From the course: UX Writing Fundamentals: A Comprehensive Guide to UX Writing

Microcopy

- You will hear the phrase "microcopy" used in UX design. What is microcopy? Microcopy are the small pieces of text that help guide users through a digital product or service. Think about the words in a typical website navigation bar. Home, About, Contact. These are all pieces of microcopy. As are the button labels, error messages, and form labels. These small and seemingly insignificant bits of text play a crucial role in shaping the user's experience. For example, imagine you're using a mobile app and an error message pops up that says, "Oops, something went wrong. "Try again later." Now, compare that with an error message that says, "Oops, something went wrong. "We're working to fix it. "Please try again in a few minutes." The first message is really ambiguous. The user is unsure how long later is. Is it a few minutes? Or will this fix take several hours or days? Ambiguity in microcopy can leave users confused and frustrated. In contrast, the improved microcopy and the second message is more clear. It acknowledges the error, gives a time and suggestion for solution, and demonstrates that the company is aware of and working on resolving the issue. Writing good microcopy impacts a product and the user experience in several ways. First, it builds a rapport with users. By providing clear and helpful guidance, good microcopy can help users feel more comfortable and confident using a product or service. Well-crafted microcopy conveys expertise and professionalism. Second, by providing clear and concise language, good microcopy helps users successfully navigate a product, reducing confusion and frustration. Third, good microcopy also reduces user errors and reduces the cognitive load. By providing simple and straightforward language, microcopy can help reduce the mental effort required to use a product or service, making the experience more pleasant for users. Although microcopy may seem small and insignificant, it plays a critical role in shaping user experience. By providing clear, concise, and user-centered language, microcopy can help build confidence, guide the user journey, reduce user errors, demonstrate proficiency, and reduce cognitive load. All of this results and a better experience for the people using your product or service.

Contents