Yes, I did it! The daily UX challenge. Subscribe here — https://dailyuxwriting.com/. It’s fun, quick and a great way to improve your UX writing skills. I documented my thinking process and possible solutions.
Day 11: How to write a Title and Meta description
Scenario: An elderly user is doing a Google search to find an easy way to buy contact lenses online.
Challenge: Write a title and meta description for a website that sells subscription contact lenses delivered to a user every 30 days — convince them to try it.
Thinking
Knowing that we only have 60 characters, it’s crucial to keep it short. I also mention the company where you can order these contact lenses from.
Title
“Order subscription contact lenses — EyeCare.com”
The meta description summarises what EyCare.com offers.
Meta description
“Order your contact lenses online with a monthly delivery to your door! “
Solution
Order subscription contact lenses — EyeCare.com
Order your contact lenses online with a monthly delivery to your door!
Day 12: How to write with empathy when there is no “answer” to an error
Scenario: A user is creating an account. When they come to the step where they are asked to enter their name, they get an error message. A fraud detection software thinks their name is fake — but it’s wrong 5% of the time.
Challenge: Write an error message that prompts them to fix the error without shaming them for having a fake-sounding name.
Thinking
We don’t want to sound like it’s the user’s fault for having a “fake-sounding name”.
With that, we also do not want to block the user from continuing the registration. We then give the user the ability to register with email or social sign up’s.
“Sorry, we need more than 5 characters. Sign up with email”
Solution
Sorry, we need more than 5 characters. Sign up with email
Day 13: How to write push notifications
Scenario: A short-haul truck driver has a phone app that monitors his route, schedule, fuel & deliveries.
He has 6 more deliveries before stopping for fuel and lunch. Due to unexpected traffic, he’s behind schedule.
He can choose to stay on his planned route for a few more stops, but risk running low on fuel and missing lunch, or he can get fuel and lunch now and finish the deliveries later.
Challenge: Write a push notification alerting him of this dilemma and options.
Thinking
The most important message is to make the user aware that they are behind schedule. The title will be short to not distract the driver.
“You are behind schedule”
The body copy explains what the driver can do right now and a reason why stopping next is beneficial . Filling up for fuel so that they don’t run out.
“Stop now and fill up on fuel or remain on the route.”
I’ve also aligned the button order with the above copy. This also visually shows that finding their next stop is better. Yet, the user would always have the ability to choose. Reason being that the driver has more contextual knowledge.
“Find next stop + Remain on route”
Solution
You are behind schedule
Stop now and fill up on fuel or remain on the route.
REMAIN ON ROUTE + FIND NEXT STOP
Day 14: How to write an ‘error message’ without knowing the error
Scenario: a user is shopping using a price comparison app that boasts “REAL-TIME” pricing on items. As they are checking the price of an item, something goes wrong. The problem is unknown.
Challenge: write a message that informs the user that they cannot access the app right now. You cannot specify “why” the app doesn’t work, you also want them to continue using the app.
Thinking
If the user were looking at products and the app stops working they would expect a useful message.
- What happened
- What’s the problem
- What to do next
What happened is the app stopped working and the user can’t continue using the app.
“Uhoh seems we’ve lost you there”
As we cannot be too specific on why this happened we can add some suggestions on what might have caused it. It’s important that we make it clear that the user can continue using the app, this is not a dead-end.
“It seems that our app stopped working. To continue please check your internet connection.”
We don’t know the problem but the user can escalate a report to find out the problem. Then the user might want to continue shopping hence the option to try again.
“Report problem + Try again”
Solution
Uhoh seems we’ve lost you there
It seems that our app stopped working. To continue please check your internet connection.
REPORT PROBLEM + TRY AGAIN
Next up is bonus UX writing challenges!
