The Gig Gal Radio

Episode 9: 3 ways to grow your freelance UX writing biz with Kanye confidence

Kanye is the worst. But we can learn A LOT about growing a freelance UX writing business from his shameless confidence.

At the end of this episode, you'll have learned:

• How to show it first
• Why rejection is just a reset
• Why clarity of vision matters
• And more

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Episode 8: Why product designers shouldn’t be responsible for UX writing

Product designers aren’t UX writers. So why do we still expect product designers to do UX writing?

Whether you’re leading design at a startup large or small, it’s time to hire a UX writer.

In this episode, I dive into 3 reasons why you’re losing time and money by expecting your product designer to also design with words.

At the end of this episode, you'll have learned:

• Why you need an expert on the job (aka a UX writer)
• How UX writing is a skill outside of product design
• Why you need someone solely focused on the words
• How to make sure your product designer sticks around
• And more

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Episode 7: How to write helpful UX copy

Helpful people are not just appreciated, desired, and adored — they’re remembered.

Helpful products are the same, and they get there with the assistance of helpful UX copy.

Helpful UX copy goes above and beyond to make an experience seamless with information that takes away any hassle.

In this episode, I detail 3 key strategies for elevating your UX copy to be more helpful.

At the end of this episode, you'll have learned:

• How to answer questions users didn’t know they had
• How to surface the right information at the right time
• How to uncover what context is *actually* helpful
• And more

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Episode 6: My 8-question UX writing checklist

Quality assurance can be challenging, especially when you’re assessing your own work.

While every project is different, I find it helpful to quality check every line of microcopy I ship with key UX writing strategies to make sure I’m hitting all my bases.

In this episode, I share the 8-question checklist I use to QC my work in hopes it’ll be helpful for you, too.

At the end of this episode, you'll have learned:

• How to ship content that solves the problem
• How to write for mobile
• How to account for people scanning, not reading
• Why it’s important to lead with the ‘why,’ not the ‘how’
• Why it’s important to avoid jargon
• And more

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Episode 5: 5 strategies for effective UX writing

There’s a lot of knowledge on the Internet about how to create “good” UX writing.

That’s not this episode.

This episode doesn’t drill down the basic principles of UX writing or important UX writing misconceptions. That’s for another time.

Instead, this episode dives into the 5 strategies that make UX writing effective. These strategies are deeper than tactics — they’re mindsets and habits that take coaching and practice to master.

At the end of this episode, you'll have learned:

• How UX writing systems build trust and brand equity
• Why you should never build an experience in a silo
• The importance of always empathizing
• Why UX writing is as much about adding content as it is taking it away
• How to translate the value behind facts
• And more

Episode mentions:

Episode 4: 5 important UX writing misconceptions

UX writing is still the new kid on the block.

Because of that, chances are most of what you think you know about UX writing is wrong.

In this episode, Slater Katz, freelance UX writer and copywriter, debunks the most important UX writing misconceptions and lays out the true role of UX writers and how to engage with them.

At the end of this episode, you'll have learned:

• Why UX writers don't (and can't) fill in the blanks
• Why not all writers can effectively write UX copy
• How UX writers spend their time (it's not what you'd think)
• Why product designers shouldn't be responsible for UX writing
• And more

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Episode 3: What does a UX writer actually do?

So, you’re wondering if you should have a UX writer on your team.

But what does a UX writer actually do? 

If you’re unfamiliar with the discipline, the answer might seem simple — UX writers write copy for apps and websites.

While that’s true, UX writing is so much more than just writing copy.

In this episode, Slater Katz, freelance UX writer and copywriter, explores the real role of UX Writer in accelerating startups large and small.

At the end of this episode, you'll have learned:

• What UX writing is, and how it can accelerate your startup
• What a UX writer actually does, and why you need one on your team
• How UX writing is different from marketing copywriting
• And more

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Episode 2: Why systems matter in UX writing

Great design systems go beyond UI patterns and buttons — content style guides, voice and tone guidelines, and glossaries make up an important portion of a design system, too.

Forming and thinking in UX writing systems equips anyone writing UX copy to do their job with ease, efficiency, and effectiveness. 

It’s a win-win for the writer and the end-user because no one has to think too hard to achieve their goal.

At the end of this episode, you'll have learned:

• How UX writing systems make life easier for you and your company
• How UX writing systems help build trust and equity with your users
• How UX writing systems allow your company to scale with intention

Mentions from the episode: