Why copy and content should come before UX design

If asked to picture a great website, most people would focus on its visual design. No doubt, aesthetics are crucial for a positive user experience. However, it’s the website’s content that truly delivers value and drives action.

Think of it this way: a website’s primary goal is to communicate a message or offer value to a user. And as a result, the effectiveness of its design is directly tied to the quality and clarity of the content it presents. Given how important content is, it’s only logical to prioritize its creation and organization before making layout decisions.

This article covers why content should precede UX design, focusing on how a content-first approach can help ensure a seamless user experience. Let’s dive in!

Why content should come before design

Say you want to buy a new outfit online. Which approach makes the most sense:

1. Start with your measurements and then select clothing based on them
2. Buy any random clothing item and try to make it fit after your purchase

The first approach makes more sense because no matter how beautiful an outfit is, it won’t have the right effect if it doesn’t fit. This also applies to website design. Writing copy for a predesigned website is like picking a wrong-sized outfit and struggling to make it fit.

Of course, it can be tempting to dive right into the visuals when starting a design project. After all, the more stunning the visuals are, the more attractive the website will be to prospective users.

But here’s the thing: while aesthetics can attract a user, your website’s content determines if they stay. If the content is high-quality and offers value, users will want to return. Confusing content, on the other hand, can frustrate the users and make them abandon the website. So, if it comes down to choosing between prioritizing content or design, content should come first.

But let’s be clear: a content-first approach doesn’t mean neglecting design. On the contrary, it ensures that the design and content fit together seamlessly to create a positive user experience.

Benefits of a content-first UX strategy

Here are some key benefits of a content-first strategy:

• Improved user experience — When you create your content first and design your layout around it, it’s easier for users to find and understand information. This leads to a more satisfying user experience
• Better alignment with goals — A content-first approach focuses on the main objectives of the website or application, whether it’s to inform, engage, or persuade the users. This helps ensure the final product aligns with user needs and business goals
• Clear communication — Starting with content lets you focus on clarity and consistency. Instead of squeezing words into an existing design, you use the best words to convey your message and then let the design act as a supporting framework to amplify your message
• Reduced risk of design issues — By creating your content first, you won’t have to force content into a pre-existing design. This can help avoid awkward layouts, poor readability, or a disjointed user experience

These are just a few ways a content-first strategy can enhance your digital product. To truly appreciate the impact of this strategy, you need to understand the role of copywriting in UX.

The role of copywriting in UX

Copywriting plays a major role in shaping the user experience of a product. It acts as a bridge between a user and an interface, helping them navigate the product and achieve their goals.

Beyond the interface’s design, the copy elicits action and helps achieve business goals. That’s why your UX copy needs to be:

• Clear — Effective UX copy is simple enough for anyone to understand, even if they’re unfamiliar with the topic. For example, instead of a vague button copy like “click here,” a more specific one like “download report” will let the user know the exact action the button will trigger
• Concise — Less is more when it comes to UX copywriting. Effective UX copy isn’t about trying to get to the point; it starts with it. It expresses an idea in the most direct and polite wayFor example, instead of saying, “To see more of the options we provide, check out our menu,” say, “Need more options? View our menu”
• User-centric — The most effective copy talks to the users, not at them. It addresses the user’s needs rather than talking about the business.Swap, “Our customers can choose from a wide range of fragrances on our website,” for, “Find your perfect fragrance. Shop now”

Key principles of content strategy in UX

When it comes to developing your UX content strategy, remember the following three principles:

Clarity

Clarity serves as the foundation of effective UX copy. Clear UX copy makes it easier for users to navigate a website or app, understand what’s being offered, and take the desired actions. To achieve clarity, keep your writing as close to speech as possible, avoid jargon, and be direct about what you want users to know or do.

Consistency

Consistent language helps reduce the cognitive load on users as there are fewer things for them to remember. To maintain consistency, use the same terms to refer to the same items across all touchpoints. Also, maintain a uniform tone of voice, style, and messaging throughout your content. This makes it easier for users to understand the different parts of your website and find what they’re looking for.

Relevance

Clarity and consistency alone aren’t enough; your content must be relevant to your users. Relevance means making sure your content meets the users’ needs and expectations. This could be achieved through addressing specific pain points, answering common questions, or providing value that aligns with your users’ goals.

How to implement a content-first design approach

Before starting your content-first design project, you need to know what you want your website or app to achieve. To define this, you need to answer questions like:

• What actions do you want your users to take? It might be to make a purchase, contact you, fill out a form, etc.
• What story do you want to tell? Knowing your story will help you craft a narrative that resonates with your audience and aligns with your brand’s values
• What is the website’s purpose? Having a clear goal makes it easy to find the best content to deliver your message

Once you have a clear goal, you can follow these steps for a content-first approach:

1. Audit your content

If you’re working on an existing website, start by auditing its content. Evaluate its quality, relevance, and performance. Find out what information is missing and what needs to be improved on.

2. Conduct competitive analysis

It’s a good idea to know what your competitors are doing. How are they positioning themselves with their content? What are the key features of their website or app? How do they communicate their value? Make a note of the positive and negative aspects.

3. Conduct user research

While competitive analysis can tell you how other businesses communicate with their customers, it can’t tell you how to communicate with yours. To know this, learn about your customers through research methods such as interviews, surveys, etc.

4. Create a user flow

A user flow defines the steps users take to achieve their goals on a website or app. By sketching it out, you can identify the type of information they need at various steps in their journey.

5. Create content-first wireframes

When creating wireframes, prioritize the layout and flow of content. Map out areas where key information appears, define their structure, and how users will interact with them.

6. Use real content in prototypes

Instead of the traditional placeholder text, incorporate real or near-final content into your prototypes. This helps you make more informed decisions about typography, spacing, and visual hierarchy.

7. Test content usability

Conduct usability tests that focus on how users interact with the content. This helps reveal areas that need to be improved to enhance clarity, engagement, and the overall user experience.

By following these steps, you can put content at the forefront of your design process. But of course, for this process to work, you must involve UX writers and content strategists from the start of your project.

Examples of successful content-first design

Now that you have the basics down, let’s turn our attention to examples of companies that implement successful content-first design:

Medium

Medium, a popular social publishing platform, uses a content-first strategy to ensure the focus remains on the written word:

Upon visiting Medium, you’re immediately greeted by a clean, minimalistic design that’s content-focused, with the platform’s core message front and center. It retains its consistency throughout the entire platform, with design enhancing the content rather than distracting from the reading experience.

Medium now attracts over 100 million active users per month.

Dropbox

Dropbox, a popular file hosting and cloud storage service, uses a content-driven onboarding process to enhance understanding and drive conversions:

Once you visit Dropbox, you’re greeted by a minimalistic design that puts the platform’s value proposition at the forefront. The onboarding process uses clear, concise content that focuses on the value to the customer.

By prioritizing clear and engaging content, users can easily understand the platform’s value, which leads to higher conversion rates. This approach is a key reason the platform can boast $2.5 billion in annual revenue.

Duolingo

Duolingo, one of the world’s most popular language-learning platforms, uses a content-first approach to drive user engagement:

A new user visiting Duolingo will find it easy to interact with the app due to its high-quality, engaging content and minimalistic design. This approach contributes to the success of the platform, which has up to 74.1 million active users monthly.

Final thoughts

Content shouldn’t be an afterthought in the design process. Instead, think of it as the driving force that shapes the design. By starting with content, you ensure that your core message is clear, engaging, and aligned with user needs.

So, if you want the best possible experience for your users, start with content. Not only will you be making your users happy, but you’ll also boost engagement and drive better results for your business.