opportunities in your current company and then have a word with your manager.

If you have some extra time on your hands, you can also look out for volunteering opportunities.

And how do I create a portfolio without experience?

We all use digital products every single day. Next time you bang your head on the keyboard because an app frustrates you, take screenshots! Build a case study around the problem and explain your proposed solution. Create alternative screens in a design tool like Figma and publish your case study online for future employers. Need portfolio inspiration? Start with our blog post 9 Beginner UX Writing Portfolios Examples.

Any other tips?

Yes! Join online communities (the very lively Facebook group Microcopy and UX writing is the biggest social media group for new, experienced, and future UX writers), go to online events and conferences, take part in local meetups, look into getting a mentor or UX writing buddy, read books. Connect with UX writers and content designers on LinkedIn.

The more you learn, the more fun you’ll have 🙂

Phew, OK! So where do I start?

A great way to find out if UX writing is for you is to take our free course A Taste of UX Writing. Enjoy!

The post What Is UX Writing? A Complete Guide For Beginners in 2024 appeared first on UX WRITING HUB.

Here’s a list of 10 outstanding books that every content designer should read. These books are packed with insights, practical tips, and a whole lot of fun. Add them to your bookshelves or borrow them from the library; however you get your books, these are must-haves.

Let’s dive in!

1. “Content Design” by Sarah Winters: This book is a must for anyone interested in content design. Sarah Richards, who coined the term “content design,” provides a comprehensive guide on how to focus on what content best serves the users’ needs. The book is divided into two parts. The first five chapters cover research and other preparatory activities such as discovery. The later five chapters focus more on practical issues, such as designing, writing content, and pair writing — all that content designers need to do to get the job done. It’s a great resource for understanding the difference between content design and copywriting.

2. “Designing Connected Content” by Carrie Hane and Mike Atherton: This book offers an end-to-end process for building a structured content framework. The authors share how to research and model your subject area based on a shared understanding of the important concepts, and how to plan and design interfaces for mobile, desktop, voice, and beyond. It’s perfect for content designers who want to understand interfaces for various platforms and how this could help them build the best product.

3. “Accessibility for Everyone” by Laura Kalbag: In this book, Laura focuses on designing with accessibility in mind. She guides the reader through the accessibility landscape: understanding disability and impairment challenges, getting a handle on important laws and guidelines, and learning how to plan for, evaluate, and test accessible design. It’s a great resource for content designers who want to create content that is accessible to all users.

4. “Just Enough Research” by Erika Hall: Good content design is all about understanding user needs. The best way to understand user needs and create content to satisfy those needs is through research. In this book, Erika Hall distills her experience into a guidebook of trusted research methods you can implement right away. It’s a great guide for content designers who want to create content that truly meets the needs of their users.

5. “Content Strategy Toolkit” by Meghan Casey: In this book, Meghan Casey outlines a step-by-step approach for doing content strategy, from planning and creating your content to delivering and managing it. Armed with this book, you can confidently tackle difficult activities like telling your boss or client what’s wrong with their content, getting the budget to do content work, and aligning stakeholders with a common vision. It’s perfect for content designers who are new to content strategy or those who want to effectively plan, create, deliver, and manage content.

6. “A Practical Guide to Information Architecture” by Donna Spencer: This book is a very practical guide to information architecture and navigation design for website and intranet design and redesign projects. If you’re a website designer or intranet manager and don’t have a lot of information architecture experience, this book will help you feel more confident about your processes and decisions. It’s also a good resource for those who might have been in the space for a little bit and need a refresher on the topic.

7. “Leading Content Design” by Rachel McConnell: In this book, Rachel McConnell shares practical tools to solve real content problems, from breaking through organizational blockers to growing great teams. It’s perfect for content designers who are now in managerial roles and are building that skill set through organizing teams and growing their presence among stakeholders.

8. “Microcopy: The Complete Guide” by Kinneret Yifrah: This book takes a deep dive into the world of microcopy. It covers everything from basic UX writing principles to how to design voice and tone from scratch. It also explores how to use copy to alleviate users’ concerns and write in ways that are accessible to everyone. It’s a great resource for content designers who want a comprehensive read about UX microcopy.

