Strategic Writing for UX: Drive Engagement, Conversion, and Retention with Every Word

Description

When you depend on users to perform specific actions — like buying tickets, playing a game, or riding public transit — well-placed words are most effective. But how do you choose the right words? And how do you know if they work? With this practical book, you’ll learn how to write strategically for UX, using tools to build foundational pieces for UI text and UX voice strategy. UX content strategist Torrey Podmajersky provides strategies for converting, engaging, supporting, and re-attracting users. You’ll use frameworks and patterns for content, methods to measure the content’s effectiveness, and processes to create the collaboration necessary for success. You’ll also structure your voice throughout so that the brand is easily recognizable to its audience. • Learn how UX content works with the software development lifecycle • Use a framework to align the UX content with product principles • Explore content-first design to root UX text in conversation • Learn how UX text patterns work with different voices • Produce text that’s purposeful, concise, conversational, and clear [ Contents ] [ Preface ] 1: Why: Meet the Goals of People and the Organization Align the Goals of the People and the Organization Choose Content to Meet the Goals Identify Purposes, Opportunities, and Constraints Imagine and Test Solutions Summary: Words Make Experiences Work 2: Voice: They Recognize You Three Example Experiences Creating a Voice Chart Using the Voice Chart as a Decision-Making and Iteration Tool Summary: Lift Every Voice 3: Conversation for Content-First Design Face-to-Face, Full-Body Design Transforming the Conversation into an Experience Summary: Now You’re Having the Right Conversation 4: Apply UX Text Patterns Titles Buttons, Links, and Other Commands Descriptions Empty States Labels Controls Text Input Fields Transitional Text Confirmation Messages Notifications Errors Summary: Use Patterns as a Place to Start 5: Edit, Because They Didn’t Go There to Read Editing in Four Phases Purposeful Concise Conversational Clear Summary: Use UX Text to Help People Move Forward 6: Measuring UX Content Effectiveness Direct Measurement of UX Content Researching UX Content UX Content Heuristics Summary: If You Like It, Put a Value on It 7: Tools of the UX Writing Trade Write for the Context Managing Content Review Publishing the Text Tracking the Content Work to Be Done Summary: The Tools Are a Means to an End 8: A 30/60/90-Day Plan The First 30 Days, AKA Phase 1: What and Who 30–60 Days, AKA Phase 2: Fires and Foundations 60–90 Days, AKA Phase 3: Rapid Growth Summary: To Fix the Words, Build Strong Foundations 9: What to Do First Decide What Is Urgent and What Is Important Ground the Content in Empathy Introducing UX Content to the Team Summary: Use UX Content to Meet Your Goals [ Index ] About the Author