Microcopy
Last updated: March 2025
Definition
The tiny text that guides action. Button labels, form field hints, error messages, tooltip text, placeholder copy. Small in size, massive in impact. Bad microcopy creates confusion at the exact moment someone is about to convert. Good microcopy removes the last sliver of doubt.
Why It Matters
Users don't read your landing page word by word, but they absolutely read button text and error messages. Microcopy is where conversions are won or lost because it sits at decision points. One confusing label can tank a form completion rate.
How to Improve
- Replace 'Submit' with what happens next. 'Get My Free Audit' tells people what they're getting.
- Write error messages that explain what went wrong and what to do. 'Invalid input' helps nobody.
- Add reassurance text below email fields. 'No spam, unsubscribe anytime' removes the last objection.
- Watch session recordings to find where people hesitate on forms. That hesitation is a microcopy problem.