1.
Copywriting for UX
Talisa Chang | @talisa

2.
What people ask designers:
Can you make this
look better?

3.
What people ask copywriters:
Can you make this
sound better?

4.
What they mean in both cases:
Can you make this
experience intuitive and
compelling for the person
who will be using it?

5.
My background
Hats I’ve worn:
• UX Designer
• UX Researcher
• Copywriter
• Product Marketing Manager
• Brand Consultant
• Brand Manager
• Digital Strategist
• Content Strategist
• Reporter
• “Talisa-fier”
• “All of the words”
+

6.
Like design, copy
is more than the
sum of its parts
words.
Brand
Desirability
Usability
Utility

7.
Just like good UX,
good copy…
Considers the user
Who’s reading this?
What background
knowledge do they have?
What are their goals?
What are their pain points?

8.
Just like good UX,
good copy…
Considers the context
Where are they physically?
What device are they using?
Are they in a rush?
Have they been to this
page/screen before? How
often?

9.
Just like good UX,
good copy…
Considers the flow
What did they do before this?
What can they do next?

10.
Just like good UX,
good copy…
Considers the
business goals
Ideally, what would we like
them to do?

11.
Just like good UX,
good copy…
Considers the brand
How do we want the overall
experience to feel?

12.
Where do all the
words go?

13.
Where do all the words go?
• Interfaces
• Navbars
• Drop downs
• Form fields
• Tool tips
• Error messages
• Loading screens
• Settings pages
• Landing pages
• Empty states
• Onboarding
• Coach marks
• Confirmation pages
• Support articles
• Product videos
• Call scripts
• Emails
• Blog posts
• App store descriptions
• Social media posts
• Social media ads
• Press releases
• Style guides
• etc.

14.
Wait, so who is
supposed to
make/write all this
stuff?

15.
If you are lucky…
A few people whose explicit job is to write it (content
strategists, copywriters, email marketers, etc.)
… who have created and/or are following guidelines
for how to write it
… and are in constant communication with
designers, engineers, support, marketing, sales, etc.
… to ensure there is a consistent, cohesive narrative
to the experience

16.
But at a lot of places, it’s...
● Designers, kind of
● Someone from marketing, sometimes
● Whoever is the best speller on the team
● Whoever happened to bump the fidelity from
lorem ipsum → real words
● Whoever realized copy was needed somewhere
and put it there as they were making it (probably
a developer)

17.
How to write
thoughtful copy

18.
Good copy reduces ambiguity
● It’s specific
● It’s readable at all viewport widths
● It’s concise
● It’s contextual
● It’s consistent
● It labels objects clearly
● It speaks in plain language (no
jargon)

19.
Good copy puts the audience first
● Considers the context and flow
(use personas, user journeys,
and user flows)
● Considers goals and
motivations
● Offers actionable information
● Explains why, not just what
● Is translation-friendly

20.
Good copy is well-researched
● Research conventions
● Ask your subject matter experts
● Ask your community members
● Put it in your (early) prototypes
● Put it in your usability tests
● Test it in emails
● Card sort it
● A/B test it

21.
Good copy is well-researched
● Research conventions
● Ask your subject matter experts
● Ask your community members
● Put it in your (early) prototypes
● Put it in your usability tests
● Card sort it
● A/B test it
● Test messaging with email

22.
PSA:
No one reads on the internet.

23.
So make it count.

24.
Especially when…

25.
...the stakes are
high
● CTAs
● Navigation
● Instructions
● Errors
● Important forms and documents
● Customer support
● Privacy concerns
● Things that cost money
● Any situation where users are
willing to read

26.
… the stakes are
low
● Loading screens
● App store update copy
● Non-critical notifications
● Any place you can push the
brand voice without risking
clarity

27.
Extra words or explanatory
text can’t “fix” poor UX.
But copy can help make
good UX even better.

28.
How copy gets
created

29.
With spreadsheets and google docs
Hi {Name},
Your call for Wednesday January 4th
at 12pm is confirmed!
Please [review your welcome packet]
before hand and be sure to be at your
computer.
[Review the packet]
Looking forward to speaking with you,
Support Team
Google doc
with body copy
Onboarding flow
Email Spreadsheet

30.
Using spreadsheets
Basic Process
● Designer or product manager creates a content
spreadsheet in google docs
● Add columns for states, errors, tooltips, versions, etc.
● Copywriter and various stakeholders can fill out
Benefits
● Allows you to organize a lot of copy
● Flexible: can link out to other docs if necessary, color-
code columns, merge sections, etc.
● Engineers can see all states, errors, tooltips, etc even
if they’re not represented in the design
● Same commenting features as all google docs

31.
Using InVision comments
Basic Process
● Designers upload wires to InVision via Dropbox
● Copywriters use comment feature to suggest copy
● Designers update copy and re-sync via Dropbox
Benefits
● Copy edits can be placed directly onto the design
● Commenting feature allows for questions, feedback,
etc. (participants get email notifications)
● Easy to share with stakeholders for review; no
account needed to view or comment
● Already set up to test prototype with user
● No different versions of marked up pdfs floating
around

32.
Using Google docs
Basic Process
● Put screenshots of designs that need new
copy into a google doc (and label
them/explain where they are in the flow)
● Write/suggest new copy underneath
● Protip: highlight the actual interface/UI copy
in a separate color
Benefits
● Quick and dirty
● Plenty of room to add additional copy
(states, errors, etc)
● Team members can easily comment,
suggest edits, see revision history, etc

33.
Notes on process
● As a designer, it’s your job to care about copy
● Don’t wait for a finished mock up. Let copy start
anywhere, with anyone. (The sooner, the better)
● Get organized. Make simple checklists,
schedules/deadlines, and spreadsheets as
needed.
● Involve product managers to help keep things
organized, but *stay close to the process*
As soon as you know
you need words, start
thinking about how and
when they’ll be created
and finalized.

34.
Notes on process, cont
● Requests to the person writing copy should always include context (full screenshots
and/or screen flows, word counts, goals, translation deadlines, etc)
● Allow time for revisions, especially if the initial copy lives outside of the design in a doc
● Consider the brand. Work with your marketing team.
● Consider the implications. Work with your customer support team.
● Consider the flow and functionality. Work with your engineers/designers/product owners.
● No waterfalling! Pair copywriters with designers throughout the process.

35.
Brand, style, and content
guides

36.
Brand Positioning
The result of business and brand
research, stakeholder interviews,
workshops, etc.
Could be used internally or
externally.
Could be created by an in-house
marketing team or by an agency.
Could be robust and polished, or
brief and in a google doc.
May include: brand pillars,
mission/vision statements, about
us copy, key messaging, naming
and lexicon, etc.
brand.quantcast.com

37.
Content Guides
The result of collaboration
between marketing, product, and
other stakeholders
Can serve as a guide across
teams (sales, customer support,
etc)
Should be actionable and include
specific examples, do’s and don’
ts
May include: voice and tone,
grammar rules, capitalization
rules, naming and glossaries, do’
s and don’ts, etc.

38.
MailChimp: The Content & Copy Pros | http://voiceandtone.com | http://styleguide.mailchimp.com

39.
18F: Made for the federal government; a great starting point for you | https://pages.18f.gov/content-guide/

40.
Product + Marketing =
Product Marketing
● The glue between product and marketing
● Sometimes a dedicated role or team, sometimes just a process
● Helps ensure the story of your product or feature is told externally (blog posts, press outreach,
support faqs, app store copy, etc)
● Helps ensure the story is reflected in the product (interfaces, error messages, notifications, etc)
● May entail: launch checklists and copy processes, messaging docs, brand positioning, market
research, new naming, email or blog copy, social media strategy, pr plans, app store copy

41.
I need a copywriter.
Can I hire you?

42.
Just like good UX, good
copy is not just a role
you can hire for and be
done with.

43.
How to get started at
upping the copy game
at your organization:

44.
1. Figure out what you need.
Content strategy?
Style guidelines?
Consistent naming and language?
Taxonomy/lexicon?
A unified voice and tone?
Brand positioning/messaging?
Interface copy?
Landing pages?
Translations and localized copy?
Onboarding emails?
Transactional emails?
Lifecycle emails?

45.
2. Figure out how (or by whom) it’s
getting done today and what the
biggest priorities and gaps are.
It’s probably a combination of people in marketing or product.
At a minimum, it’s whoever is writing the copy now, and/or whoever is
signing off on it.

46.
3. Make a commitment to make copy
part your design process and start asap.
This may require upfront work (developing guidelines, messaging, etc).
It will also mean making changes to how things currently get shipped.
It won’t happen overnight.
But you’ll be very happy you did it.

47.
4.
Hire accordingly and keep iterating.
Don’t hire until you have a sense for what you need.
Don’t hire until you’re ready to make some changes to your processes.

48.
Talisa Chang is an interdisciplinary
product and UX consultant.
Find her on Twitter, Linkedin, Medium, or her website.