9. “Storytelling in Design” by Anna Dahlström: This book shows you how storytelling can make a powerful difference in product design. By applying tried-and-tested principles from film and fiction to the context of design and business, you’ll learn to create great product experiences, as well as how you can use storytelling to get buy-in. It also can help improve your presentation skills so you can wow your stakeholders. It’s a great resource for content designers who want to understand how to bring the power of storytelling to UX.

10. “The Business of UX Writing” by Yael Ben-David: This book offers savvy and practical guidance to ensure our digital products support the user and the business. It’s perfect for content designers who want to understand the intersection between business goals and user needs. It can provide an overview of the business for new UX content designers and be a starter guide for those who want to move into a managerial role.

We hope you find these books as enlightening and enjoyable as we did. Remember, content design isn’t just about creating content; it’s about creating experiences. With these books in your arsenal, you’re well on your way to designing content that not only informs but also engages, delights, and inspires. Happy reading!

Check more book recaps here

The post 10 Best Books for Content Designers appeared first on UX WRITING HUB.

This article is your official handbook for the go-to storytelling tool: UX storyboarding. By the end, you won’t only be a UX storyboarding master – you’ll be fully equipped to enhance your brand story.

What is UX Storyboarding?

UX storyboarding is the technique that creates sequential illustrations that depict a product or service’s user experience. 

These illustrations will: 

• Map out the user’s actions in chronological order, much like a comic strip 
• Provide a clear depiction of their journey within a specific context or scenario. 

Storyboards have nailed the ability to identify a product’s existing roadblocks and uncover opportunities to iron them out.

Stages of UX Storyboarding

Using storyboarding throughout multiple stages of UX/product design reveals its greatest virtues. 

And these stages are:

1. Post-User Research
   
   Storyboards can supercharge your research data by extracting key themes that can actualize your findings into a visual user narrative.

2. Ideation Process
   
   Storyboarding makes your brainstorming more effective – materializing these potential solutions so that you can assess their validity before you progress towards design and development.

3. Design Phase
    

Storyboards act as an infrastructure that keeps user pain points as the foundation of user-focused design decisions.

Benefits of UX Storyboarding

The human brain’s preference to process information visually rather than textually is what lets stakeholders communicate ideas quickly and collaboratively. 

In other words, seeing is believing.

Research shows that “visuals are processed 60,000 times faster than text, and it takes twice as long to process and recognize words.”

The outcome? 

A shared understanding of the problem space, and buy-in for your proposed design solutions.

Case Study: Successful Storyboarding in UX Design at AirBNB

Consider the success story of none other than the iconic home sharing platform, Airbnb;

“We use the storyboard to see how each moment in the journey connects and to understand where opportunities for improvement lie. 

The storyboard is a benchmark we refer to, not only to gauge progress, but to help us look ahead and tackle potential problems down the road…

At Airbnb, we keep that mission in mind through a storyboard that depicts archetypal guest and host journeys. 

Sharing this storyboard across departments reminds us that user experience is not just a design problem, but a whole company problem. Making it visual helps everyone stay on the same page while understanding each team’s individual roles in achieving our goals.”

Do these pillars of value sound familiar?

As we discussed earlier, real-life storyboarding serves as a:

• Point of reference for your user journey
• Vehicle to eliminate roadblocks in the way of delivering your solution
• Way to uncover opportunities for delighting users
• Tool for obtaining buy-in and support for your ideas

Tips for Creating Effective Storyboards

Jot down these tips for creating effective storyboards that solidify an understanding of your users:

• Keep it simple

Your storyboard should be easy to understand. Avoid unnecessary details that may confuse the viewer

• Focus on the user

The storyboard should center around the user’s experience, emotions, and actions

• Use a logical flow

Ensure that the storyboard follows a logical sequence of events

Common Mistakes to Avoid While Storyboarding

On that note, avoid these common pitfalls when creating your storyboard:

• Overcomplicating the story

Keep the story simple and focused; too many elements can distract from the main message

• Ignoring the User’s Perspective
  
  Always design from the user’s point of view. Without it, your product risks straying far from being one that meets users’ needs

Digital Tools for Storyboarding

Your storyboarding process can be amplified by killer digital tools that structure and support it. There are even a plethora of templates built for this very niche:

• • Figma (+ Official Figma Storyboard Template)

• Miro (+ Official Miro Storyboard Template)

• Mural (+ Official Mural Storyboard Template)

Final Cut

UX storyboarding’s cutting edge is the way it visually represents the user journey: leading to a finished product that conveys and delivers your brand story in full force.

So, what makes a good storyboard?

✔ Communicates the user journey effectively

✔ Highlights pain points

✔ Provides a clear-cut path to the winning solution

✔ A simple and logical user flow

Ready to tell your story? You now have everything you need for your first UX storyboard.

Happy storyboarding!

The post Mastering UX Storyboarding appeared first on UX WRITING HUB.

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Getting into debt is easy. Getting out is hard.

Usually, debt happens for one of two very different reasons. Either things are great and you don’t spend enough time pondering your bold decisions or things aren’t great at all and you simply don’t have many choices available to you.  One thing is for certain, though. No matter the reason for racking up debt, you will eventually be faced with the consequences of your actions.  

What you may not realize is that this very same concept applies to UX writing content and unfortunately, there aren’t many product managers who warn their stakeholders of this. Imagine, for example, a bootstrap start-up. Funds are tight, so the decision is made to forgo quality UX Writing.

In the short term, this works.

Money is saved, the product is built and they’re off the ground.  In the long term, however, the cost of that decision will far outweigh the benefits.

All it takes are some confusing instructions, unclear error messages, or simply a brand voice that isn’t consistent and the entire experience can be ruined for the end user.

Now that company will be faced with increased customer support requests, lower conversion rates, and ultimately users who aren’t going to be out there spreading the good word (not sure why that’s a bad thing? Definitely check out our other post about PLG).

What exactly is UX writing content debt?

Simply put, UX writing debt is a term used to describe the accumulation of poor quality or outdated content in a digital product’s user interface (UI).

This occurs when a company ignores the importance of creating high-quality UX writing, either from the outset or by not prioritizing it as the product grows. 

Over time, if the UX writing is not maintained, it can become inconsistent, confusing, or worse yet, completely irrelevant.

As the debt grows, users will begin to struggle to complete tasks, they would be frustrated, and ultimately product abandonment will be a real issue.

Also, much like a financial debt, the larger your content debt grows the longer and more arduous the journey back will be.

The good news? This fate can be avoided! By investing in creating and maintaining high-quality UX writing, product managers can ensure a happier outcome for all involved.   

What factors cause the debt to grow?

• Inconsistent tone: If a product has multiple writers or has not established a consistent tone, it can lead to a confusing or jarring experience for users. The use of different words or phrasing can cause users to doubt the authenticity of the product, leading to distrust and a lack of engagement.
• Outdated content: Products need to be updated regularly to ensure that the content is relevant and up to date. Outdated content can lead to confusion and frustration for users who may be misled or unable to find the information they need.
• Poorly written instructions: Instructions that are unclear or poorly written can lead to frustration and confusion. Users may struggle to complete tasks, misunderstand the product’s features, or become discouraged from using the product altogether.
• Vague error messages: Error messages that are unclear or unhelpful can leave users unsure of how to resolve the issue. This can lead to frustration and result in negative user experiences, leading to lower engagement and potentially lost customers.
• Lack of accessibility: When a product does not consider accessibility in its UX writing, it can make it difficult for users with disabilities to use the product. This can lead to frustration and exclusion, limiting the product’s potential audience and hurting the company’s reputation.

But, how does UX writing debt occur in the first place?

• Lack of prioritization: In some cases, UX writing is not seen as a priority or may be overlooked during the product development process. This can result in subpar UX writing or even none at all from the very beginning.
• Inadequate resources: Companies may not invest enough resources, such as time or budget, into creating and maintaining quality UX writing. This can lead to shortcuts being taken, outdated content being used, or errors being overlooked.
• Poor collaboration: When product teams are not communicating or collaborating effectively, it can lead to inconsistencies in the UX writing. This can result in content that does not align with the product’s vision or user needs.
• Lack of attention to detail: In some cases, UX writing may be seen as a minor detail that is not given enough attention. However, the impact of UX writing on the user experience can be significant, and overlooking details can lead to negative consequences.
• Limited UX writing expertise: Not all product teams may have UX writing experts on staff, leading to subpar or inconsistent UX writing. Investing in UX writing expertise can help ensure high-quality content that aligns with the product’s vision and user needs.

