It’s an ultimatum and memorable phrase in cinematic history – “Show Me the Money!” A hot-shot football rookie pleads with his sports agent Jerry Maguire in the movie of the same name to “Show Me the Money!” “Show Me the Money!” It’s powerful, yet comical in this instance.

But it’s real and nasty in another. It describes a real-life predicament that many people face in trying to collect fees for the services they rendered. Freelancers, in particular, are subject to this irksome issue of nonpayment. And in today’s gig economy, “Show Me the Money!” is indeed highly prevalent and perilous.

How common is this threat to financial well-being? Ask freelancers to identify their biggest challenges. Expect to hear not getting paid repeatedly and prominently. This grievance comes in at number six in “25 solutions to problems only freelancers face.” This post acknowledges that not getting paid is “going to happen eventually. A client is going to cut bait and run after you’ve delivered the work.” This concern clocks in even higher, at number four, in “The unglamorous side of freelancing.” This writer notes: “Doing your work on time and sending an invoice on time doesn’t guarantee being paid on time. Most freelancers have experienced clients who are late at paying – or worse, clients who won’t pay at all.”

In the bigger picture, it’s not only freelancers who contend with this frustrating matter. The clients that engage them may wrestle with it too. You would think, since these businesses that use freelancers depend on collecting fees for their own products and services, they would understand the importance of paying and not taking advantage of the freelancers who serve them. Sadly, that is not the case… not for all, but some.

Down with Deadbeat Clients!

Life being what it is, an oversight in payment may occur. OK, that may (but shouldn’t) happen. Nonetheless, with a simple past due or second invoice, the situation can and may be rectified. Late payment also may arise because of cash flow problems. Again, a reminder and phone chat may pave the way for settling the matter equitably. But then there’s the BIG one – the client that fails to respond, dodges all calls and contacts, ghosts the freelancer. Multiple attempts to confront the issue aren’t working. The client is incommunicado. The money is not coming. Getting stiffed is infuriating and violating.

What can freelancers do to guard against not getting paid? If – and when it occurs – what options are available to deal with deadbeat clients?

  • Search before securing new business

Reeling in a client is exciting. It’s a new block to build a business. In planning and conducting exploratory meetings, place your objective judgment front and center. Don’t wear blinders. Working with a new entity – and even an existing one – has its risks. It’s not enough to come away with a merging on the minds on goals, workflow, and approaches. You need to determine: Is this client trustworthy? Clients assess freelancers’ work and character. Do the same. Ask questions. Gather supplementary information. Review the client’s website. Research the business and the person. Run a credit check. Don’t get carried away with dreams of a potential infusion of cash. If you’re not cautious and conscientious, you may never collect it. If something seems suspicious, walk away.

  • Stay close and familiar, if possible

How do you land clients? Going the route of local or connected sourcing may remove some uncertainty and unknowns. Personal referrals fall into this category. Getting clients through word of mouth is another potentially lower risk avenue. Let friends and family know you seek new, reliable clients. Similarly, go prospecting at community and religious groups, civic and social clubs, where there may be some ties that bind. The same goes for professional organizations and alumni associations. Common threads may cut down on the chances of acquiring a rogue client. But it’s not fail safe and may not be productive enough to grow a business. Thus, even when pursuing this path of presumably least resistance, it’s critical to vet clients carefully.

  • Put everything in writing – no exceptions

A verbal agreement, nod, and handshake are nice. But they are signals and only a start. Freelancers are in business and must conduct negotiations that way. Hash out billing rates, payment terms, contingencies, and out-of-pocket expenses. Then set it all out in a formal letter of agreement or contract – signed, sealed, and delivered. Retain copies and refer to them, as necessary. If you don’t have these boilerplate forms at the ready, research and retrieve them. Ask other freelancers and business owners for samples of theirs. Search the internet for templates. Discuss upfront with an accountant, mentor, lawyer, or legal service. For each new project, write detailed descriptions with timelines and cost estimates. Have the client review all provisions and sign.

  • Arrange remuneration in increments

Welcome to the concept of divide and conquer applied to the payment space. Set up incremental schedules to cut down on getting stiffed. For example, collect a down payment for work to commence. Then bill for the balance upon successful completion of the project. Getting paid in thirds with specific milestones and dates is another way to go. Here again, a down payment initiates the work. An interim payment occurs when a meeting takes place to review progress to date. The final payment signifies acceptance of the project. Regardless of the payment scheme – one or multiple – include detailed information about terms. Is it on receipt of deliverables, NET 30 or other? And address delinquency by spelling out late fees with set dates and penalties.

  • Be your own H&R Block  

Keep detailed financial records and track your receipts or lack thereof diligently. The premise here is to act swiftly to try to rout out a problem and stop the hemorrhaging with a client as early as possible. By being on top of the situation and taking timely action, the outcome may be more propitious. In other words, take a cue from the expression “the sooner the better,” which tends to work in your favor. Bring up the issue of late or nonpayment shortly after a client misses a targeted payment date. Discuss the situation upfront to determine the cause, extent, and when you can expect to receive funds. Contact Accounting or the Accounts Payable group, if the client has one. Don’t be apologetic. Don’t stop pursuing. Your livelihood is at stake.

  • Fight the fight freelance freestyle          

Battle up! Sometimes, repeated invoices, emails, and communications don’t bear fruit. It’s time to escalate. Consider Freelancers Union as resource in this instance. Bonus: it’s free to join. As the group states: “Freelancers Union has been advocating on independent workers’ behalf since 1995, giving our members access to education, resources, community, benefits, and a political voice.” On its website’s Resources tab, click “Client Issues.” What’s the first to pop up? It’s none other than “How to Deal with Nonpayment.” Several suggestions there mirror those of this blog post. However, the one to delve into is the Collection Letter Template. Download it, fill in the blanks, and take action. Other resources? If you obtain a deadbeat client through an online marketplace, such as Fiverr or Upwork, contact its resolution or support services for help.

  • Escalate and engage outside collections or legal help  

The Collection Letter Template referred to above lays out various options. The no-cost ones include filing a report with a state Attorney General’s office. Similarly, register the incident with the Better Business Bureau. Both of these avenues are not direct routes for receiving remuneration. They may work fully, partially, or not at all, but at least make life uncomfortable for your client. What to do when all else fails and you’re determined to get the funds owed you? Hire a collections agency, lawyer, or legal service. At this point, you will be spending money to get your money or, more realistically, a portion of it. Similarly, go to small claims court if the case meets the parameters, pay the required fees to file a complaint, and then prepare to wait weeks or months for a court date. Note: small claims court only renders a judgment; it has no enforcement powers to help collect funds. What does that mean? You can win the case and still not get paid.

  • Use the tax code as remediation     

Give up trying to extract the funds from a client that evades you or otherwise refuses to pay? As noted, this could and does happen. What to do next – or at any step along the way – depends on the amount of money at risk, your work commitments and schedule, and your tolerance for letting go as well as for continuing to hassle. In other words, cost-benefit analysis here you come. If it turns out you are at the end of your “Show Me the Money!” journey, acknowledge the impossibility of receiving payment. At that point, take a loss. But do it on your income tax. You may be able to write it off the nonpayment as a bad debt when you file, deduct the cost of goods sold, or follow any other course your accountant suggests.

  • Freelance through a professional talent agency

Finding clients on your own is one avenue available to a freelancer. There are others. Instead of, or in conjunction with your own efforts, you can work with a professional placement firm. For example, Creative Circle bridges both ends of the spectrum. An established and reputable company, it serves clients that need to find freelancers and full-time employees. It fills those requisitions through posting job alerts to its other audience, which are the freelance providers themselves. Once vetted and approved by the agency, candidates may vie for opportunities. The agency shows a short list of the most suitable choices to its clients and then, for the person selected, the firm tracks timecards and administers pay. Yes, those freelancers in the system hired for assignments receive pay and do so weekly – no chasing after it required!

Freelancing has its advantages. Being your own boss, scheduling your time (or at least trying to), running a business, and working directly with clients are among them. Receiving payment for assignments occurs most of the time. And at others, it doesn’t. Follow the advice offered here to try not to get caught.


About the author.
You name it, she covers it. That’s the can-do attitude Sherry M. Adler brings to the craft of writing. A polished marketing and communications professional, she has a passion for learning and the world at large. She uses it plus the power of words to inform and energize stakeholders of all kinds. And to show how all of this can make a difference, she calls her business WriteResults NY, LLC

It’s weird, painful, and simply surreal to think that it has been a whole year since the COVID-19 pandemic hit. While it had been ravaging the globe for months, for Americans, March 13, 2020, marked a truly significant moment. It was the day the White House officially declared a state of emergency. For many, it was the day they started working remotely if their job allowed them to. At the time, 40 people had died, and around 1700 cases were confirmed, an eerie number to reflect on in light of the 29 million cases and 529,000 deaths we have suffered since.

It has been a year of devastation and loss and suffering, and it’s also been a year that has shown us just how strong and united we can really be, even 6 feet or thousands of miles apart. The pandemic has completely changed how we shop, how we eat, how we travel (or don’t travel), how we entertain ourselves, and most of all, how we work.

Losses and Gains

There has been a seismic shift in labor and how we work over the last year, that has revealed to us just how secure certain industries are, and just how precarious others are. The leisure and hospitality industries, particularly food service lost 7.7 million jobs in the first couple months alone. Education services, health services, and retail industries were also among the hardest hit, as their work primarily relies on close, in person duties. These huge losses have prompted important conversations about sustainability and valuing work, with some in the restaurant industry giving more thought to relaunching businesses as worker-owned cooperatives to empower workers and ensure more stability in the industry.

While there were losses across all industries, many industries were able to continue through the industries, and we’re seeing a shift in the fastest growing jobs, that speak volumes about our shifting world. As we’ve pointed out before, demand for e-commerce specialists, branding and marketing strategists, and UX researchers has exploded. According to the Bureau of Labor statistics, jobs in the medical industry such as registered nurses, medical managers, and nurse practitioners are in increasingly high demand—which seems like a direct response to the pandemic. On the other hand general and operations managers, financial managers, and analysts are also on the rise, as people are reconfiguring how business will work going forward.

Marketing research analysts, and content creators are a fast growing occupation as we’ve had to reconfigure how to market and communicate with each other remotely. And fun fact, career coaches and therapists are on the rise—for what seem like pretty obvious reasons after the year that we’ve had.

Home is the New Office

Of course one of the biggest shifts in work has been working from home. This change in workplace setting has forced folks to find creative ways to make room for an office in their own homes (in my case, working from home meant working in the kitchen). Our bookshelves became our backgrounds, our pets and family members became mini celebrities who made cameos, and we all became fluent in, “Oh! No, sorry! No, you go first.”

42% of the US labor force is now working from home with twice as many working from home as they are working on premises, and remote job searches on LinkedIn shot up 60%. For so many, WFH has been a blessing, a way to stay safe and keep a job. And despite some stigma associated with working from home, we didn’t see a loss of productivity. In fact productivity went up 13%. Technologies like Zoom, Slack, and others allowed us to stay connected and stay on top of work despite the distance. They also allowed for makeshift happy hours to retain a sense of normalcy.

A study (conducted by Slack) found that only 12% of respondents wanted to return to full-time work, though that’s not to say that people want to stay at home forever. 72% would like the option of a hybrid model that allows for both working from home and the ability to come into an office to work and of course socialize with their coworkers.

Despite the flexibility that working from home has offered, we’ve learned that WFH is not for everyone. And there has been a huge downside, which is really the downside of the pandemic as a whole: social isolation. And of course, it’s important to point out that as more people work from home, those working in sectors that support office work and the commute (transportation, food service, maintenance, etc), are also vulnerable.

Who Gets to Work From Home?

But working from home has also revealed huge inequalities in how we work—and who gets to work.

According to Pew, 62% of folks who can work from home have at least a bachelor’s degree, whereas only 23% of those without one can do so. Lower-income workers face the double whammy of not being able to work as home as much and having to face a higher risk of being exposed to COVID. On top of that, access to internet and tech has played a big role in this divide, and while 82% of white people have access to a desktop or laptop computer, only 58% of Black people and 57% of Latinx people do.

The pandemic has also taken a huge toll on women in the workplace, particularly women with children. Women suffered 1.8 times the amount of job losses as men. And as Melinda Gates pointed out, that doesn’t even take into account the unpaid and/or domestic labor women typically take on, writing, “Of course, the paid and unpaid economies are intimately connected. (One is a lot more visible, but it’s built on top of the other!) The unpaid work women do is one of the biggest barriers they face to reaching their potential in the workforce.”

Stronger Relationships

As we reconcile how we were and work to create more equitable working environments (Did I mention there was increased demand for diversity and inclusion professionals? Because there is!), it’s also a great opportunity to think about the progress we’ve made and the lessons we’ve learned over the last year. We have learned that it’s important now more than ever to have strong relationships and connections with our colleagues. Anyone who has had the good fortune of starting a new job in the pandemic is well aware of how difficult it is to keep up or get to know folks, so it’s also important to reach out to each other.

It’s also extremely important to remind ourselves that we have been living through a historic global pandemic. We’ve been surrounded by a lot of despair and loss and trauma that we probably won’t even fully process for a while because, you know, we’re still living it.

For those struggling with feeling unproductive or stuck at work, be kind to yourself. Not feeling motivated is a very natural response to going on, and it’s important to listen to your body. Take breaks, get outside, change up your work space (and if possible keep it as separate as possible from your living space), and stay in touch with loved ones.

And if you’re like me and will drag out work because you are (I am) easily distracted by the internet, try setting a timer for increments of 20-30 minutes to focus and then take a lap or drink some water or watch an ASMR video or a SNL Cast Members Breaking Character Compilation (whatever your vice is).

It’s hard to live through history especially when we’re forced to be isolated from one another. Be kind to yourself and each other.


About the author.
Sam Mani writes about work, creativity, wellness, and equity — when she’s not cooking, binging television, or annoying her cat.

When times are uncertain, it can be difficult to know how to pivot your business strategy. But this isn’t the first time that business owners have faced threats to livelihood or threats to health. It just so happens that it’s all shown up at once.

I’m a copywriter who created a content writing service, and if you, like our clients, are struggling to find ways to change up your copy in the context of the new normal, this is your guide. Below I’ll show you how to create pandemic-proof copy that keeps you on top and moving with the times.

Employ sensitivity and compassion

The pandemic has affected individuals, families, and businesses globally and most have been scrambling, trying to forecast for an uncertain future. Appearing exploitative is a sure-fire way to turn off potential clients.

Try this instead: Be sensitive and compassionate in your copy. Talk about the elephant in the room. Business owners are more human than ever, stripped of their security and needing a breath of fresh air. Be that for them. Talk about what’s happening mentally, emotionally, and financially, and then position yourself as an ally. Be authentic and consistent with your brand’s messaging and be willing to meet your audience where they are. For example, Dove is a brand that has stood out from the crowd, choosing authenticity in their marketing, and appealing to all the folks out there looking to be acknowledged. And guess what? It’s worked.

Double-check your facts

The era of misinformation is alive and well. Most people don’t even know what news source or article to believe anymore. Don’t add to the noise.

Try this instead: Deliver your message with strong, credible citations that link back to authoritative websites. If your intention is to help others, displaying inaccurate, unchecked information will steer your audience away from you. Why? Because they won’t be able to trust you. Use globally trusted resources, like the World Health Organization’s website, along with your local Department of Public Health website when addressing the pandemic.

Modify your existing offers

Surely, all your offers make sense when the economy is doing well and COVID-19 isn’t knocking on everyone’s doors. But if you’re not allowing for modifications, you’re missing out on business. Most people are in fight/flight/freeze mode and aren’t receptive to offers that are only available for a limited time. They just don’t care at this point because other, more important events have overtaken their lives.

Try this instead: Review your messaging and alter words that display urgency — instead, use words that sound neutral, connected with the times, and caring. For example, change offers that read “Only available for a limited time. Don’t miss out!” to “We have your back. Find out how.” Then, lead through to your extended offer, the discount you’re offering with all things considered, and make that sale.

Keep it consistent

You may have automated emails and newsletters meant for holidays and birthdays that don’t include pandemic-proof copy. If you don’t alter all your messaging, the inconsistency is sure to come off confusing and off-putting.

Try this instead: Double-check your copy, shift it as necessary to ensure you are adding value, being informative, and tuning into your audience’s needs. Remove any words that sound insensitive for the times and remove any urgency tactics that don’t bode well during the pandemic. And don’t be afraid to include something off-topic in your copy. A favorite book excerpt that brought you peace can do the same for your audience.

Deliver a softer pitch

You may have done well with a hard pitch, but this is not the time for that. Anxiety is high and there’s a whole lot of uncertainty and vulnerability in the air. Nobody needs added pressure to their lives, especially with their decision making.

Try this instead: Dial your tone down. Sprinkle words of kindness into your pitch, acknowledge where your audience is, and bring the spotlight back to yourself as the ultimate support during these trying times. Be the go-to your audience finds refuge in.

Offer greater value

This pandemic has taught many businesses they can’t rely on a static location. Even if located on a busy street with a steady flow of foot traffic, restrictions have heavily affected incoming revenue.

Try this instead: Move content into a digital format with a landing page that provides a freebie your audience can’t do without. A week of yoga classes. An e-book full of healthy recipes. Guided meditations to ease the stress everyone is feeling. Whatever you create, make it relevant. Gather as many email addresses as possible and diversify your offerings. Therapists are offering telehealth services, yoga instructors and gym owners are offering online classes, and even artists have created online stores, advertising on free platforms like TikTok to garner large audiences and keep income streams moving. The digital world is limitless.

Be a source of comfort

Health and lives are being threatened. People are in survival mode. They’re looking for what they need, not what they want. Irrelevant offers are overlooked.

Try this instead: Even products like makeup become a need when a bright red lip brings comfort, and a new eye serum brings confidence. Reddit hosts a long thread of personal stories that highlight just how impactful beauty products are when it comes to getting through tough times and improving mental health. Position services and products as needs that bring comfort, serenity, sanity, and help keep your audience moving forward during the toughest moments.

Address doubts head-on

Of course, you know to study objections in preparation for a sales call. But you may not even make it to those calls if your copy is being coy.

Try this instead: Address those objections in your copy; let your audience feel seen and understood from the moment they browse your website, landing page, or newsletter. You’re on their side. Make that clear for them.

Prospects may be having a hard time seeing the opportunities right in front of them. Be the guide they need to discover just how much of life there is to explore and enjoy. When you’re in the dark, you’ll follow the one with the flashlight. So, go on, light their way.


About the author.
Scott Stevens is the founder and CEO of a managed content writing service, The Content Panel. Connect with them on Facebook or Twitter.

When it comes to creative work, we often want to consume it without paying for it. From pirating media to paying for design and copy work in “exposure,” society tends to devalue creative work monetarily. But what would our world look like without good design?

Probably like the internet of the 90s. Do you really want that?

While those were simpler times in many ways, they were an aesthetic nightmare to navigate through. We have moved way past those blunders of yesteryear. Now, we’re much more conscious of the importance of looks and intuition when it comes to moving through the web — or the mall. From user experience to graphic design, we all make judgments about companies, products, and services based on the design surrounding them; in the real (non-online) world, we notice product design, billboards, storefronts, layout, experience, and all those factors influence our purchases.

In a 2018 survey, 48% of consumers said that design is the most important factor in determining a website’s credibility. I would wager a guess that at least some of the other 52% still find design important, but simply have other credibility requirements as their priority.

In a Rice Media piece, Julian Wong explores the value of creative work by breaking down the cost of running a small creative agency and then equating the study and experience of a designer to that of a locksmith or lawyer. Because we don’t intrinsically value creative work financially, many comparisons relate the labor of creativity to that of other professions. Culturally, we have this idea that creative work is always fun. I assure you, it is not.

So, what is the value of creative work? Well, as a matter of fact, it’s quite a lot.

Branding + Graphic Design

When it comes to branding design, the big-ticket item is going to be the logo. These seemingly simple icons or letter-based images can range from tens of dollars for a pre-made template to thousands (or tens of thousands) of dollars for a fully fleshed out brand identity package.

Branding is the backbone of any company’s visual identity. Instagram, McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Sony, Nike, Apple, KFC, Disney. Can you not instantly conjure these logos in your mind’s eye? That’s good branding.

So, what is the price of being memorable? Actually, it varies.

Google and Coca-Cola paid $0 for their logos, while Pepsi paid $1 million and Accenture paid $100 million. So, what’s the deal?

Google used open-source graphics. Coca-Cola had an in-house employee with great handwriting. Not everyone else is as lucky. And since then, even companies that paid nothing for logos have put millions into supplemental design elements.

Going beyond the logo, I could point you to a 2004-2014 study that discovered design driven companies outperform the S&P by 219% over 10 years. (This trend continued in 2015.) This means companies that have elements of good design woven into their business operation makes over 2x as much as those who don’t. Some stats taken straight from that analysis include:

  • 41% higher market share
  • 46% competitive advantage overall
  • 50% more loyal customers
  • 70% digital experiences beat competitors

That’s a pretty good value argument, if the sheer pleasure of feasting your eyes on something pretty or sleek or clever isn’t enough.

User Experience + User Interface

A lot of modern business is about creative problem-solving that makes life easier for the average consumer. Facebook, Google, Uber, Airbnb, all have one thing in common. Their apps and websites are extremely intuitive and easy to navigate. With the internet, if your solution is hard to get to, your customers can easily go elsewhere to get what they need. Competitors that can’t provide that ease of use die a slow painful death, like MySpace. In other words, investing in UX is a matter of survival.

While UX may dip into the science side, it blends seamlessly into user interface, where those interactive touch points are given a certain aesthetic that encourages users to play or purchase. The size of a button, the color, the contrast — all these elements interact to scientifically and aesthetically draw in your target audience.

Still not convinced? The Bressler Group found that the ROI on good UI includes:

  • increased sales
  • reduced return rates
  • reduced support costs
  • better product reviews
  • reduced development costs

The more money you put in, the more exponential that ROI becomes, especially as consumers continue to purchase more from devices.

Copywriting + Messaging

A picture is worth a thousand words, but good words are worth a lot, too. Just like you want your logo and brand design to show off your company’s value and style, you want your tone and messaging to speak to your audience in a way that encourages relationship building. As a consumer, I want companies to speak my language and understand me. Whether through clever tweets, informative newsletters, or websites, you have the opportunity to win consumers over by striking the right tone.

Beyond the delightful flourish of well-constructed sentences, copywriters that can infuse SEO keywords get your products and pages noticed by the search engine gods.

Just as a logo, your design aesthetic and a seamless user experience can boost ROI, so too, can a well-crafted bit of copy.

Maybe Art School or a BA in English Isn’t So Useless After All…

Creatives make our world a more pleasant place to live in. If you’re in the business of convincing people to buy things, even if they are amazing practical things, showing the value of your product, whether digital or physical, can be made much easier with the right design and messaging in place.

The best creatives can mix practicality with creativity. They just need the space — and the financial incentive — to work well with you.


About the author.
Alessandra is the mentor, educator, and writer behind Boneseed, a private practice devoted to deep self-inquiry through a range of physical, energetic, and mental modalities. She has over 500 hours of yoga, mentorship, and facilitation training and can be found slinging knowledge on her website, newsletter, and @bone.seed.

 

Think about ALL of the digital products that you use: Spotify, Netflix, your web browser, and all those apps on your phone. Think about the function each one serves in your life. Then, think about the problems or inconveniences you’d run into if you didn’t have these digital products.

That’s where UI product designers start. They identify problems or gaps in offerings that exist in the digital landscape, then develop an app or other user interface to fill those gaps or solve those problems.

Developing a new digital product is a complex process that involves many different disciplines to craft the best user experience and overall final offering. Product designers are at the helm, which means they need to have a solid understanding of everything that goes into that process, from creating wireframes to branding and marketing.

VIVE LE DIFFERENCE: UX DESIGN + PRODUCT DESIGN

UX design refers to any interaction a person has with a product or service; it considers each and every component that shapes a person’s interaction with a product or service, encompassing a wide array of experience: from how it makes a user feel to how simple it is for a user to accomplish their desired task to how the product feels in their hands to how easy it is to complete a transaction (particularly online).

Product designers zoom out a bit more and focus on the product as a whole and the context in which it is being built and released. They look at how the final design will exist in the wild, considering business objectives, the overall market, competitors, and profitability. Product designers lead the team, keeping the big picture in mind while also ensuring all details are in place. UX designers primarily serve the user, while product designers serve both the users and the company.

WHAT DOES A UI PRODUCT DESIGNER DO?

Product designers contribute to a product in pretty much every phase of development — from conception to the product launch, to adapting the design to keep up with trends and usage patterns.

User Research
The research phase is where user needs, pain points, behaviors, and goals are mapped — it’s also where a deep understanding of the competitive landscape, industry standards, technical barriers, and opportunities are charted.

Design Thinking & UI
Companies are rapidly adopting the design thinking approach to developing products — centering the user experience by creating a deep understanding of the target user. The design thinking process opens up the opportunity for creativity and innovative approaches to users’ problems. Decisions are made about colors, fonts, motion, animation, and all other UI components that take into account both function and aesthetics. According to the aesthetic-usability effect, it’s vital to have aesthetically-pleasing UI because interfaces with stellar aesthetics are recognized as more “usable” by users.

Prototyping
One of the most effective ways to test out new products, prototyping offers an opportunity to interact with the product, identify problems, and brainstorm solutions. Product designers manage this process and are integral in taking the prototype to the next step by asking the right questions to find avenues to improve the UX.

Business Strategizing
At the end of the day, this product has to go to market. What’s that going to look like? How can it be most successful? How can the company create the best product while also being cost-effective? The product designer has to take all of this into account in their decision making. The UX Collective sums it up like this:

“Design will not be just about users. It will also be about the business. As Product Designers, we must drive product solutions that service the goals of both the users and the company.”

Branding & Marketing
Product designers work closely with the marketing team to ensure the product being developed is identical to the one being advertised. Good marketing helps sell a product; a good product keeps customers coming back. Advertising that overstates and exaggerates functions that the product can’t deliver will steamroll public trust in a brand. The product designer is critical in making sure these elements are in alignment.

Testing & Adapting Design
Testing ensures that the choices made during the design phase stand up to scrutiny and is when user difficulties that were not discernible during design have a chance to be addressed. Other details also have an opportunity to be refined. There are numerous testing methods commonly used, including A/B testing, usability testing, and remote user testing.

The end product, over time, will be evaluated and re-evaluated using the same criteria to ensure that what the business is offering provides the desired experience and solution that the end-user wants. Continuing this cycle of testing ensures the product designer has essential information to keep the design relevant — aligned to changes in the market, user patterns, trends, and technology — all of which keeps the product meaningful to its audience.

In short, a UI product designer has an extensive range of responsibilities and connects many different departments to make their vision of the product come to life.

YOU NEED THESE ATTRIBUTES AND CHARACTERISTICS TO SUCCEED AT BEING A UI PRODUCT DESIGNER

A diverse set of skills is needed to build a career as a UI product designer. Yes, you need to be comfortable navigating user research, visualizing user journeys, and other UI-specific processes and technical skills — but the role includes making a lot of high-level strategic decisions, so interpersonal, communication, and people management skills.

Product designers take large concepts and abstract ideas and turn them into actionable directions for the development team. A strong understanding of how businesses work and an interest in tracking market trends are vital — but the most essential trait of all for a UI product designer is an avid interest in finding problems and working with a team to solve them.

QUALIFICATIONS

As well as having a well-rounded design background with experience solving complex and challenging problems, companies want candidates who can lead a team, are business-minded, and will be a good culture add.

Communication skills are critical, as is fluency in design programs like the Adobe Creative Suite (XD in particular), Sketch, Figma, and Framer. Companies want to see your wealth of experience and a diverse group of projects in your portfolio to see how you solve problems and a sense of your visual and aesthetic language. Demonstrating that you have a user-centric approach to solving problems via user research and testing will help set you apart in an interview.

If you want to learn more about UI product design to see if a career in this growing field might be right for you, check this out.

SALARY

The average salary for a product designer varies by experience, sector, and location. Product designers typically make between $50k – $128k. In 2020, the average salary in the US was $82,583 based on data provided by Glassdoor, Indeed, and PayScale.


About the author.
An award-winning creator and digital health, wellness, and lifestyle content strategist — Karina writes, edits, and produces compelling content across multiple platforms — including articles, video, interactive tools, and documentary film. Her work has been featured on MSN Lifestyle, Apartment Therapy, Goop, Psycom, Pregnancy & Newborn, Eat This Not That, thirdAGE, and Remedy Health Media digital properties.

Networking: to some it’s essential; to others, hearing the term alone is enough to for stress to ensue. Is it a nice to-do? Does it play a significant role in your career? Or does it fall roughly in the middle? Regardless of how you feel about it, networking is an ongoing activity for nearly all business professionals — or at least should be. And while we can argue the merits of networking all day, there’s a facet of networking that is particularly pressing at this time — the logistics of it. As the prolonged pandemic rolls on from month to month, how to network qualifies as a critical factor.

It’s not hard to understand why. In-person business interaction has halted or, at best, decreased thanks to COVID. This has come about for various reasons. Many people are not in the office but rather working from home. What’s more, industry and corporate events and live gatherings have been suspended. That, in turn, limits both formal and informal opportunities to meet, and connect. While so much of this has migrated online, using websites, supplemented by Zoom or other platforms, is not as productive as face-to-face mode.

Or is it?

Make no mistake about it: the virtual option is viable. Although it comes with its unique challenges, this format serves as a credible means of cultivating business connections. Online venues are available and actively used for making contacts. In fact, they have become widely accepted as go-to resources — now and even after COVID.

Gearing Up to Network Online

Networking is networking, both in person and online. Many of the same professional conventions exist. For the virtual format, reliable Internet/Wi-Fi access and meeting apps are a must. Get familiar with Zoom and other online meeting platforms. Have them ready for when you want to have a one-on-one with a new or developing connection.

Also have a plan in place regarding what you wish to get out of networking. Do you want to extend your circle of people with whom to discuss issues relating to your profession? Are you interested in making a job change or finding a freelance assignment(s)? Are you seeking to start a business and interest potential clients in it or join with others to get it off the ground? Think through your motives and what you intend to get out of it. Then network.

Here are a number of online resources to expand your business relationships:

Lean in on LinkedIn

“Welcome to your professional community” is the greeting you receive when you hop onto LinkedIn. For networking, LinkedIn is in a category of its own. This online business galaxy is all about networking. The brainchild of Reid Hoffman, LinkedIn derived from his desire to “try to help humanity evolve.” How did he envision that? Through making connections.

If you have any doubts, here are several recent statistics about LinkedIn to sway you otherwise. People from 200 countries and regions around the world use this site. The number of registered members is 722 million. Of that total, more than 174 million are in the U.S. alone. This community spans more than 50 million companies and, as of this writing, in excess of 14 million open jobs. On that theme, LinkedIn claims that “three people are hired every minute” on this space. And in terms of growth, during FY21, LinkedIn boasts a 55% year-over-year increase in conversations among connections.

Start by creating a compelling profile. If you have one already, cultivate it. Update — add, delete, and stoke it. Invite people to connect with you to form a sizable professional network. Then, invite more because that generates a robust content feed that comes directly to you on the site. Read the items you receive. Comment on them, share, and re-share. Post content and videos. Send messages to members of your network. Meet with them online. Stay active. The more you do, the more you may receive. Everything you need is at your fingertips. The system prompts you every step of the way. Use it to your advantage. According to Forbes: “LinkedIn is, far and away, the most advantageous social networking tool available to job seekers and business professionals today.”

These are a few more ways to enhance your visibility and networking potential on LinkedIn:

  • Join Groups – search for those in your industry or interests; apply for membership; then check activities, share information, network; look for new groups; start your own group!
  • Post – encounter something of interest? Post it, not only to your connections, but also to others by using a series of hashtags of your own or that LinkedIn suggests
  • Poll – engage your network by gathering their opinions about an issue; click the “post” icon, followed by the “create a poll” option; this is a great way to deepen relationships
  • Attend Events advertised on the site, which are held virtually at this time – post your status to your network, comment about the proceedings, connect with attendees
  • Publish – develop original content or an infographic; network with those who “like” or comment on it or send to those you want to get to know or know better
  • Take Courses sponsored by LinkedIn — learn and, in the process, seek networking opportunities by posting information and snippets to your connections
  • Read LinkedIn News on your homepage — comment on content; share information with connections as a lead-in to setting up a networking meeting

LinkedIn is a treasure trove of networking delights. These are just some of avenues for deploying this mega system to your advantage. Use LinkedIn during the health crisis and afterwards too to advance your networking goals. It works!

Get Down to Business on Social Media

“Friending” on Facebook? That barely scratches the surface of what savvy members can do on social media platforms to grow their networking base. All users have to do to get started is shift or expand priorities; that is, move from friending to building professional networks. The initial mechanics parallel those of LinkedIn, e.g., create a profile and adorn your space with content of interest. Then apply initiative and ingenuity to develop a strategy and infrastructure to track down the best business connections and arrange to get to know them.

Is it worth it to push the basic bounds of these tools for business purposes? The numbers again make the case. Facebook is the largest of these giant online communities. As of the end of September 2020, active monthly users on Facebook topped 2.74 billion. What’s more, this social media powerhouse makes it easy to reach out to members via the WhatsApp, where users exchange about 100 billion messages each day.

Focusing on Facebook, how do you move beyond the world of friends and family to business? “How to use Facebook as a professional networking tool” offers practical tips. It suggests setting up separate silos. Facebook helps in this regard by letting up compile lists for each major grouping. Both this first post and another on networking on Facebook walk you through the steps. A few words of caution:

  • Ensure your profile, including photo(s) and content, are geared for a business audience; that may mean changing existing pieces intended for friends and family and keeping this principle in mind going forward
  • Check your privacy settings as an alternative and adjunct to your professional view
  • Choose industry and networking groups wisely and comport yourself as a businessperson
  • Consider coordinating and linking your Facebook and other social media accounts with your LinkedIn and ensure all information corresponds

As for other social media, use Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest for networking too. Establish an appropriate business presence on each and then create and increase your circle. For tips, see:

Meet Up through MeetUp

Founded in 2002, MeetUp is best described as an online collection of groups. Operating worldwide, MeetUp serves as a platform for in-person and virtual events. Organizers form groups along the lines of their interests and then sponsor activities. Members join these groups and register to attend functions. There are groups of all kinds — as many and even more than you can imagine. How large is the MeetUp community? It’s a mighty big number. Make that 225,000 groups across 180 countries, as of 2017.

How many of these pertain to networking and to your business goals? There’s only one way to know for sure. Join MeetUp — it’s free — to register to participate. Then head over to the search bar to get started. Insert keywords and geographic areas and watch the screen fill up with choices. Although this is not a dedicated networking site, you may be surprised at how many options there are to take part in groups and meet with potential contacts, all online now. It’s worth checking out and signing up for what may turn out to be productive virtual gatherings.

Go Exclusive: Join Assorted Networking Communities

There are several websites that exist for the express purpose of enabling people to network online. Two in this category are:

Ryze
If you prefer a resource that is all about networking and only about networking, Ryze could be your “it” spot. Where MeetUp is not dedicated to networking yet huge, Ryze is the opposite. It is an online professional networking website. It’s also a lot smaller — estimated 1 million participants. Established in 2001, Ryze provides a venue for members to locate business connections. It’s free to join and use but does not have an app.

Shapr
Are you familiar with swiping? Similar to Tinder, Shapr uses this function, but for the purpose of accepting or rejecting new business contacts. An app-based networking platform, it enables users to connect with other members. It could be along the lines of a profession, industry, interests, or location. It’s easy to use. After completing your profile and outlining your criteria, the system starts the process for you. It selects a sampling of members within this sizable space that matches your parameters. Then it’s up to you to review the options and swipe. After that first foray, you take control and start searching and networking on your own.

Network Like a Rockstar?

Before the pandemic, Rockstar Connect held lively in-person networking meetings across the country. These business events occurred monthly at a wide range of venues. That was then. Now, all events are virtual and hosted on their mobile platform. These online gatherings are free to the public, although the group welcomes financial contributions. Regardless of whether you kick in funds or not, you may register for and attend events.

Rockstar Connection currently is sponsoring a series it calls “The Three Martini Lunch.” A nationally broadcast event, it takes the form of a two-hour webinar. This weekly offering features a slate of panelists who share knowledge and wisdom. The e-Invitations describe the proceedings as follows: “Learn from our top-notch networkers, coaches, and connections as they engage in a discussion that is all about networking, small businesses, real estate, referrals, and helping others.” Find out more and register here.

For now and going forward….

This is but a brief rundown of the ways you can keep building business relationships and stay safe during the health crisis. You don’t have to leave home to use these tools and may choose to stay with them over time. You will enhance your business networking range — and might even have fun in the process. Happy connecting!


About the author.
You name it, she covers it. That’s the can-do attitude Sherry M. Adler brings to the craft of writing. A polished marketing and communications professional, she has a passion for learning and the world at large. She uses it plus the power of words to inform and energize stakeholders of all kinds. And to show how all of this can make a difference, she calls her business WriteResults NY, LLC.

Welcome to the radical, fast-expanding world of UX (or user experience), which refers to any interaction a person has with a product or service.

A significant component of a person’s experience is the text a user encounters — known as UX copy. UX copy is produced by UX writers, a position whose importance is on the rise.

