Daily UX writing challenge. Day #9

As a technical writer, I sometimes do some UX writing for the software products I work on. I decided to look into UX writing as another service I could offer, so took the daily UX challenge at https://www.dailyuxwriting.com.

Here's the day 9 (of 15) challenge.

Scenario

The user is trying to rent a car using an application but the credit card on file has expired.

Challenge

Write them an error message so that they can correct the problem.

Headline: 30 characters

Body: 45 characters

My answer

Text:

Your card has expired. Update the card details in your account.

For this one, the error text is pretty simple. Function and purpose over style. A basic approach of "what the problem is" followed by "what the user needs to do to fix it". In this case, they need to update their card. I also added a contact support button as there's a chance that the user doesn't have another card or that their existing card has not expired at all, it is just a system error. For those issues, they can talk to support.

Looking for a UX writer?

Do you need a UX writer for your project? I'd love to hear from you. I've worked in software teams for most of my career as a technical writer and have trained as a content designer and copywriter too. I know about user journeys, work flows, and user-centred content. Microcopy, long form content, I can do it all.

Craig Wright is an experienced technical writer based in Chesterfield, UK.  He hates writing about himself in the third person, so I shall stop now.

Always interested in new content writing opportunities. Remote working preferred.

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