What are the key principles of writing for voice user interfaces?

1 Know your users

The first principle of writing for VUIs is to know your users, their needs, preferences, goals, and context. You need to understand how they speak, what they expect, and what challenges they face when using voice. You can use various methods, such as user research, personas, scenarios, and user testing, to gather insights and feedback from your target audience. Knowing your users will help you craft a voice that suits their personality, tone, and mood, and that adapts to different situations and environments.

3 Write for conversation

The third principle of writing for VUIs is to write for conversation, the natural and fluid exchange of information and emotions between your VUI and your users. You should write in a way that mimics human speech, using simple, concise, and polite language, avoiding jargon, acronyms, and technical terms. You should also use conversational elements, such as greetings, questions, confirmations, feedback, and errors, to create a friendly, helpful, and respectful tone. You should also anticipate different user responses, intents, and behaviors, and provide appropriate prompts, hints, and options to guide the conversation.

4 Design for sound

The fourth principle of writing for VUIs is to design for sound, the auditory and vocal aspects of your VUI. You should consider how your voice sounds, what accent, pitch, speed, and volume you use, and how you modulate them to convey meaning, emotion, and emphasis. You should also consider how you use sounds, such as beeps, chimes, and music, to enhance your voice, signal transitions, and provide feedback. You should also test your sounds in different devices, settings, and scenarios, to ensure they are audible, clear, and appropriate.

5 Optimize for performance

The fifth principle of writing for VUIs is to optimize for performance, the quality and reliability of your VUI. You should ensure that your voice is accurate, responsive, and secure, and that it can handle different user inputs, queries, and commands. You should also monitor and measure your voice's performance, using metrics, such as accuracy, latency, satisfaction, and retention, to identify and address issues, errors, and gaps. You should also update and improve your voice regularly, based on user feedback, data, and trends.

6 Test and iterate

The sixth principle of writing for VUIs is to test and iterate, the process of validating and refining your VUI. You should test your voice with real users, in realistic contexts, and with different devices, to evaluate its usability, functionality, and desirability. You should also collect and analyze user feedback, data, and insights, to identify what works, what doesn't, and what can be improved. You should also iterate your voice, based on your findings, to make it more effective, engaging, and delightful.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?