I start by identifying and asking about constraints. I appreciate constraints and want to establish as many as are known (or question possible unknown constraints) from the beginning.
I check the product style guide to determine how and when similar content should be used within the product to make sure I’m following corporate standards.
After brainstorming I will narrow down my ideas. I will try out a few of the best and question if they suitably fit the situation and if they explain to the user the intended message. My task is to write something simple, straightforward, and human. I need to ask if what I am using is simple enough, could it be simplified any more or is it so simple it’s not understandable? I need to ask if it’s straightforward, would the user have any questions after reading the content that I should have answered? Also, I need to ask if it sounds human, is there a real human voice in the words chosen.
I make a final decision on content when it meets all my requirements of fitting within the constraints, explaining succinctly and completely. I will walk through the flow again to check logic.
High quality and craft are extremely important. I sweat over both big and small details of the end-to-end product. My goal is to not only make the experience functional but also leave people feeling like I cared about them and their individual experiences.
A quick summary of my content creation thought process: