Post by lizaseo11 on Nov 9, 2024 4:15:46 GMT
Who is a UX editor and does your company need one?
There is a lot of talk about the benefits of UX writing , but there are still companies that have a poor understanding of who a UX editor is and why they are needed.
This article tells us what he does and which companies can do without a UX editor on staff.
Who is a UX editor?
A UX editor is a specialist who works on interface texts in applications, on websites or landing pages. Texts for calculators, bots, push notifications, instructions, technical letters are often also his work.
Interface text editor
He understands the behavior and shopify website design expectations of the audience and helps make the user path more convenient: he makes the interface “speak” the language of the users and uses terms that are familiar to them. He simplifies the text, and in some places he removes it altogether.
All this allows users to quickly understand the interface and reach the target action, for example, place an order or leave a request.
In different companies, a UX editor may have different names: UX writer, product editor, copywriter, content strategist. The tasks may also differ. Companies often combine several roles in one specialist.
What tasks does a UX editor solve?
Makes text clearer and the user's path easier
When a company doesn't have a UX editor, marketers, designers, and developers work on the text little by little. Not all of them write simply, and not all of them have time to deal with text tasks. That's why users see text in the interface like: "An authentication error occurred." A UX editor will definitely edit such text and explain that there was an error in the login or password, you need to check the login data again, and then everything will work out. Because if a user can't log into their personal account, it is important to help them: tell them what happened and what to do next.
You might be interested in: What should good UX text be like?
Conducts research and tests solutions
It is a big mistake to rely only on your own opinion or competitors' experience when creating an interface. Often, you need to conduct research and test the user path on a live audience.
In different companies, if they do not have a UX researcher, research is carried out by product managers, business analysts, designers. A UX editor can also help, because he or she can test text solutions, conduct various quantitative and qualitative studies.
Compiles editorial policy and glossary
An editorial policy and glossary are needed so that all the company's texts are in a uniform form. For example, there should be no "cashback" or "cashback" instead of "cashback", "money" instead of "money", and "income" instead of "profit". A UX editor helps to collect important nuances in texts into documents, maintain and update them, and work on ready-made ones.
Describes the tone of voice
Tone of voice — the voice by which a company is recognized in the media space. To communicate with users correctly, a UX editor uses a ready-made one or describes the brand voice from scratch: how it addresses users, jokes or is always serious, allows itself an imperative mood or only recommends.
Saves the team time
Product managers, developers, and designers often don’t have time to write text and rack their brains over wording. A UX editor takes this upon themselves. They ask questions about the interface, understand the logic of the product, the tasks of certain features, and offer solutions.
What companies need a UX editor
A UX editor is needed for high-load services and companies with a large audience that are constantly changing, acquiring new functions and offerings for clients. For example, banks, delivery services, online stores. It will help make texts clearer and the user path simpler so that users can quickly understand the interface: connect a service, place an order or order a bank card.
Agencies, offline businesses, companies with one-page or small websites need a UX editor from time to time.
For example, a small company that produces quartz products that are sold through a website will only need to hire a UX editor at the beginning of website development, during changes, or to test hypotheses. It is unlikely that there will be many tasks for an in-house specialist. But a large jewelry store with thousands of items, different price segments, several payment methods, delivery, and branches in 50 cities will definitely need a UX editor. And not from time to time, but on staff or outsourced, when he or she is immersed in the business and tasks, but without formalizing employment relationships.
You can do without a UX editor altogether and leave all text tasks to designers, marketers, and anyone who “seems to write normally.” In this case, there is a high chance that text tasks will be done as an afterthought, after the main tasks of a specialist. And the text will differ in different parts of the interface.
How to Make Interface Text Clearer Without a UX Editor
If you don't plan to involve a UX editor in your work, you'll have to learn UX editing, write, test, and change wording. We've collected what you can read, watch, and listen to.
This button needs text , K. Egerev
The author simply talks about the importance of UX text and what it should be like.
Write, shorten , M. Ilyakhov, L. Sarycheva
The minimum that will help you quickly figure out how to write simply and clearly.
How to Write Good UX Copy , aim blog
Our article with rules for interface texts.
Nielsen Norman Group
Lots of articles about interfaces, texts and user behavior patterns.
Newsletter about text in the interface on Boosty
Ira Motorina tells how to design, test, write for websites, bots and applications. 2 letters per month. There are homeworks that she checks, and streams.
UX Writer course from Netology
In 4 months, you will go through the entire process of preparing UX text: from research and working with design layouts to approval and release.
The course is suitable for those who know nothing about UX editing, designers, product managers, copywriters, developers - everyone who works with interfaces and wants to improve their skills.
Results
Some companies, like Yandex, Sber or Vkontakte, create entire departments of UX editors who think through the user's path, help navigate the interface, collect a glossary, editorial policy and maintain text consistency. Others outsource editors who help sort out texts but do not work full-time. And in some, texts are still handled by a marketer, PR specialist, designer or developer.
Text will not solve all business problems - sometimes you can't do without changing the logic of the interface and its design. But a good UX text, worked on by a UX editor, will help make the user's path easier and customers more loyal.
