When it comes to making money as a freelance writer, most people don’t think about becoming a UX writer. In reality, many people may not have heard of UX writing or have no idea what that means.
“UX” is the technology language for user experience. As a UX writer, he focuses on making sure writing on websites, apps, and more provides an enjoyable experience. If you want to know how to become a UX writer, you’ll need to spend more time building skills other than creative writing.
Not only do you need to persuade people on the website to do what you want them to do, but you also need to make sure it’s aesthetically pleasing and fits neatly into the space allowed.
It’s a field whose demand is growing, with more and more companies needing professional websites that provide customers with a top-notch experience.
If you’ve been wondering what UX writing is, how to become a UX writer, the skills required, and where to find jobs, we’ll cover all of that and more.
What is UX writing?
UX stands for user experience. As a UX writer, your job is to cater to the user experience on a professionally designed website or other platform.
To make it easier to understand, have you ever been to a website that was terribly designed? None of the buttons worked, half of the text went off the page, or some fonts didn’t load on your screen? This is a terrible user experience.
Bad sites can break the trust of potential customers because they only show that they are not professional or do not take their image seriously.
That’s where UX designers and writers come into play.
When you’re a UX writer, you don’t just think about getting the customer to read the page, but you also take into account the overall design of the website. On top of all that, you also need to be able to write with the voice of the brand and stay consistent in all the things you write.
You’re working hard to make sure it’s an enjoyable experience for everyone, while also using your writing skills to persuade the reader to take action.
When you’re on a perfectly designed site, it feels effortless. You can understand it all, it flows well, it tells you exactly what you need to know, and you are happier using it.
Skills Needed as a UX Writer
UX writing falls under the umbrella of technical writing, along with specialties like copywriting, but requires its own skill sets.
Since UX writing is closely related to copywriting, you’ll need to learn a lot about copywriting and marketing in general.
That means you’ll need to study things like persuasive writing, customer behavior, the psychology behind buying, and even a little bit of sales.
On top of all that, you will also need to study design elements. You’ll need to know which fonts go best together, how to size and resize your text correctly, and what the goals are for the website you’re writing for.
It’s quite a lot of work! That is why UX designers are in demand everywhere, as many companies must have professional websites.
How to become a UX writer
#1 – Master the basics
The first thing you’ll need to do is learn the ins and outs of UX writing and copywriting. Whether you choose to take a course, study on your own, or watch lots of YouTube videos, you’ll need to know the basics.
UX writing is different than other types of freelance writing, so you’ll need to know what you’re doing before you start working and accepting clients.
#2 – Learn Specific Persuasive Writing and UX Skills
This means you may need to learn about copywriting, the basics of design, different fonts, and why people choose different ones.
You’ll want to take the time to study UX writing tips and figure out how it all flows together. UX writing is very different than creative writing, and while creative writing can help you become a better writer, you’ll need to take a deep study of UX writing and how it works.
#3 – Look around the Internet
Now that you have a basic set of skills, this is a good time to look at various websites and start mentally thinking about how you would improve each one.
This is a good way to practice your skills without directly taking on the client’s job. You will now be able to spot problems on websites and start honing your eye on how you would fix them or what you would do to improve them.
#4 – Show off your skills
After you’ve practiced a lot and collected a few samples, you’ll want to collect them all in one central place. This will not only give you something to show clients, but you will also be able to see your own growth as you practice and continue to learn.
Ideally, you’ll have a strong portfolio to show that you can keep adding to as you take on more projects.
#5 – Work with tangible projects
Once you feel confident with your UX writing skills, you should get your hands on some real world projects to do.
Whether it’s helping a friend with a website, getting an internship, trying your hand at some free spear projects, or anything else, you need to directly apply these skills to the real world.
Working with real-world projects also gives you the ability to get direct feedback, giving you the opportunity to sharpen your skills for the next project you work on.
After reaching this step, you now need to decide whether you want to continue to be freelance or find a job as a UX writer.
Where to find a job as a UX writer
Since UX writing is so technically intertwined with technology and websites, there are a ton of different paths you can take for this career.
You can choose to go the freelance or side hustle path or, on the other hand, you can take a UX writing job at one of the big companies like Apple, Google or Amazon.
It really depends on what you want out of this career, but know that both are viable paths. You can also choose to be self-employed until you prove yourself sufficiently and find a job in the field, or vice versa.
Either way, you’ll need to put together a strong portfolio to show off to clients. That will be the most important step you take because your portfolio will speak volumes about any training or education you have.
Clients and employers will always want to see visually what you can create and understand how you approach projects.
If you’re looking for a traditional or remote job, you’ll find UX writing jobs on almost any job board or platform like LinkedIn.
Ready to become a freelance writer?
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