Microcopy is the small bits of text that appear throughout a website or app. It often goes unnoticed but plays a crucial role in user experience.
Why is microcopy important?
Microcopy plays a significant role in the user experience. It can influence user behaviour and decision making.
With clear and concise microcopy, you can help users navigate through the website, understand the purpose of each feature, and feel confident about their actions.
Microcopy improves user engagement, increases conversions, and ultimately creates a more enjoyable user experience.
Tips for writing effective microcopy
- Be concise and clear, no unnecessary words
- Be engaging and persuasive, appeal to user's emotions
- Use active language
- Make sure the tone aligns with brand voice
- A/B test
Resources to get you started
- 4 ways to introduce guiding microcopy in forms (Kinneret Yfrah/Medium)
- Best microcopy examples and some great insights (Shiran Hirshberg/Medium)
- Good Microcopy by @ricarhdsison - A collection of good microcopy examples from various websites, apps or products.
- The Beginner's Guide to Microcopy - Four tips for writing great microcopy and how it can help your bottom line (Kinneret Yifrah/Medium)
*She also wrote the book Microcopy: The Complete Guide. - What is Microcopy and 8 Examples to Tell You Why You Need It (Userguiding.com) This article explains the importance, the impact and how to create effective microcopy.
- Why Small Words Matter: The Importance of Microcopy UX (toptal.com)
- Writing killer micro copy with Andrea Zoellner from SiteGround (by @SellYourService on YouTube)
You might also be interested in
UX writer Torrey Podmajersky shares how she gets results by partnering early with design, product, engineering and legal teams to create content that moves the needle.
- 15 Best Technical Writing Podcasts (Feedspot)
- Readability Test. This test is a speedy, simple method to assess your writing’s readability.
- Writing Principles in Design (valuable writing tips from Google)
Key takeaway
Microcopy may seem insignificant, but it plays a significant role in the overall user experience. So next time you're working on a website or app, remember to pay attention to the details and craft effective microcopy.