If you want to improve your interface texts, develop a tone of voice or editorial policy, consult on creating guides or UX editing, contact us .
There is a lot of talk about the benefits of UX writing , but there are still companies that have a poor understanding of who a UX editor is and why they are needed.
This article tells us what he does and which companies can do without a UX editor on staff.
Who is a UX editor?
A UX editor is a specialist who works on interface texts in applications, on websites or landing pages. Texts for calculators, bots, push notifications, instructions, technical letters are often also his work.
Interface text editor
He understands the behavior and shopify website design expectations of the audience and helps make the user path more convenient: he makes the interface “speak” the language of the users and uses terms that are familiar to them. He simplifies the text, and in some places he removes it altogether.
All this allows users to quickly understand the interface and reach the target action, for example, place an order or leave a request.
In different companies, a UX editor may have different names: UX writer, product editor, copywriter, content strategist. The tasks may also differ. Companies often combine several roles in one specialist.
What tasks does a UX editor solve?
Makes text clearer and the user's path easier
When a company doesn't have a UX editor, marketers, designers, and developers work on the text little by little. Not all of them write simply, and not all of them have time to deal with text tasks. That's why users see text in the interface like: "An authentication error occurred." A UX editor will definitely edit such text and explain that there was an error in the login or password, you need to check the login data again, and then everything will work out. Because if a user can't log into their personal account, it is important to help them: tell them what happened and what to do next.
You might be interested in: What should good UX text be like?
Conducts research and tests solutions
It is a big mistake to rely only on your own opinion or competitors' experience when creating an interface. Often, you need to conduct research and test the user path on a live audience.
In different companies, if they do not have a UX researcher, research is carried out by product managers, business analysts, designers. A UX editor can also help, because he or she can test text solutions, conduct various quantitative and qualitative studies.
Compiles editorial policy and glossary
An editorial policy and glossary are needed so that all the company's texts are in a uniform form. For example, there should be no "cashback" or "cashback" instead of "cashback", "money" instead of "money", and "income" instead of "profit". A UX editor helps to collect important nuances in texts into documents, maintain and update them, and work on ready-made ones.
Describes the tone of voice
Tone of voice — the voice by which a company is recognized in the media space. To communicate with users correctly, a UX editor uses a ready-made one or describes the brand voice from scratch: how it addresses users, jokes or is always serious, allows itself an imperative mood or only recommends.
Saves the team time
Product managers, developers, and designers often don’t have time to write text and rack their brains over wording. A UX editor takes this upon themselves. They ask questions about the interface, understand the logic of the product, the tasks of certain features, and offer solutions.
What companies need a UX editor
A UX editor is needed for high-load services and companies with a large audience that are constantly changing, acquiring new functions and offerings for clients. For example, banks, delivery services, online stores. It will help make texts clearer and the user path simpler so that users can quickly understand the interface: connect a service, place an order or order a bank card.
Agencies, offline businesses, companies with one-page or small websites need a UX editor from time to time.
For example, a small company that produces quartz products that are sold through a website will only need to hire a UX editor at the beginning of website development, during changes, or to test hypotheses. It is unlikely that there will be many tasks for an in-house specialist. But a large jewelry store with thousands of items, different price segments, several payment methods, delivery, and branches in 50 cities will definitely need a UX editor. And not from time to time, but on staff or outsourced, when he or she is immersed in the business and tasks, but without formalizing employment relationships.
You can do without a UX editor altogether and leave all text tasks to designers, marketers, and anyone who “seems to write normally.” In this case, there is a high chance that text tasks will be done as an afterthought, after the main tasks of a specialist. And the text will differ in different parts of the interface.
How to Make Interface Text Clearer Without a UX Editor
If you don't plan to involve a UX editor in your work, you'll have to learn UX editing, write, test, and change wording. We've collected what you can read, watch, and listen to.
This button needs text , K. Egerev
The author simply talks about the importance of UX text and what it should be like.
Write, shorten , M. Ilyakhov, L. Sarycheva
The minimum that will help you quickly figure out how to write simply and clearly.
How to Write Good UX Copy , aim blog
Our article with rules for interface texts.
Nielsen Norman Group
Lots of articles about interfaces, texts and user behavior patterns.
Newsletter about text in the interface on Boosty
Ira Motorina tells how to design, test, write for websites, bots and applications. 2 letters per month. There are homeworks that she checks, and streams.
UX Writer course from Netology
In 4 months, you will go through the entire process of preparing UX text: from research and working with design layouts to approval and release.
The course is suitable for those who know nothing about UX editing, designers, product managers, copywriters, developers - everyone who works with interfaces and wants to improve their skills.
Results
Some companies, like Yandex, Sber or Vkontakte, create entire departments of UX editors who think through the user's path, help navigate the interface, collect a glossary, editorial policy and maintain text consistency. Others outsource editors who help sort out texts but do not work full-time. And in some, texts are still handled by a marketer, PR specialist, designer or developer.
Text will not solve all business problems - sometimes you can't do without changing the logic of the interface and its design. But a good UX text, worked on by a UX editor, will help make the user's path easier and customers more loyal.
If you want to improve your interface texts, develop a tone of voice or editorial policy, consult on creating guides or UX editing, contact us .