The terms UX writing and microcopy are fairly new. In some online spaces, they are used interchangeably so it can be difficult to know exactly what service you are looking for. So what is the difference between UX writing and microcopy? We’ll spill all.
What Is UX Writing?
UX writing is a discipline where the primary purpose of writing is to improve the UX (user experience). All copywriters and content writers are adept at skills like UX writing, SEO writing, and sales psychology. Every piece of copy or content will use these skills to a certain extent. When someone calls themselves a UX writer or a UX copywriter, it means that they specialise in writing copy or content when UX (user experience) is the primary focus.
The priorities of quality UX copy are:
- Make it easy for the reader to find the information they are looking for (headings, CTAs, dot points, etc.)
- Engage the reader through interesting writing and layout
- Be appropriate for the context to meet the reader’s expectations
- Cover all of the information the reader is looking for
- Create a frictionless/frustration-free experience for the reader
Because of these priorities, a UX writer will be more involved in the design and development process to ensure that the copy, design, and development combine to create the best user experience. They may ask for the brief you gave your graphic designer, deliver copy with a wireframe and notes indicating design or development suggestions that would strengthen the copy.
What Is UX Writing Used For?
Examples of UX writing include:
- App copy
- Website copy
- Process emails
- Micro copy
- E-commerce writing
Some of the above examples could fall under either UX writing or another category like SEO writing or branding writing depending on your focus. Whether you hire a UX copywriter or another type of copywriter would depend on your priorities.
Are You a UX Copywriter?
No, we care about the experience of your ideal coaching clients, but we do not consider ourselves UX copywriters.
There are a number of ways copywriters can niche down. They can focus on a particular industry, or they can focus on writing a particular type of copy. That is why you get people who call themselves UX copywriters/UX writers, email copywriters, or branding copywriters. Generally, most experienced copywriters know the basics of all the different types of disciplines, the difference is how they choose to niche down.
We have chosen to niche down into a particular industry, coaches. It is very rewarding for us to work with the same customers to create multiple pieces of copy and marketing assets for their coaching business. Seeing multiple aspects of their business gives us a full understanding of who the coach is and what they are trying to achieve. And that makes us a better partner.
Because coaches care deeply about their coaching clients, the copy and content we write tend to put user experience as a high priority. Branding is also a high priority because we want to help coaches facilitate that connection and trusting relationship before the first session. So, this is a long way of saying, we do not label ourselves as UX copywriters, but we do use UX writing principles in every piece of content and copy we write.
What Is Microcopy?
Microcopy is a type of UX writing. It is a small piece of copy that facilitates an action. Most of the time, microcopy is used to assist users navigate a website or app.
All microcopy has a dual purpose:
- To smooth the user experience by limiting confusion
- To amplify the coach’s personality
For example, an error message needs to explain an error occurred and redirect readers back to what they were reading. There’s no reason it can’t be used to deepen the relationship between the coach and reader too.
Examples of Microcopy
Examples of microcopy include:
- CTAs
- Error messages
- Confirmation messages
- Instructional copy
- Form copy
- Out-of-office messages
- Loading messages
Do I Need to Hire a Separate Copywriter to Write Microcopy?
It depends on the copywriter, so be sure to ask that question when discussing scope with a copywriter. The copywriter may need to dig a little deeper into the user experience of your marketing asset to get a full understanding of what microcopy you need.
We include the logical microcopy in all of our copy packages. For example, if you hire us to write website copy, that will include confirmation messages and error messages for the pages we create. We have seen the power that well-written, on-brand microcopy has. So, for us, it is something small we can include that makes a huge impact on our customer experience.
If in doubt, always ask the copywriter you are working with. The time to ask about inclusions is always when discussing the scope of the project. Waiting until mid-way through the project or the end of the project is considered “scope creep.” This is where a client keeps adding on little tasks that weren’t accounted for in the price or the schedule. It is understandable, we’re all human and forget things, but it is frustrating for copywriters, so try and lay your expectations out in advance.
What Is the Main Difference Between UX Writing and Microcopy?
If you’re a skip to the end kind of person, then the main difference is UX writing is writing with the primary focus of creating a positive user experience. Microcopy is the small bits of UX writing that are designed to minimise confusion. The most common examples are CTAs, error messages, and confirmation messages.