Content-first design is good for business.
Any digital experience is about creating a conversation with users. Conversations consist of words, tone, even gestures. How can you create a conversation with users if we’re not looking at the content of that conversation first?
Of course, there are many elements, such as research, analysis, and writing, that go into creating a streamlined, thoughtful conversation. In this article, I’ll outline 8 steps for putting content first in everything you design.
“Words are essential for helping users accomplish their tasks, and by thinking about them while you sketch, you’ll uncover problems early and be able to move faster later.” — Biz Sanford, Shopify
Content-design is good for business because it establishes a conversation with the user based on extensive inquiry into user feelings, thoughts, needs, and wants. While content professionals tend to do this inquiry, it’s also good to include other stakeholders such as UX Design, UX Research, product managers, and others who want to get to know your user.
With this knowledge gained about the user the team can design user flows and page outlines using priority guides that will work better for the user while meeting business requirements
Nobody content pro wants to be brought in after design with limited knowledge of the project and problem you’re trying to solve and asked to fill in the content. It doesn’t create effective or successful projects.
Take a look at my book to learn more about implementing content-first design and influencing your organization’s success.
- It keeps you from having to redesign the website and costing the business money
- Content-first design produces better design and accessibility first
- It gets your team to work together in new ways and learn new techniques and methodologies for approaching design
- And it creates products that make users happy which means less frustration, drop-offs, and calls to the call center, all which cost the organization money
- Less drop-offs makes a business more profitable
Can you think of more to add to the list? Add your thoughts to the discussion! Let’s hear it!
