It’s something you’ve been told to do for years as a business owner. Define your voice. The voice in your brand is felt! It’s something that’s felt more than defined.
What is Brand Voice?
Brand voice refers to the personality and emotion infused into a company’s communications.
But in reality, your voice can have a huge impact on how much consumers trust or care about a brand. And that matters, because customers are far more likely to spend money with a reliable brand than an unreliable one.
How you sound to others – in person, in emails, in blog posts, in tweets, on Facebook Live, etc. You want this to be cohesive with the rest of your branding (yes, this is also a PART of your branding). I, for example, try to always come across very nice and approachable, but I also try to make you laugh with a little bit of sarcasm or humor. This is because in real life, I’m generally a nice person, who tries to make people laugh.
When your brand voice is used right, you increase your influence.
For your personal brand, it might be just as easy to identify your voice – but make sure you are using a voice that will attract the right kind of people for your business. I know that with my clients, we end up being friends by the end of working together. That’s what I strive for. So, I set the tone from day 1 that I am nice, and friendly – but that I’ll also be transparently real and make you laugh. This helps my business overall.
Not sure what your brand’s personality is or should be? Here are five tips to help you define your brand’s voice.
Tip 1. Spend time putting your brand voice into words.
While this step might look simple, it is more complex than it looks. This is something many businesses over look. If you want your brand’s voice to be consistent, you need to know what it is first. Which main values or interests do you want your messaging to regularly drive home? How are you communication with your customers? How will they feel when interacting with your brand? By establishing and documenting the foundation of your company’s voice it will be easier to keep creating it and keeping it consistent.
Tip 2. Staying consistent in your voice.
A truly effective voice requires consistency across all messaging. No Facebook post, blog post, Instagram post, or email should stray from that core persona. By not staying consistent, you risk hurting how your brand is perceived by your audience and potential customers. Try to keep the same tone when it comes to your business. Have you ever experienced this; where you have a brand you love but they post one negative post on Facebook, next you know it you are seeing them in a different light. The same can happen to your brand — so keep the political post, rants, and everything else that could be seen in a negative light to yourself. (unless this is the vibe you are going for). Being inconsistency is one mistake you really can’t afford to make.
Tip 3. Understand that not everyone is your ideal market.
Please understand this, not everyone is your cup of tea. AND it should be like that. I will say this again — NOT EVERYONE IS YOUR IDEAL CLIENT. So please stop trying to please everyone. If you stay consistent with your voice, your ideal market will show up and will love you!
Tip 4. Walk the talk.
Content and copy are huge parts of brand voice definition—but that’s not where consistency ends. For a voice to feel honest and genuine, it has to be backed up by other brand elements, including visuals and products. If you are a makeup company that promotes a “natural” messaging, then make sure your packaging, slogans, products, and brand persona have the same feel. If you really want to sell your brand voice, you have to back it up. Otherwise, even the strongest voice will start to ring hollow.
Tip 5. Don’t be afraid to grow and adapt.
Finally, adjust your voice as your brand grows. It’s okay to grow and change your voice gradually. Don’t be afraid of change in your business, if you have established a consistent voice that your audience trust then they will be excited about your changes.
Conclusion
There’s no denying that it can feel daunting to establish your brand’s voice in a world that already seems saturated with a lot of noise. But, it’s not all about volume. Use the tips above to build a voice that resonates with your audience, and reap the benefits of better brand recognition and a better bottom line.
Did you enjoy this post? Leave me a comment below with something you learned (or another topic you’d love me to cover.) Thank you for reading and enjoy the rest of your day.
Where to next?
- You can sign up for my Free 30 Home Business Affirmation printable and email series.
- Check out The 8 Elements Needed For A Successful Brand
- Check out the Building Your Brand eBook designed to help you create your brand in four days!
- Join The Blogging Academy!
- Join the Facebook Group!
- Check out my services!
- Check out my portfolio!
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