The ultimate UX writing checklist
Photo by Ylanite Koppens from PexelsQuality assurance can be challenging, especially when you’re assessing your own work.
While every project is different, I find it helpful to quality check every line of microcopy I ship with key UX writing strategies to make sure I’m hitting all my bases.
I’ve taken the checklist inside my head and transformed it into a blog post and infographic in hopes it’ll be helpful for you, too.
1. Are you shipping content that solves the problem?
When technical specs are complicated and the flow is long, it can be hard to take a step back and evaluate how effectively our content solves the user problem.
Perspective can be fleeting, and it’s our job to regularly combat that to make sure we’re solving problems, not filling in blanks.
To make sure you’re actively solving the problem, ask yourself the following questions throughout your process:
What’s the goal of this screen, and can the user easily achieve it?
What does the user gain from this screen?
Am I only surfacing relevant and useful information?
Does this screen build on the previous ones and prep for the coming ones?
How would the user measure success?
Is my ego wrapped up in what I’m writing?
Words aren’t a Band-Aid for a poorly designed experience. Adding or removing components and visual elements also keeps the team on track to solving problems.
2. Are you writing for mobile?
Whether you’re writing long or short copy, it needs to be mobile-optimized. We live in a mobile-first world. From websites to apps, mobile must be accounted for.
To write for mobile, implement the following:
Aim for sentences with 20 or fewer words
Keep paragraphs short
Take advantage of subheadings
Utilize bullet points
Prioritize information users need to move forward
Put important information and CTAs above the fold
Design for both Android and iOS
Make sure your text is readable on all screen sizes
Leave room for translation
Make each word count
3. Are you accounting for people scanning, not reading?
People don’t read screens like they read The New York Times.
90% of the time the user skims the header and the CTA and calls it a day. If that’s intriguing enough, the largest elements will draw their eye, resulting in the user not reading in order.
Because of this, it’s your job to make sure the user understands the gist of the screen in a glance. To do so, implement the following:
Make the action obvious
Organize information around said action
Put the ‘what’ and the value concisely in the header
Utilize white space and bullets
Edit ruthlessly
4. Are you leading with the ‘why,’ not the ‘how’?
Users want to know why they should care before they’re told what to do.
Building on the last checklist item, people are scanning, not reading, so it’s crucial to lead with the value. Users won’t take the time to figure out what’s in it for them — that’s on the UX writer.
Here’s an example:
Before: Go to someone’s profile to send them a connection request
After: To send someone a connection request, go to their profile.
5. Are you avoiding jargon?
Jargon excludes people not up-to-date on the lingo. It can make someone feel out of the loop and confused.
Because of that, it’s best to avoid jargon in B2C settings and use everyday language instead.
Although, in B2B settings, using jargon can add credibility and insight to your product. For example, realtors have their own language, and it benefits a company like Opendoor to meet realtors where they’re at.
6. Are you avoiding dark patterns?
Dark patterns are a quick and easy way to lose the user’s trust and respect.
When asking users if they want to miss out on the skills to double their income by not subscribing to an email newsletter, you’re building a negative, guilt-ridden relationship right off the bat.
Don’t be sarcastic. Don’t antagonize the user.
Make actions clear, and let the user make an informed decision. Never hide information or actions out of fear the user will churn. You’re better off using that moment as an opportunity to improve your product by asking what prompted them to part ways with you.
7. Are you being consistent?
Inconsistencies break brand equity and make your product look sloppy.
That’s why systems matter in UX writing.
Consistent content lets users recognize common patterns, lowering the cognitive load and allowing them to act more and think less. Simple mix-ups like ‘Next’ vs. ‘Continue’ can leave the user wondering what’s different.
Invest in style guides, voice & tone guidelines, and glossaries — it’ll polish your product and ease the experience for the user.
8. Are you shipping on-brand content?
Similar to being consistent, being on-brand builds a relationship with the user.
Your brand is your personality. Just like you’d be a bit freaked if your best friend went from always giddy to suddenly monotone, brand consistency creates peace of mind and can determine one’s opinion of a product.
If you don’t have voice & tone guidelines, it’s never too late to build them. Make sure everyone touching the product can access them, and implement processes to review content going out the door for brand voice accuracy.
If you found this helpful, feel free to snag your own copy of this infographic. No email required — just right-click on the image above and save it to your desktop.
