The landscape of the user experience (UX) industry is changing. One of the more modern jobs in this space is UX writing, a unique skill. While similar to copywriting, this is a specific skill set with a low barrier of entry and fantastic career potential.
According to Talent, the average UX writer’s salary in the USA is $125,938. As more companies see the value in hiring a UX writer, it’s time to learn more about this profession.
What Is UX Writing?
Firstly, what is UX writing? In short, it’s the practice of creating the texts that appear on the interface of a digital product. This includes mobile apps, websites, and software.
It’s very similar to copywriting—we’ll cover the differences in more detail later. However, the main objective of UX writing is to guide the user through the interface. Technology can be complex, and it often aims to address the needs of thousands of users. As a result, digital products are in increasing need of clear guidance.
UX writers often write the text for:
- Navigation menus
- Buttons and calls-to-action (CTAs)
- Error messages
- Push notifications
These small pieces of text are called microcopy. To do this effectively, the writer must carefully think about the user. After all, the idea is to provide value to the end user. You can only provide value if you know the customer. At the end of the day, UX writers are the bridge between the user’s needs and the company’s goals.
There are also other aspects to writing microcopy. This includes:
- Conducting UX research to understand the user.
- Ensuring the brand and tone are consistent throughout the product.
- Aligning all the content creators and marketers on the same page.
- Writing style guides for the company.
It’s a varied and exciting role, perfect for those seeking something more specific than copywriting.
UX Writing vs Copywriting
When it comes to UX writing vs. copywriting, there are some crucial differences. Primarily, UX writers create microcopy for user interfaces (UI), while copywriting is broader.
Copywriting is more of a marketing discipline. It involves captions and social media posts, marketing emails, blog posts, newsletters, ad copy, and so on. The aim is to convert people into users and make a sale.
UX writing is about copy within the product. The users are already there, so this copy is about making their experience better.
How To Get Into UX Writing
If you’re wondering how to get into UX writing, there are a few avenues. As this is such a new role, you don’t need any specific qualifications. However, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with some of the concepts.
Most people who go into the field have a copywriting background. From there, you can learn some of the basics from online resources and YouTube videos. Check out the following:
With these resources in mind, you can start working on some of the essential skills. This includes writing, of course. You should have an in-depth knowledge of spelling, grammar, and shades of meaning. However, the best writers are also exceptional at being clear and concise. Practice some UX-specific writing prompts to hone your craft.
Other skills you should have include research. You should know how to perform UX research and interview potential users. Furthermore, you should be knowledgeable about A/B testing and other usability testing methods.
Some UX writers have experience with different tools. These may be research tools or UX/UI tools. While digital design programs are not a crucial part of your role, they’re still important in the industry. Being familiar with them can increase your job prospects.
Should You Do a UX Writing Course?
In some cases, it can be beneficial to do a UX writing course. A few of these exist now, and some of them are extremely helpful. Whether you’re a total beginner or want to refresh your knowledge, here are some of the best courses.
1. UX Writing Academy
UX Writing Hub’s course is a 4-month online program for different skill levels. The Essentials course is a self-paced video course that you can do quickly. However, the full academy program features real project experience and 1:1 feedback. This course costs $2500 and takes 12 hours per week of your time. It’s highly worth it, though; you’ll learn everything from research to prototyping.
2. UX Writing Fundamentals
This course from the UX Writers Collective is a cheaper option at $895. For complete beginners, there’s a Microcopy Course. Then, there’s the Fundamentals course, a 10-week course with around 20-40 hours of work. This course covers everything from the writing basics to finding a job. There will be a final exam at the end to test your knowledge.
3. UX Writing With Kinneret Yifrah
Kinneret Yifrah literally wrote the book on this subject. Her book Microcopy: The Complete Guide explains everything you need to know. However, you can also do her course on Udemy for a brief introduction to UX writing. Created in collaboration with UX writer and content strategist Merav Levkowitz, this course has two hours of video content. You’ll learn a variety of skills, from brand voice to boosting engagement, with practical applications for each.
How To Get a UX Writing Certification
Most of the time, it will cost you to get a UX writing certification. There are some free courses out there, but these tend to be very surface-level explorations. Detailed courses cost money, but there are usually options to suit a range of budgets.
Fortunately, most courses are online, and you can do them remotely. As a result, you can work at your own pace before you start looking for a job.
Make sure you do some research before choosing a course. You should try to find one tailored to your skill level and your goals.
