Microcopy: your online browsing companion

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It’s a fundamental part of online life, but we rarely give it the attention it deserves. Microcopy plays an essential role in the user experience. Get to know it better!

Microcopy: what is it?

Microcopy is short text that guides the user to perform a specific action. These small pieces of text can go unnoticed on a web page, but they often have a huge impact on customer satisfaction . Microcopy is everywhere, in the form of pop-ups, forms, error messages, calls to action, etc. There is microcopy for every occasion, but at the end of the day, its tone and clarity are what matter most to the online user experience .

When done well, microcopy can turn an everyday task into kenya whatsapp number database memorable. However, bad microcopy can directly influence a user’s opinion of a brand and discourage them from using the software. The truth is, whether it’s vague, confusing or robotic, we instantly recognize bad microcopy when we see it.

Microcopy, what is it for?

Increase user confidence
Users always want to feel safe online, especially when entering their personal details such as addresses or credit card details. They want and deserve to know what their data will be used for. The goal of microcopy is to help the user feel more comfortable and eliminate any anxiety about using or purchasing. To do this, clearly stating what to expect after each click is not only appropriate, but also considerate. So, by using microcopy with predictive text instead of multiple “Continue” buttons, users feel in control and always have a choice.

If all the online steps are clear to the user from the start, it is much easier to gain their trust and, consequently, their data. This way, they will already know in advance what will happen when they click “Continue”.

Clarify the user
Microcopy should encourage users by pointing them in the right direction and, in the event of an error, should help the user correct it. In error situations, microcopy should be clear, helpful and present the problem in a polite and instructive manner . It should help the user resolve the issue without causing frustration or anxiety, which often leads to users abandoning the page.

Showcase brand personality and create excitement
As with everything related to UX (user experience) , empathy is a must . It is essential to try to understand what the user is feeling or identify what they need at that specific moment. Likewise, it is necessary for the microcopy to be aligned with the brand's identity and tone , and it must be consistent with the rest of the software.
Adding fun microcopy is an excellent strategy for creating a good user experience because, in an interactive way, it presents relevant information to the user.

On the other hand, it is also important to note that not all microcopy should be used in a funny tone. The clarity of the information online always takes priority. Furthermore, it may be funny at first reading, but with repeated use it can easily become annoying.

To ensure this doesn’t happen, you should avoid using overly clever copy in normal user flows, such as general navigation, forms, search fields, instructional texts, selection texts or buttons, and instead use it in confirmation messages, examples, 404 error pages, server errors or error messages in general. Sometimes you need to be so clear and subtle that the microcopy isn’t even noticed, and other times you need to make people laugh and turn frustrating moments into fun ones.

Quality microcopy is always a great way to improve the online experience when using any product.