Overall, UX writing debt most often occurs when companies do not recognize the value of quality UX writing and therefore do not prioritize it.

Ok, how do I know if I have UX writing debt?

You’ll want to conduct a content audit in order to identify your specific areas of UX writing debt. With a more complete picture of the situation, you’ll be able to determine which of the existing content needs revision, and where in the product you will need to start from scratch creating new content.

User research and metrics like conversion rates, and support requests will also tell the story of your UX writing debt. By proactively analyzing all of this, you can spot the warning signs of poor UX writing and take steps to address it.

Here’s a few tips on how to spot ux writing debt:

• Review existing content: Take a close look at the UX writing in your product and assess its quality. Look for inconsistencies, outdated content, unclear instructions, and any other issues that could lead to a negative user experience.
• Conduct user research: Talk to your users and gather feedback on their experience with the product. Ask them about the clarity of the instructions, the tone of the content, and any other issues they may have encountered.
• Analyze metrics: Look at metrics such as user engagement, conversion rates, and customer support requests. If these metrics are low or declining, it could be a sign of UX writing debt.

By identifying and addressing UX writing debt early on, you can improve the user experience, increase engagement, boost customer satisfaction, and hopefully avoid the dreaded negative review.

Alright, I’ve found the debt. How do I fix it?

First and foremost, in order to address UX writing debt, it’s important to commit to prioritizing your content.

Here are some tips on how to develop a strategy to address UX writing debt:

• Promote UX writing in your company: By promoting UX writing in your company and highlighting its importance, you can help prevent and address UX writing debt and ensure that content is a valued and integral part of the user experience.
• Prioritize content: Identify which parts of the product have the highest impact on the user experience and focus on improving those areas.
• Revise existing content: Update outdated or unclear content and ensure that the tone and voice are consistent throughout the product.
• Create new content: Develop new content that aligns with the product’s vision and user needs, and ensure that it is high-quality and consistent.

So all this was to say…

UX writing debt is a serious issue and when it grows, both users and the business stand to lose. By developing a plan to proactively identify and address UX writing debt, a business can make critical changes to its copy before it’s too late. Following the tips and strategies I’ve outlined here, will help you to ensure that the UX writing in your digital product is not only clear and consistent but also valuable and impactful.

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Making Product Led Growth Work with UX Writing

The post UX Writing Debt to UX Content Wealth appeared first on UX WRITING HUB.

In short, product-led growth (PLG) is a business strategy in which the product takes charge of the sales process. In this strategy, the features, performance, and virality of the product are used to attract customers. Yup, the product literally relies on itself to drive sales and engagement. And when it’s done properly it works brilliantly!

As you might assume, great UX writing plays a crucial role in the success of your PLG approach. In this article, we’ll explain why UX writing is so important for PLG and share tips on how to make it work for your business.

So why are businesses turning to Product-Led Growth (PLG) to grow?

This shift towards PLG has been fueled by the rise of SaaS companies and the increasing importance of UX in acquiring and retaining customers.

By embracing PLG, businesses can create a self-sustaining engine that boosts adoption, engagement, and revenue. That sounds so important I’m gonna say it again… it’s self-sustaining!

Why keep reading?

To succeed with PLG, great UX writing is essential in creating a seamless, user-friendly product experience. My goal is to take a closer look at the role of UX writing in PLG and share tips for writing effective UX copy that supports a product-led growth strategy. Hope you’ll stick around!

Here’s why excellent UX Writing is a must for Product-Led Growth.
In a product-led growth strategy, the product itself is at the center of the customer experience. Naturally, the product’s gotta have strong features and performance but it also needs to provide a seamless and intuitive user experience. We want our users to fall in love with the product and that’s where UX writing comes in!

UX Writers understand how to use their words to craft a unified and cohesive experience for the user. The words we use everywhere from labels, and instructions, to buttons and error messages, must be intentional. Meeting customers with the right microcopy at the right moment can be the difference between user dropout and brand loyalty.

