When it comes to your enterprise software, be it apps, admin suites, reporting tools, self-service portals, ecommerce, or knowledge sharing, copywriting is more often than not the forgotten pillar of the production process. In a series of guides, we will highlight the importance of copy in enterprise software and explain the process of creating it, reviewing it, storing it and managing it. Part 1 focuses on interface copywriting.

1. ENTERPRISE SOFTWARE COPYWRITING
A GUIDE TO THE NEGLECTED COMPONENT
Part 1: Interface copywriting

2. By Enterprise Software we mean mobile, tablet or desktop tools for:
>
Reporting
>
Self-service
>
Ecommerce
>
Admin
>
Knowledge sharing
>
Data capture
>
Communication
>
Back office ops
What do we mean by ‘Enterprise Software’?

3. We have identified 6 types of possible Enterprise Software copy requirements:
1.
Interface
2.
Timely
3.
Communication
4.
User-generated
5.
Auxiliary
6.
Primary
Also, what do we mean by ‘Enterprise Software copywriting’?

4. So what is the issue here?
We often come across a belief that copy just happens.
This tends to be due to a lack of understanding of the copy needs of software.

5. And what are the consequences?
Such lack of understanding can lead to under-budgeted, badly planned, insufficient, low quality copy that compromises the overall user experience.

6. The guide to
interface copy
Part 1

7. Interface copy is to your software what a signage system is to a city.
No matter how well the city functions and how logically it has been designed, take the signage away and watch everything grind to a halt.
Why interface copy is important

8. Navigation
Buttons and text links
Generalsign posting
Instructions
Form labels and help
Error Alerts
Validation
Progress Bars
Page titles
Confirmationmessages
Examples of interface copy
<title>
This is your page
</title>
Menu link 1
Menu link 2
Menu link 3
Menu link 4
Learn more
To achieve that you must first do this
Type your postcode in this format: AB1-2CD
Your device appears to be offline
You’ve forgotten to fill out this piece of information
You are on step 3 out of 5
You’ve done it. Great work!
Pease wait. Searching for requested information.

9. When should interface copy be written?
1

10. Interface copy is an integral part of the user experience (UX)
•
Interface copy does not need a lot of planning.
•
As we go through our UX process, the interface layouts begin to take shape and to indicate what kind of copy is required and where it needs to be placed.
•
When the first prototype is ready for user testing, the interface copy must be in place. If the copy is missing, or is incomplete, the prototype might not make sense to the users and fail the test.
•
By the time the UX phase is done most of the interface copy is written and tested .
Information architecture
Prototype
Content + functionality
Functional Specification
Discovery
Definition
Develop
Deploy
Optimise
Visual Design

11. Who should write
the interface copy?
2

12. Usually, we do!
Unlike other areas of software copy requirements, interface copy is one thing you don't have to worry about writing.
As it is very functional, it is usually created by our UX team who have developed a deep understanding of the software's requirements.
Copywriting begins with hand-drawn sketches
And gets refined during the prototype build

13. Where should interface
copy be stored?
3

14. It depends
Hardcoded
If the interface and content structure are locked and not controlled by other systems, then the interface copy tends to be hardcoded into the software.
On a Content Management System (CMS)
If the CMS allows you to change the interface or content structure of the software, then you also need the flexibility to change the copy accordingly.
On an existing system
Often, you have systems that need to control what the user sees on their devices. In such a scenario, the copy will also need to be managed in the same way.

15. How can you review
interface copy?
4

16. It’s easy
The good news is that you will
not be burdened with another approval stage exclusively for interface copy. Because the copy
is weaved into the user interface, as you review the prototype you will also be reviewing all the copy components.

17. Part 2 of this guide will cover timely copy such as news, alerts and notifications
Crafted by
@yannismarcou
yannismarcou