Communicate in the language of the people
Hey, that sounds great. But maybe a little obvious. So, what does this Yeats quote really mean?
The full quote is, “Think like a wise man, but communicate in the language of the people.” I take this to mean that good, clear, universal writing takes a lot of thought. A lot of considering how a word or phrase could be interpreted in a particular context. Putting a string of content in front of users or colleagues and really understanding how it lands for them. Is it clear what is being asked? Do they understand what to do next?
I employ user-centered design principles in my UX writing and strategy work through a holistic and results-driven approach. Cleverness and trying to stand out don’t lead to good language decisions; prioritizing the user and the desired results do.
My obsession with language led me to UX and content design. And I’ve spent the last 12 years honing my skills, using words, syntax, and grammar to power meaningful user experiences.
I have worked in various agency settings and on in-house teams. Most recently, I worked for the cybersecurity giant CrowdStrike, translating the complex systems of the IT Security Operations world into a paradigm that non-experts could understand.
My time there and my experiences working with clients like Google, IBM, and AmerisourceBergen have taught me the importance of always keeping content projects aligned with measurable business goals.
If you want to have a conversation with me about writing or content design, drop me a line.
I'm at mrscottwbeck@gmail.com.
As a seasoned content designer working on teams of various sizes, I am an expert at navigating challenging stakeholder conversations, shifting goalposts, and limited resources. These are the types of problems that I wake up hungry to solve.
