The UX Content Career Course
Let's face it — breaking into UX writing is hard
UX writing is like a different language, and imposter syndrome is all too real. On top of that, there are tons of aspiring UX writers competing for the same roles that all seem to “require” 3 – 5 years of UX writing experience. How the heck is someone supposed to find their spot in this incredibly-welcoming yet ever-exclusive field?
Answer: The UX Content Career Course👇
The UX Content Career Course, formerly The Gig Gal Encyclopedia, is your UX writing gal pal, here to make learning UX writing a piece of cake and landing a UX writing job easy-peasy 🌻
In 860+ pages, I spill absolutely everything I know about UX writing, landing a UX writing job, and starting a UX writing freelance business.
The UX Content Career Course includes:
- 91 lessons on UX writing, landing a UX writing job, and starting a UX writing freelance business
- 29 UX writing practice exercises inspired by real-world scenarios
- 17 templates and frameworks like a resume template, cover letter template, error message writing framework, etc
It's the most thorough, comprehensive, and easy-to-understand UX writing resource out there.
About the creator
I'm Slater Katz, and I've 100% been in your shoes. In 2019, I was a laid-off copywriter with big UX writing dreams. I couldn't quite wrap my head around technical explanations of UX writing, and landing a UX writing job felt like a pipe dream.
But I buckled down, and within ~1.5 months, I taught myself enough about UX writing to be dangerous and landed my first official UX writing job with Fitbit. Since then, I've gone on to write UX copy for companies like Netflix, Chime, Afterpay, Verizon, Opendoor, and many more.
Kind words from kind people
"To begin, Slater goes BEYOND! I am switching careers and feel like I'm on the cusp of reaching that full-time position. The Learning Membership skyrocketed my confidence and design thinking. I followed The Gig Gal before The Learning Membership launched so I knew Slater was friendly and trustworthy. The day it launched I was like "SIGN ME UP!" I subscribed to Architects+ to hone my skills and receive feedback to see where I can improve. The best aspect of The Learning Membership is how in-depth each lesson is. There are photos, examples, and step-by-step advice to ensure you understand the material. I'm a huge The Gig Gal fan and know that Slater goes above and beyond with her feedback, content, and kindess."
-Ryen
"In a berserk flurry of following content design/UX writing people on LinkedIn - I found Slater. She was already sharing super useful info - then she dropped her Gig Gal platform. Slater's done an awesome job of creating a clear, accessible route to upping your UX copy chops. Thoroughly recommended, whether you're coming to it totally new, looking for your first role, or like me - a career switcher."
-Sid
"I was new in my UX writing journey and I’m so glad I found The Learning Membership. It gave me the guidance I needed on what to learn, and how to do UX writing so I’ll be able to confidently write for products. The content was very well organized and clearly explained. I was cramming like a college student trying to read it all quickly and I learned so much in a short time. Also the exercises were so fun and really made the lessons stick. I feel like I understand the lessons more, especially with the visual examples. I loved the examples!!! But what was SO helpful for me was getting feedback from an expert UX Writer like Slater. Glad I made the decision to join!"
-Andre
PS: The UX Content Career Course was formerly called The Learning Membership, hence the mentions in the testimonials :)
Table of contents
UX writing
Lessons
UXW#1: What is UX writing (in words anyone can understand)................................................10
UXW#2: Why UX writing matters................................................23
UXW#3: How to know if you should be a UX writer.................................................26
UXW#4: Relevant UX writing skills.................................................30
UXW#5: Where UX writing fits in.................................................36
UXW#6: UX writing vs copywriting vs content writing.................................................42
UXW#7: UX writing vs content design.................................................49
UXW#8: UX writing terms.................................................50
UXW#9: Features vs benefits.................................................55
UXW#10: How to think like a UX writer (1/3).................................................60
UXW#11: How to think like a UX writer (2/3).................................................68
UXW#12: How to think like a UX writer (3/3).................................................74
UXW#13: The UX writer’s guide to Figma basics.................................................78
UXW#14: UX writing best practices.................................................87
UXW#15: How to write clear microcopy.................................................94
UXW#16: How to write concise microcopy.................................................106
UXW#17: How to write useful microcopy.................................................119
UXW#18: How to write usable microcopy.................................................127
UXW#19: How to write helpful microcopy.................................................147
UXW#20: How to write accessible microcopy.................................................155
UXW#21: Friction in UX writing.................................................163
UXW#22: Cognitive load in UX writing.................................................172
UXW#23: Progressive disclosure in UX writing.................................................176
UXW#24: What makes bad UX writing.................................................179
UXW#25: Deceptive design in UX writing.................................................194
UXW#26: How to write headlines.................................................201
UXW#27: How to write body copy.................................................224
UXW#28: How to write buttons.................................................239
UXW#29: How to write forms.................................................257
UXW#30: How to write labels.................................................276
UXW#31: How to write placeholder text.................................................287
UXW#32: How to communicate progress.................................................304
UXW#33: How to write empty states.................................................322
UXW#34: How to write loading states.................................................347
UXW#35: How to write error messages.................................................364
UXW#36: How to write success messages.................................................387
UXW#37: How to write modals.................................................401
UXW#38: How to write tooltips.................................................425
UXW#39: How to write toasts.................................................444
UXW#40: How to write push notifications.................................................456
UXW#41: How to write SMS messages.................................................477
UXW#42: How to write emails.................................................494
UXW#43: What is product voice and tone.................................................520
UXW#44: Brand voice vs product voice.................................................526
UXW#45: How to build voice & tone guidelines.................................................530
UXW#46: How to use voice & tone guidelines.................................................553
UXW#47: What is a style guide in UX writing.................................................557
UXW#48: How to build a UX writing style guide.................................................564
UXW#49: What's a good UX writing process?.................................................570
Frameworks
FRW#1: Writing forms.................................................299
FRW#2: Writing empty states.................................................342