UX writers create content that guides the user on their journey with the product to achieve their goal. Sounds a bit existential, but what it really means is that UX writing tells a user what to do, and presents their options to them straightforwardly, which minimizes confusion and streamlines the process.

But UX writers do more than just write — they speak directly to consumers with their copy, which means a large part of their role is understanding and knowing how to best communicate with the user base.

We’re talking about everything from word choice, when and how copy appears, instructions, error messages, forms, basic structures of processes (like forms), and anything else that has to do with text. All of these components serve a strategic purpose to solve user problems and craft the optimal user experience.

UX WRITING IS NOT COPYWRITING

Copywriting refers to text crafted to advertise and sell a product. Copywriters often use clever language to get people’s attention and tell an engaging product story. Their goal is to get you to think about their product as much as possible.

UX writers, on the other hand, want to make you think as little as possible. They use straightforward, conversational language to create an intuitive experience. Distracting language can act as a road bump, knocking users off-course. While a copywriter’s job is to convince you to buy something and attract new customers, a UX writer works to keep existing customers by creating a seamless (and yes, painless) experience for them.

Copywriters transitioning to UX writing face a similar challenge — instead of creating texts that have the sole purpose of selling a product, they now have to guide users through a product using natural, conversational language.

Beyond writing texts found in digital interfaces, UX writers[MR1]  imbue products with personality through careful use of voice and tone.  Part of the process is creating a style guide that lays out how the product should ‘speak’ and ‘behave’ for the team. The goal is to keep the product voice consistent no matter who writes for it.

WHAT DOES A UX WRITER DO?

UX writers collaborate closely with UX/UI designers and UX researchers to develop a simple, efficient, and satisfying experience for the user — heroically vanquishing confusion and uncertainty.

Design Thinking
“But writing isn’t design,” you might be thinking. Well, think again. UX writers are key to the design process and actively help to shape overall UX — they just do it with words instead of graphics.

Design thinking is the process by which many companies are developing new products. The central tenet of this approach? Craft the user experience around understanding and empathy for the end-user. How will someone interact with the product? Where might a person get confused? The cornerstone of successful UX writing is to focus on how a user will interact with the product. But how do UX writers make the magic happen?

User Research
The research phase is where user needs, pain points, behaviors, and goals are mapped — which is how a UX writer gets to know their users. Data is transformed into actionable information and insights after being gathering via surveys, data-mining, focus groups, or other research methods. One popular process of analyzing user data is building personas or profiles of theoretical customers based on your target user base that examines their personality, behaviors, and motivations. When you know who you’re talking to, you can better speak their language.

Microcopy
Button labels, error messages, notifications, help texts, and CTAs (calls to action) all fall under the category of microcopy, which makes up a lot of the work that a UX writer does. A quippy, well-crafted 404 error message can turn a potential panic moment into a lighthearted and informational redirect. Google has set principles for effective microcopy: clear, concise, and useful.

Developing a Style Guide
UX copy essentially acts as the voice of a brand or product, and you want this voice to be consistent across platforms and media. UX writers need to fully understand the voice and style to effectively share it with other content creators who write copy for the organization.

UX WRITING PRINCIPLES

UX writing is a style all on its own. A lot of traditional writing adages do not apply. Here are some basic principles for good UX writing.

Engaging
You want to draw the user in and keep them engaged. The best way to win the engagement game is to make the process to the end goal as straightforward as possible. Ensure each step is well-defined and active — tell the user what they should do, not what they shouldn’t. There’s a fine line between being clear and telling the user too much — that can be intimidating and cause users to abandon their engagement.

Encouraging
When people feel encouraged, they have a better experience. People can become disgruntled and frustrated when they think they’ve done something wrong — so avoid language that implies that they have. If there is an error, offer potential solutions, such as links to other pages on the site.

Human-centered
The user is essentially in a conversation with the product, so you want to write with that in mind. Use natural, conversational language — and avoid jargon. The goal is to be understood and guide the user through the interface. The first question when making any choice should always be: “Does this help the user?

YOU NEED THESE ATTRIBUTES AND CHARACTERISTICS TO SUCCEED AT BEING A UX WRITER

Unsurprisingly, writing and editing skills are necessary to thrive as a UX writer. But, possibly even more important than that is a user-centered approach to the design process. Understanding how people think and process information will set you up for success as a UX writer.

Many companies are hiring UX writers right now, and they’re looking for folks with empathy and curiosity, who are creative problem-solvers and critical thinkers. Additionally, strong collaborative and communication skills make you a valuable contributor to any UX development team.

QUALIFICATIONS

A UX writer’s career path isn’t necessarily the most straightforward, mainly because this field is so new. While a lot of folks come in with a copywriting or design background, that isn’t necessary. Strong writing skills and understanding of design thinking will give you a strong foundation going into an interview.

There are many resources and courses available for folks that are interested in diving into the field of UX writing. If you think it might be for you, check this out.

SALARY

The average salary for a UX writer varies across the United States. According to Glassdoor, the national average is $85,277. In NYC, it ranges from $65,000 on the low end to $119,000 on the high end, while salaries in San Francisco range from $78,000 to $130,000.


About the author.
An award-winning creator and digital health, wellness, and lifestyle content strategist — Karina writes, edits, and produces compelling content across multiple platforms — including articles, video, interactive tools, and documentary film. Her work has been featured on MSN Lifestyle, Apartment Therapy, Goop, Psycom, Pregnancy & Newborn, Eat This Not That, thirdAGE, and Remedy Health Media digital properties.