The big difference between UX writing and content writing is that good UX writing is forgettable and good content writing is not. While each type of writing plays an important role in digital communication, they are very different from each other.
What Is UX Writing?
UX Writers focus on creating and shaping the user experience through text and language. UX writing leads users smoothly through the product, and like other aspects of user-centered design, UX writing should not stand out; it should be intuitive. If the user has to stop and think about directions or descriptions, that interrupts the flow of the experience. UX writers create the text that is displayed on apps and websites, including instructions, buttons, labels, help messages, and warnings.UX writing is purpose-driven. It is entirely devoted to getting the user from point A to point B smoothly and effortlessly.
What is Content Writing?
Content writers create articles, reports, white papers, blog posts, product descriptions, and instructions. Unlike UX writing, the purpose of content is to catch the reader’s attention. Copywriters use active, vivid descriptions to create interest in a product and then finish with a call to action to make a purchase. Some content includes carefully researched search engine optimized keywords to drive traffic to a website with a compelling story.
How Is UX Writing Different From Copywriting?
UX writing is often referred to as microcopy to differentiate it from long-form digital writing. Copywriters create articles, blog posts, product descriptions, and other types of writing that may be anywhere from a few paragraphs to thousands of words in length. The purpose of copywriting is marketing or selling a product or experience.
The purpose of UX writing is to create an easy and enjoyable experience for users of digital products. It is much shorter than marketing copywriting and encompasses words on buttons, helpful hints, instructions, and error messages. Sometimes UX Writers create emails, informational messages, and terms and conditions. Basically, any words that appear on a website or mobile app are considered UX writing.
Unlike copywriting that is meant to be memorable and make the reader take an action, UX writing is purposely forgettable. It blends into the design as the user moves through the application and makes sure they can successfully achieve their goals. If you notice the writing, it isn’t doing its job.
What Skills Do UX and Content Writers Need?
The skills both types of writers need have some similarities and some differences.
Solid Writing Ability
Both UX and Content Writers need to have solid writing skills with a good understanding of grammar, spelling, and style. Both also need to be able to assess their audience, although for UX Writers, this will involve user testing to determine what language works best. In UX writing, the words are part of the design, whereas in content writing the overall message is the most important.
An Understanding of Content Strategy
The way UX Writers and Content Writers use content strategy is different. UX Writers need to know what goals the words are supposed to help users accomplish and how this works for each page of the design. Following the design style guide is very important to ensure consistency and brand identity. Content Writers create original articles, blog posts, or web pages that are original, creative, and can engage a reader to click on a link, visit a website, and purchase goods or services. Content Writers also follow style guides, although they are geared more toward writing style and rules for punctuation, spelling, and capitalization than the look of the design.
Research Knowledge
UX Writers conduct user research on the text portions of the design. This can include surveys, interviews, user flows, and other types of user testing methods. Content writers also do research to make sure that their writing is trustworthy and will reach the correct audience, as well as researching which SEO keywords would be most successful.
Tools and Software
Because they are part of a design team, UX Writers usually become familiar with the tools that designers use to create their designs. Software like Adobe XD, Sketch for Mac, InVision, and Figma are common tools for UX and UI design, which are used to create buttons and place text in designs. Content Writers word processing software to write their articles and blog posts and other tools like Hubspot, Moz, and Keyword Hero to analyze keywords.
Communication Skills
Both UX and Content Writers need to be good communicators and know who to give and receive feedback, but UX Writers are more often called upon to clarify and sometimes justify their role. Most people understand more about the role of a Copywriter, but UX writing is a very new field and fewer people are aware of their roles.
Agility
Both Content Writers and UX Writers work in the quickly-changing digital realm, UX Writers are developing products and need to stay up-to-date on technical developments. Both need to keep their minds and eyes open to stay in touch with trends and changes.
How to Get a Job in UX or Content Writing
Most people interested in UX Writing or Content Writing have a background in English and writing. Although UX Writing is a very new field, there are a few courses available. Courses can be helpful but are not absolutely necessary to get a job in UX writing. Getting hired as a UX Writer or Content Writer depends upon the quality of your work, and that involves putting together a portfolio of examples to show to prospective employers. Once you have a resume and portfolio together, you can find employment ads on platforms like Indeed.com and Glassdoor.com, and you can get job notices daily in your email.
What if you have never worked as a writer and don’t have any samples to show? You can sign up for a weekly UX writing challenge to create some. You will be sent a project to complete that you can then add to your portfolio. If you want to work as a Content Writer, place an ad on websites like Upwork and Fiverr looking for small jobs to build up your portfolio.
Networking is also important when you are looking to start a career as a UX or Content Writer. Check out local Meetups to see if there are any writing or design groups in your area. Another place to network is online. Facebook and LinkedIn offer many groups for writers.
Conclusion
It’s easy to learn UX design and start a new career. Check out Noble Desktop’s UX design classes or visual design classes. Choose between in-person sessions in NYC at Noble’s location or sign up for live online UX/UI design courses and attend from anywhere. Use Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me to find other UX/UI design bootcamps in your area.