Writing for the Web Articles & Videos

  • Neurodivergence: What is it and Why Does it Matter

    Neurodivergent users face executive-function, communication, and sensory challenges. Neuroinclusive design helps all users by focusing on simplicity, clarity, control, support, and co-creation.

  • We Still Need Long-Form Copy

    With attention-spans dwindling, why do we still use long-form copy? Because some things are complex, require trust, and need SEO & AEO benefits.

  • The 3-Step CTAs Formula for Conversion

    Effective calls to action are essential for conversion. Start with an actionable verb, establish expectations, and communicate the action’s value.

  • The 3 Sizes of UX Copy

    UX copy comes in three sizes: Long-form, short-form, and microcopy. Meet users’ needs by using the right one.

  • Demystifying Clickbait: You’ll NEVER Believe What I Learned

    Instead of understanding clickbait, writers often avoid anything associated with the practice, to the detriment of their writing.

  • 3 Tips to Make AI a Better Editor

    Although AI is (usually) good at editing, it doesn’t mean good prompting practices should be ignored. These 3 tips will help take AI edits to the next level.

  • 4 Things GenAI Needs for Better Content Design

    Product-specific genAI needs to follow common digital writing practices in order to better fit users’ scanning needs.

  • Explicit Decisions: Help Your Users Choose Correctly

    Make sure your users make the correct decisions the first time by making distinctions between options clear by highlighting key differences.

  • AI for Tone: Avoid Sounding Like a Robot

    Learn how to use AI chats like ChatGPT to write copy that doesn’t sound like a robot wrote it.

  • Using Quotes to Share UX Research: 3 Tips

    User quotes can be powerful and persuasive when sharing UX research insights, but most quotes need a little attention first.

  • How To: Content Inventory and Audit

    Content inventories and audits shift a team's mindset from content quantity to content quality. They reveal relationships between content to resolve problems and support new content creation.

  • Clarify, Don't Mystify (UX Slogan #19)

    UX design must make all elements of the interaction understandable and explicit. Mystifying things to entice more clicks from users will only result in dissatisfied customers.

  • This Is Too Easy to Understand (UX Slogan #17)

    User interfaces can definitely be too hard to use, but can they be too easy? No, users never complain about an easy design, even if they would have been able to use something more difficult.

  • 4 Tips for Bulleted Lists in Digital Content

    Bulleted lists can save users time and help them scan our content more quickly, but only when they’re used correctly.

  • Writing Content for Generalists vs. Specialists

    Content writers should always avoid jargon, but what counts as jargon depends on your audience. Determine whether a specific word is meaningless jargon or meaningful terminology.

  • Information Scent

    Information foraging explains how users behave on the web and why they click certain links and not others. Information scent can be used to analyze how people assess a link and the page context surrounding the link to judge what's on the other end of the link.

  • The Biggest Mistake in Writing for the Web

    Before you write any content for the web, you should clearly define who will read it, what the reader’s goals are, and what impact you want your content to have on the reader.

  • The Four Dimensions of Tone of Voice in UX Writing

    The words in your interface can help establish your product’s personality. The tone of any piece of content can be analyzed along 4 dimensions: humor, formality, respectfulness, and enthusiasm.

  • Better Labels for Website Links: the 4 Ss for Encouraging Clicks

    4 guidelines for writing the link texts on websites to ensure users click the right options. Links should be Specific, Sincere, Substantial, and Succinct.

  • Establishing Tone of Voice

    Learn how to establish tone of voice in your experience and evaluate the impression your copy leaves on users.