{"id":350,"date":"2018-11-22T16:41:52","date_gmt":"2018-11-22T16:41:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uxwritinghub.com\/?p=350"},"modified":"2021-05-10T12:56:15","modified_gmt":"2021-05-10T12:56:15","slug":"whats-the-difference-between-copywriting-and-ux-writing-not-much","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uxwritinghub.com\/whats-the-difference-between-copywriting-and-ux-writing-not-much\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s the Difference Between Copywriting and UX Writing? Not Much."},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve ever suffered from an unknown ailment or illness and, later, found out someone else you know had\u00a0<\/span>that<\/span><\/i> thing\u2014and not only had it, but had a name for it\u2014you\u2019ll probably understand how I felt when I heard the term \u201cUX Writer.\u201d In my case, a light shone down from the heavens and a choir sang. <\/span><\/p>\n

Or something like that. <\/span><\/p>\n

Once I understood what a UX writer is, the edges of my world seemed a little sharper. Things snapped into focus a bit more. Yet, despite all this clarity, one thing keeps bothering me. <\/span>I keep returning to one important question: <\/span><\/p>\n

Shouldn\u2019t all copywriters understand UX?<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

The short answer, in my opinion, is yes. Let me explain myself…<\/span><\/p>\n

UX Writing Isn\u2019t About Writing At All<\/b><\/h2>\n

For the uninitiated among us, UX stands for user experience. UserTesting.com says UX is \u201cthe internal experience that a person has as they interact with every aspect of a company\u2019s products and services.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c…as they interact with every aspect of a company\u2019s products and service.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Every. Aspect. <\/span><\/p>\n

I never thought of myself as a UX writer because, I guess, I never knew there needed to be such a distinction. As far as I\u2019m concerned, any copywriter worth his salt needs to account for customer interactions throughout the experience, whether that\u2019s on a website, within an application, or anywhere else. I mean, what the hell are you writing for if not to improve the customer\u2019s experience?<\/span><\/p>\n

But here\u2019s where I think we can refine things a bit. <\/span>Copywriting isn\u2019t writing at all; it\u2019s simply a thinking process. <\/b><\/p>\n

Much like design, it\u2019s the anticipation of a need or the addressing of a fear. It\u2019s a process for predicting and guiding behavior. It\u2019s a map of the conversation a customer is already having with themselves. So, yes, of course copywriting requires an understanding of UX. In fact, it\u2019s imperative. <\/span><\/p>\n

As copywriters, we strive to give a reader the sense that they\u2019ve come to the right place. That our product or our service can help them become whomever it is they seek to become. Better. Faster. Wiser. <\/span><\/p>\n

We create emotion. Sometimes it\u2019s delight. Sometimes it\u2019s relief. Sometimes it\u2019s a sense of fun or a jolt of confidence. We show them that despite their fear of trying something new, purchasing something unknown, sticking their neck out, that this<\/em> is right. <\/span><\/p>\n

When you\u2019re able to transform common interactions into authentic connection using simple, human language, you begin to establish trust. It\u2019s not immediate, but it does have a compounding effect. Start small and it builds upon itself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But a writer can\u2019t get there if he doesn’t understand UX first. And that happens in two different ways: <\/span><\/p>\n