FRW#3: Writing loading states.................................................359
FRW#4: Writing error messages.................................................382
FRW#5: Writing success messages.................................................396
FRW#6: Writing modals.................................................419
FRW#7: Writing tooltips.................................................439
FRW#8: Writing toasts.................................................452
FRW#9: Writing push notifications.................................................472
FRW#10: Writing SMS messages.................................................490
FRW#11: Writing emails.................................................514
Exercises
EX#1: Define UX writing in your own words.................................................22
EX#2: Show the benefit, not the feature.................................................59
EX#3: Design with words.................................................66
EX#4: Apply progressive disclosure.................................................72
EX#5: Writing for users in different states.................................................77
EX#6: Write clear microcopy.................................................104
EX#7: Write concise microcopy.................................................116
EX#8: Write useful microcopy.................................................125
EX#9: Write usable microcopy.................................................145
EX#10: Write helpful microcopy.................................................155
EX#11: Write accessible microcopy.................................................161
EX#12: Redesign sign-up screen.................................................199
EX#13: Write an effective headline.................................................222
EX#14: Write effective body copy.................................................238
EX#15: Write button copy.................................................256
EX#16: Write an effective form.................................................273
EX#17: Write effective labels.................................................286
EX#18: Write effective placeholder text.................................................302
EX#19: Effectively communicate progress.................................................321
EX#20: Write effective empty states.................................................345
EX#21: Write an effective loading state.................................................362
EX#22: Write an effective error message.................................................385
EX#23: Write an effective success message.................................................399
EX#24: Write an effective modal.................................................422
EX#25: Write an effective tooltip.................................................442
EX#26: Write an effective toast.................................................455
EX#27: Write effective push notifications.................................................475
EX#28: Write effective SMS messages.................................................493
EX#29: Write effective emails.................................................517
Job search
Lessons
JB#1: Is it hard to land a UX writing job?.................................................584
JB#2: Understanding the UX writer job search.................................................587
JB#3: How to land UX writer jobs without 3 – 5 years of experience......................................592
JB#4: Why you don't need a UX writing certification to land a job.........................................599
JB#5: Why perseverance is the key to land a UX writing job.................................................605
JB#6: How to use the UX writer job description to land interviews..........................................610
JB#7: Understanding the UX writer resume.................................................618
JB#8: What makes a bad UX writer resume.................................................624
JB#9: What makes a good UX writer resume.................................................635
JB#10: How to write a UX writer resume.................................................645
JB#11: Understanding the UX writer cover letter.................................................659
JB#12: What makes a good UX writer cover letter.................................................664
JB#13: What makes a bad UX writer cover letter.................................................673
JB#14: How to write a UX writer cover letter.................................................678
JB#15: Understanding the UX writer portfolio.................................................696
JB#16: UX writer portfolio checklist.................................................704
JB#17: Understanding the recruiter interview.................................................709
JB#18: Understanding the hiring manager interview.................................................714
JB#19: Understanding the UX writer portfolio presentation.................................................719
JB#20: Understanding the whiteboard challenge.................................................724
Templates
TPL#1: Job application tracker.................................................609
TPL#2: UX writer resume template.................................................656
TPL#3: UX writer cover letter template.................................................692
Freelance
Lessons
FRL#1: Why you should do UX writing freelance style.................................................731
FRL#2: UX writing freelance misconceptions.................................................736
FRL#3: UX writing freelance surprises.................................................739
FRL#4: Day in the life of a freelance UX writer.................................................743
FRL#5: Why freelance UX writers should avoid Upwork.................................................747
FRL#6: Process to land a UX writing freelance gig.................................................753
FRL#7: Why every UX writing freelancer needs a personal brand............................................757
FRL#8: Why clients look for UX writing freelancers with a niche................................................764
FRL#9: How to pick a niche.................................................769
FRL#10: Why you need to know your target client.................................................774
FRL#11: How to define your target client.................................................777
FRL#12: How to define your messaging.................................................792
FRL#13: Understanding the UX writing freelance portfolio.................................................799
FRL#14: How to create niche-specific portfolio pieces.................................................809
FRL#15: What makes a good UX writing freelance website.................................................817
FRL#16: Blogging to $100k proposals.................................................825
FRL#17: How to build credibility with clients.................................................831
FRL#18: How to crush client sales calls.................................................836
FRL#19: What not to talk about on sales calls.................................................843
FRL#20: How to price UX writing freelance projects.................................................847
FRL#21: How to write a UX writing freelance project proposal.................................................852
FRL#22: How to measure success.................................................864
Templates
TPL#4: Freelance project proposal template.................................................862
Frameworks
FRW#12: Define your target client.................................................791
FRW#13: Messaging canvas.................................................799
Made it this far and only interested in 2 parts of the encyclopedia (ex: UX writing + job search content)? Use code "33-percent-off" to discount whichever part you're not interested in :)
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