Because all the difference lies in the small details
Imagine an afternoon stroll on one of London's shopping streets. A shop window. It's a classic, elegant bag. Inside the store. Holding the bag to examine it. Stretching the straps, checking the stitching. Maybe even smelling the leather a bit. Now you open the bag to explore its interior, and discover a small note attached to the zipper with text that reads "Want a bigger bag? Pulling the zipper will double its size :-)"
What can such a note do? A lot! - Direct what to do, how to do it, encourage us to continue exploring, surprise us, and even bring a smile... and essentially create a shopping experience a little different from another routine visit to a store, because all the difference lies in the small details.
If we take this "note" to the WEB world, its virtual equivalent would be the Microcopy.
"Copy" is the textual material that websites are made of. "Micro" is the small things.
In other words, as we know, content is the engine of a website. This is the reason you are reading (or more accurately, scanning) this article, or continue to accumulate mileage of hours in your Facebook account. Between the site and the content, we'll find the Microcopy.
What is Microcopy? Usually, these are short texts or single words, embedded at various points on the site that assist users while browsing the site. Micro-copy helps us perform actions on the site, navigate it, understand it better, and sometimes simply add a kind of "twist" (in the positive sense of the word) to the site visit experience.
Moreover, micro-copy also reflects the nature of the organization and its values. Micro-copy that explains what needs to be explained, while reflecting the character of the organization, shows customers/organization employees that these are authentic values expressed on the site or organizational portal, thereby contributing to strengthening these messages.
Good micro-copy conveys the message, simply, and in the most appropriate tone for the situation.
Micro Copy is not new, however, its use is developing and upgrading and taking on additional and varied forms and it is even receiving many references in various reviews regarding website design trends for 2015.
In summary, Micro Copy, small? Yes. Not important? Absolutely Not! These are the small details that will upgrade the user experience on the site and add added and unique value to the interactions between the site, the content, and the users.
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