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 1: How to Notify a User That a “Thing” Has Been Cancelled
Scenario: A traveller is in an airport waiting for the last leg of a flight home when their flight gets abruptly cancelled due to bad weather.
Challenge: Write a message from the airline app notifying them of the cancellation and what they need to do next.
Thinking
I made sure the heading is clear and concise “Flight #A 4434 cancelled”. Adding the flight number creates confirmation this is their flight.
The body copy explains the reason for the cancellation and what will happen next. Empathise with the user by addressing them on their first name.
“Jill, the weather is pretty bad. We booked a seat for you on the next available flight. Enjoy free lounge entry while you wait.”
Providing a solution removes any stress and adding a bonus, we apologise for the delay.
“Enjoy free lounge entry while you wait.”
Finally, the button should allow the user to see what changed in their flight schedule/time etc.
“FLIGHT SCHEDULE”
Solution
Flight #A 4434 cancelled
Jill, the weather is pretty bad. We booked a seat for you on the next available flight. Enjoy free lounge entry while you wait.
FLIGHT SCHEDULE
Day 2: How to Write a Promotional Screen for a Mobile App or Website
Scenario: A user is a working parent, and a big sports fan, in the midst of their favourite sports season who can no longer attend games.
Challenge: Write a promotional screen for an app that lets a user choose teams, sends game reminders, real-time score updates and highlight videos.
Thinking
The headline is vital to catch the user’s attention — inviting and useful. Using an exclamation create excitement without screaming at the user.
“Support your team anytime and anywhere!”
Once you have the user’s attention you need to elaborate on how the user can support their team. Mentioning the benefits of real-time updates and game highlights, encourage the user that they can support their team. Keeping in mind that the users are busy parents, we relate to their situation. Busy parents could be working, running errands or taking care of kids. You will find more insight into your users if you do user interviews.
“See your team’s full schedule, receive real-time notifications and see who is in the lead. Watch the highlights from school, home or office. You will never miss a game again.”
The button copy ties it up with the headline and pulls through the message of supporting their team. with one tap.
SUPPORT YOUR TEAM
Solution
Support your team anytime and anywhere!
See your team’s full schedule, receive real-time notifications and see who is in the lead. Watch the highlights, from school, home or office. You will never miss a game again.
SUPPORT YOUR TEAM
Day 3: Writing an “Error State” Message for a Mobile App or Website
Scenario: The user entered the wrong email address to sign in to their account.
Challenge: Tell the user to enter the right email.
Thinking
Keeping it short and valuable is a hard task. With one sentence we identify the error and show the user how to fix the error.
“Sorry, we couldn’t find an account with that email.”
Three things to consider while writing an error message.
- Be human and don’t sound like a robot.
- Help the user understand the error.
- Make it clear on how the user can solve the problem.
Solution
Sorry, we couldn’t find an account with that email.
Day 4: How to Write a Promotional “Pop-up” Modal or Overlay
Scenario: A user is in their favourite supermarket. They open the supermarket’s app on their phone to see what’s on sale and are greeted by a promotion.
Challenge: Write a promotional home screen for a subscription service that delivers groceries to the user once-a-month for a flat fee.
Thinking
The user is already in the supermarket, pushing a promotional popup will distract the user from completing their current task.
Keep the headline in context and enticing. The headline acknowledges that users are accessing the app for a different reason than we are promoting but we also try to pull them in on the benefits the app now offers.
“Next time, shop from your couch!”
The body copy elaborates more on what it means to shop form your couch.
“Stay in and shop the best food for only R99 per month. Buy everything on your shopping list with delivery included!”
With a secondary button, the user is able to continue their current task.
“SHOP NOW + SKIP”
Solution
Next time, shop from your couch!
Stay in and shop the best food for only R99 per month. Buy everything on your shopping list with delivery included to your doorstep!
Primary button > SHOP NOW
Secondary button > SKIP
Day 5: Using Loss Aversion Psychology to Make Users Feel Better
Scenario: The user works in graphic design. While critiquing a design in a mobile app, their phone abruptly turns off. When they restart the phone, they reopen the app.
Challenge: Write a message that the user will read immediately upon opening the app. What do they need to know? What steps (if any) do they need to take to recover their content? What if they can’t recover the content?
Thinking
We first want to convey (if the app is able to save content) that the app saved the user’s work and they can continue.
“Continue where you left off”
After we have managed the user’s worry if they lost their work, we now explain what happened and what to do next.
“You disconnected for a moment. Something went wrong on our side but we’ve got you back up and running again.”
There are two buttons
- Continue the user task
- If this happens more often the user has the ability to report the problem.
“Continue | Report problem”
Solution
Continue where you left off
You disconnected for a moment. Something went wrong on our side but we’ve got you back up and running again.
Primary button > Continue
Secondary button > Report problem
(Part 2 coming soon!)
