{"id":3213,"date":"2021-05-27T10:32:16","date_gmt":"2021-05-27T10:32:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chrisalden.co.uk\/?p=3213"},"modified":"2021-05-27T10:33:02","modified_gmt":"2021-05-27T10:33:02","slug":"what-is-a-technical-writer-and-do-you-need-a-copywriter-instead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisalden.co.uk\/what-is-a-technical-writer-and-do-you-need-a-copywriter-instead\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a technical writer? And do you need a copywriter instead?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What do people mean by \u201ctechnical writer\u201d? It\u2019s worth checking you have it right \u2013 so you can find the right writer for your project.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you\u2019re looking for a writer on a technical topic, it\u2019s tempting to go ahead and type the words \u201ctechnical writer\u201d into Google. After all, you want a writer, and you want them to be technical, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But language can be a fickle beast. Yes, a \u201ctechnical writer\u201d might appear to mean \u201ca writer who writes about stuff that\u2019s technical\u201d. But it also has a specific sense that means something else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What you may actually need is a tech copywriter<\/a>, like me, instead. That way, you can not only describe your technology, but sell its benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have a look at this Venn diagram to see what I mean. Here, I’ve divided technical writing and tech copywriting according to common content types:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Technical
Technical writing v tech copywriting \u2013 a Venn diagram of different content types<\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What is a technical writer?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As you can see from the diagram, a technical writer, in the specialist sense, is usually someone who creates highly technical documentation, notably manuals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are good at walking readers through technical processes, so tech users can get specific jobs done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many technical writers work at impressive scale, using specialist software designed for collaborating on documents worked on by teams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To my mind, it\u2019s this focus on process that\u2019s important. Take a look at the Society for Technical Communication<\/a> website, which says on its home page (my emphasis):<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cTechnical communicators research and create information about<\/em> technical processes<\/em><\/strong> or products directed to a targeted audience through various forms of media.\u201d<\/p>Society for Technical Communication<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Although we have many of the same skills, that\u2019s a big shift from what I, as a tech copywriter, might do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So how is a tech copywriter different?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The difference between technical writers and copywriters is one of approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tech copywriters are less interested in processes, and more in benefits. As a freelance copywriter, it\u2019s my job to be persuasive as well as technical.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rather than (or as well as) helping someone perform a technical process, I want to change their mind.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When I\u2019m helping you to bring a technology product to market, I\u2019ll focus on the benefits that make the biggest difference to the client\u2019s life. I\u2019ll try to draw a picture of what it\u2019s like to be there <\/em>when they\u2019re here<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, I need to understand tech to do that accurately. To do my job, I may find myself talking to the same expert as a technical writer. That helps me get things right. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A space where technical writing and tech copywriting meet<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For all that, there\u2019s a space where traditional technical writing and technology copywriting meet. See the middle of the Venn diagram, above. This is where things can get a bit fuzzy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For example, lots of SaaS (software as a service) businesses now include knowledge bases on public-facing websites. And this has helped change my view of what technical writing is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Twenty years ago, a developer of accountancy software might, for example, have created a bulky manual to help people use it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These days, though, things are different. Look at the way SaaS book-keeping firm FreeAgent, for example, uses a knowledge base<\/a> to walk people through how to use a product.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In one post, for example, the site walks small businesses through the process of setting up an Open Banking feed<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From a content marketer\u2019s point of view, this kind of content must be helpful: Google no doubt sees it as a user-friendly resource which helps FreeAgent to rank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the one hand, it\u2019s undoubtedly technical writing. But as it\u2019s also part of a friendly, public-facing knowledge base, I\u2019d argue that it\u2019s also tech copywriting \u2013 and within the skillset of both kinds of writer.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conclusion: choose a writer based on outlook and skills<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

For you, the client, the distinction between \u201ctechnical writing\u201d and \u201ctech copywriting\u201d or even \u201ctechnical copywriting\u201d may or may not be a helpful one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re a marketer, you might naturally seek a tech copywriter to write your content. If you\u2019re in the product team, you might seek a technical writer. That\u2019s natural.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But with better collaboration between different parts of your company, the big story is the chance to create great, human-friendly content \u2013 not just for prospects, but for users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If that excites you, feel free to look beyond the label of what kind of techie writer you use. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re planning to create any content that\u2019s public-facing, look instead for a writer who\u2019s open-minded, experienced and interested in your project. Someone who\u2019ll ask the right questions, to help prospects and users alike \u2013 and write in human-friendly English. If they have the skills, what they call themselves is irrelevant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Personally, as a content writer, I welcome projects where the goal is to use language to help \u2013 and if I’m helping users, as opposed to leads or prospects, that\u2019s fine by me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To find out more about my technology copywriting, technical copywriting, or whatever you want to call it, please contact me<\/a>. I\u2019m here to listen and to help you meet your goals.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What do people mean by \u201ctechnical writer\u201d? It\u2019s worth checking you have it right \u2013 … <\/p>\n

Read MoreWhat is a technical writer? And do you need a copywriter instead?<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3235,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat is a technical writer? | Chris Alden, technology copywriter<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"What do people mean by \u201ctechnical writer\u201d? 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