How To Become a UX Writer Without a Certification
You don’t actually need a certification to become a UX writer. If you can prove that your writing skills are strong enough, you can still make it. Here’s how to become a UX writer without a certification.
Above all else, you’ll need:
- Strong microcopywriting skills
- Knowledge of UX
Ideally, you may have experience in either copywriting or UX. However, you don’t need a specific certification in UX writing. Instead, you can prove your skills through a portfolio. No, you don’t need experience to produce a portfolio—you can create your own projects.
You can either create projects yourself or start in a tangential role. Try copywriting or UX design, and practice UX writing wherever you can. Potential employers will want evidence of your work, but this doesn’t mean you need employment. As long as you can showcase your skills, you can sell your case.
How To Create a UX Writing Portfolio
If you want to be a UX writer, you need to know how to create a UX writing portfolio. These are generally quite similar to UX design portfolios. Most writers use a website with evidence of their work and case studies highlighting their skills.
A lot of writers use a website-building platform like WordPress, Squarespace, Wix, or others. As mentioned above, you can start one with no experience. Try to find a digital product you use a lot, and then rewrite the microcopy in your own style. Write out the case study to explain the problems, your approach, and how you have solved a problem.
Alternatively, you can come up with a new feature and create a copy for it. Crucially, you need to make it clear that it is not client work. Don’t worry—potential employers will love your creativity.
The UX Writing Process
Are you in need of some actionable UX writing tips? First, you need to understand the process. It looks slightly different for every writer. Generally, it looks like this.
- Learn the project: Figure out what the problem is that the design team wants to solve. You need to know what the user journey is.
- Conduct competitor analysis: Find out what others are doing. This can inform your copy with the right terminology, structures, and flows.
- Ideate: Start to think about how you will write the copy. Ideally, you will have seen some wireframes by this point, so you can create a copy for each step.
- Revise: UX is always iterative, and that includes writing. You can add your copy to the prototype or wireframe and then keep revising it as necessary. There may be group discussions with other team members or user testing.
- Document: It’s always a good idea to document your process to see how the copy evolves. This way, you can remain consistent throughout. Plus, you can keep track of what has changed.
Eventually, you will get a copy that’s good enough to go live. One of the joys of UX writing is that each project can be very different. As a result, it’s unlikely that you’ll get bored!
UX Writing Best Practices
Practice makes perfect, so you’re not going to become the best UX writer ever the moment you start. However, you can get off on the right foot by following some of these best practices.
1. Make Sure Your Copy Fits
This one might sound obvious, but it’s worth reiterating. Above all else, your copy needs to fit where it’s supposed to. Copywriting can usually be more free-flowing, with blog posts stretching over 2000 words. Microcopy, however, needs to be concise.
You’re working with a team of designers, so make sure your copy fits with their design. For example, with a CTA button, you may only have one or two words.
2. Be Concise
Speaking of brevity, good copy is always more concise. Sometimes, you have the space to use more words. However, it’s better to use fewer words wherever you can.
Learn to trim away “fluff” so that your copy is straight to the point.
3. Make It User-Centric
UX is all about the user, and this includes the microcopy. You need to make your copy as easy as possible for your user to understand. Make sure you choose simplicity and clarity every time. Sense-check your work and go over it with your team. The more eyes on it, the better.
4. Avoid Jargon
You should always write in the user’s language. Where possible, don’t use industry-specific or program-specific language. After all, this might be the user’s first time interacting with your product.
5. Write in the Active Voice
You can usually engage users more easily by using the active voice. For the sake of CTAs, it’s much clearer to use active voice. It leaves less room for doubt, and it is also more likely to encourage interaction. Rather than saying, “A password must be entered,” say, “Enter your password.”
6. Be Inclusive
UX should always be inclusive. In terms of UX writing, you should write copy that everyone can understand. No matter how somebody accesses your content, they should be able to read it and understand it.
For example, hiding copy within a “See more options here” tab can exclude those using a screen reader. Avoid this wherever possible so that all of your users feel welcome.
Get More UX Tips From Page Flows
UX writing is just one aspect of user experience design. If you want to be the best writer you can be, you should familiarize yourself with user flows. After all, why not learn from proven products? You can take inspiration from amazing UX projects, especially those in the same industry.
Page Flows is the perfect resource to learn more about UX and find interaction design ideas. Get started today to access our growing library of user flow recordings and finally stay up-to-date with current design trends.
