In recent years, UX writing has emerged as an essential discipline in the design of digital interactions. It plays a crucial role in defining the overall user experience with digital products.
Editorial
Guide to UX writing: how to write clear, concise and effective texts
Date
08 April 2024
It’s not just about writing content; it’s about effectively combining psychology, interaction design and technical writing to improve the usability of websites, apps and other digital systems.
But what exactly is UX writing and why is it so important today?
What is UX writing and why it is important
UX writing refers to the creation of specific texts that appear to users during interaction with digital interfaces. Unlike traditional writing, this type of process focuses on the creation of short texts, called microcopy, which, if written effectively, play a decisive role in guiding and facilitating the user's interaction with the software.
These texts are designed to be immediately clear, simple and functional. They provide precise instructions that guide users to the next steps and maximize the product's features. This is an essential form of writing that can significantly increase user satisfaction, reduce frustration, and contribute positively to the perception of the brand.
The effectiveness of quality UX writing is not only reflected in the user-friendliness of the software but also in the way it helps to build and maintain a positive relationship between the user and the brand. Through clear communication, proactive support and straightforward, empathetic language, this script plays a key role in building a digital experience that puts the user and their needs first.
Basic principles of UX writing
The three basic principles of UX writing are: clarity, conciseness and usefulness.
Clarity is essential to ensure that messages are immediately understandable. Using simple and direct language eliminates any possible ambiguity, allowing users to understand the information presented quickly and effortlessly.
Conciseness is the ability to eliminate any superfluous elements that may distract or confuse the user.. This principle entails choosing precise words and using short sentences that communicate the essential without unnecessary details. The goal is to keep the user's attention high, avoid time wastage, and increase the efficiency of the interaction.
Finally, usefulness ensures that every text element has a well-defined purpose, actively contributing to the user's goals. This includes the need to provide clear instructions on how to navigate the interface, explanations on how to use the product functionalities and essential information that supports decisions and actions. For example, when registering for a service, it is vital that texts are not only short and direct, but also that each word helps the user to complete the process without any confusion. This approach ensures that the user never feels lost or frustrated, and that every step towards the goal is intuitive and guided by the text.
The correct interplay of these aspects is crucial in developing texts aimed at transforming the user experience, making each interaction more pleasant and productive.
Techniques for writing clear and concise texts
The actual writing of a text, whether short or long, is preceded by its planning. A sort of initial conceptual map in which all the useful information and (verified) sources are gathered from which to structure a solid and up-to-date text. Once the necessary data is collected and the target audience is clearly understood, it may be useful to draw up an outline to define the logical order of the topics to be developed.
To optimise user interface texts, there are also specific strategies to be taken into account during the writing phase, some of which include:
- Using simple language: adopting essential words and direct sentences helps users to quickly understand the message and avoid misunderstandings.
- Short, sharp sentences: short sentences are essential to keep attention high and reduce the user’s cognitive load. This facilitates immediate action by limiting distractions.
- Fresh language: using simple words (always maintaining consistency with the tone of voice of the brand) makes texts more engaging and helps to generate conversion and drive action.
- Elimination of the superfluous: removing words, sentences, brackets or even whole paragraphs that do not add value to the main objective makes reading more fluent and effective.
- Use of bullet points and sub-headings: organising information through bullet points, sub-headings and short paragraphs can help to structure content strategically and thus avoid the “wall of text” effect.
- Review and testing: testing the adopted language with real users can provide invaluable feedback on how information is perceived and understood, improving the final product experience.
By implementing these techniques, UX Writers can significantly optimise the usability of interfaces by improving the quality of interactions but also the overall perception of the digital product.
Adapting the tone of voice to the audience and context
Adapting the tone of voice to the audience and context is vital to reach people directly and effectively. There are different target groups that have different expectations and demands and this requires reasoned and specific communication approaches. This adaptation is not only limited to the content, but also extends to the various communicative contexts.
The tone adopted on a social media site, for instance, might be lighter than in an official communication via email or website. Therefore, implementing a style guide becomes essential to maintain voice consistency across all the different communication channels, ensuring that each message is appropriate for its context and audience.
This not only helps to create a strong brand image, but also facilitates the integration of new professionals into the team, providing them with clear guidelines on how to represent the brand and interact with the audience.
Tools and resources to improve UX writing skills
Good UX writers are made, not born. Specific training is essential to learn best practices and meet different user expectations. IED courses offer a mix of theory and practice to learn how to write effective texts in order to improve the end-user experience. Whether you are a beginner or a professional seeking further training, IED courses will provide you with the skills you need to excel in this field.
Explore all the courses available and discover how targeted training can open the door to new professional opportunities in the world of UX writing.
Credits: Project Plastic for Triquell, Sofia Masiello, Master's Program in Visual Arts and Digital Age, IED Milano.
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