Writing roles
Comparing different writing-heavy roles in tech companies: UX writing, technical writing, and developer relations.
Customer support is added for context as a consumer of the writing content and overlap with developer relations.
Overview
| Role | Main goal | Primary audience |
|---|---|---|
| UX writing | Make the product easy to use in-context | End-users |
| Technical writing | Explain how the product works | End-users, technical users and 3rd-party developers |
| Developer relations | Drive adoption and developer success | Technical users and 3rd-party developers |
| Customer support | Resolve problems and unblock usage | Customers and all users |
Role summaries
UX writing
- Outputs UX copy within the product UI.
- Focuses on ease of use and clarity for all users.
- Enforces consistency with style guides and tone of voice.
- Example: onboarding flows, error messages, button labels, tooltips.
Technical writing
- Outputs documentation about the product and use-cases.
- Focuses on informing and educating technical users and 3rd-party developers.
- Enforces accuracy, clarity, and up-to-date information.
- Example: integration guides, API documentation, tutorials.
Developer relations
- Outputs content and samples about using the product.
- Focuses on driving adoption and success for technical users and 3rd-party developers.
- Bridges communication between external stakeholders and internal product teams.
- Example: Integration examples, API documentation, product demonstrations, and troubleshooting with technical users.
Customer support
- Outputs responses to user issues and questions, guiding users to resources.
- Focuses on resolving problems and unblocking users.
- Evaluates user feedback and escalates issues to product teams and writers.
- Example: Help desk tickets, bug reports, FAQs, help content.
Key overlaps
- UX writing and technical writing: onboarding and help content.
- Technical writing and developer relations: technical guides and tutorials.
- Developer relations and customer support: troubleshooting technical issues.
- UX writing and customer support: support insights improve in-product copy.