The impact of well-crafted UX writing on user engagement and retention should not be underestimated. Clear and concise messaging can help users understand how to use a product and encourage them to keep coming back.

Best Practices for UX Writing in a Product-Led Growth Strategy
When it comes to crafting effective UX writing that supports a product-led growth strategy, there are several best practices to keep in mind.

You will also like this blog Leveraging ChatGPT in UX Writing

Here’s some tips to consider:

Use user-centric language: The language used in UX writing should be centered around the user and their needs. This means using words and phrases that are familiar to the user, and avoiding technical jargon or industry-specific terminology that may confuse them.

Keep messaging clear and concise: Users want to quickly and easily understand the value of a product. Keep messaging clear and concise, and avoid unnecessary fluff or overly complex language.

Focus on the benefits: When describing product features, focus on the benefits they provide to the user. How will the product make their life easier or better? Highlighting these benefits can help drive user engagement and retention.

Leverage social proof: Social proof, such as customer reviews or testimonials, can be a powerful tool in supporting a product-led growth strategy. Incorporate social proof into UX writing to help build trust and credibility with users.

Continuously test and iterate: UX writing is not a one-and-done process. Continuously test and iterate on messaging and language to ensure it resonates with users and supports a product-led growth strategy.

By following these best practices and creating UX writing that’s user-centric, clear, and focused on benefits, businesses can support a product-led growth strategy and drive user engagement and retention.

Check out these examples of a few companies that are getting the UX Writing and PLG thing right!

Slack
Slack is a popular messaging and collaboration app that has experienced explosive growth since its launch in 2013. A key factor in their success has been their product-led growth strategy, which relies on their product's usability and virality to attract new users.

One way that Slack supports this strategy is through their UX writing. The company’s messaging is clear, concise, and user-centric, making it easy for new users to understand the product’s value and get started with minimal friction. Additionally, their onboarding experience is designed to be engaging and interactive, helping users quickly see the benefits of the product and encouraging them to invite others to join.

As a result, Slack has been able to achieve impressive user engagement and retention rates, with millions of daily active users and high levels of user satisfaction.

Grammarly
Grammarly is a writing assistant tool that uses AI to help users improve their grammar, spelling, and writing style. The company has grown rapidly in recent years, with millions of users around the world.

One of the keys to their success has been their product-led growth strategy, which is supported by their UX writing. Grammarly’s messaging is clear and straightforward, highlighting the product’s benefits and features in a way that resonates with users. Additionally, their onboarding experience is designed to be intuitive and personalized, with tailored suggestions and prompts that help users get the most out of the product.

As a result of these efforts, Grammarly has been able to achieve high levels of user engagement and retention, with users citing the product’s ease of use and effectiveness as key factors in their satisfaction.

Dropbox
Dropbox is a cloud storage and collaboration platform that has become a household name since its launch in 2007. The company’s success has been driven in part by their product-led growth strategy, which focuses on the product’s usability and ease of use.

One way that Dropbox supports this strategy is through their UX writing. The company’s messaging is clear and user-centric, emphasizing the product’s simplicity and convenience. Additionally, their onboarding experience is designed to be engaging and interactive, helping users quickly understand the value of the product and encouraging them to invite others to join.

As a result, Dropbox has been able to achieve high levels of user engagement and retention, with millions of daily active users and a strong reputation for user satisfaction.

So wrapping this up…

These case studies illustrate the power of product-led growth and effective UX writing in driving user engagement and retention. By focusing on the user experience and using clear, user-centric messaging, companies like Slack, Grammarly, and Dropbox have been able to achieve impressive growth and success. As you implement your own product-led growth strategy, remember the importance of UX writing and its ability to support your overall goals.

My advice…if you’ve decided to pursue a PLG strategy have a sit-down with your UX Writer. Discuss strategies, ask for their input, and include them in your meetings. At the end of the day, your customers will remember how easy your product was to navigate, how it spoke to them, and how that made them feel.

You can be sure that your users will tell their work besties, and share on social media about the experiences they have. With quality UX Writing you can also ensure that all those stories about your product are good ones.

Mu last piece of advice…if you haven’t got a UX writer on staff, hire one 😁. You’ll thank me later 😉.

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The post Making Product Led Growth Work with UX Writing appeared first on UX WRITING HUB.