In a crowded digital space, it’s not just what you sell, it’s how you sound. This is where brand voice comes in.
Most brands don’t struggle because of bad products. They struggle because no one remembers them. Their brand isn’t reliable, consistent, or trustworthy without their voice.
Section 1: What is brand voice?
Brand voice is the distinct personality a company expresses through its tone, vocabulary, and messaging. It shapes how a brand communicates across platforms, from social media captions and emails, to website copy and advertising.
A strong brand voice helps customers quickly recognize a brand, understand its values, and build trust over time.
Nike is a great example of a brand with an unmistakable voice. They are authentic and motivational. Almost as if the world’s best athletes are telling you themselves that the best athletes have the best gear (Nike).
Section 2: Why it matters
Using a certain and consistent language with your customers is extremely important. Would you be friends with someone who is inconsistent, always changing direction, or genuinely confusing? Me either. It’s safe to say nobody engages in long-term relationships with these types of people. It works the same for brands. People don’t build long-term relationships with brands that feel inconsistent or confusing.
In today’s content-driven landscape, brands that sound human and consistent are far more likely to capture and retain attention.
Consumers want people they can rely on. People they can trust and rely on. This is why it’s so important to develop a brand voice and stick to it. Having this voice also starts helping your content or product stand out because other brands struggle with their voice.
Section 3: Common mistakes
When you begin creating a brand voice there are a few things to keep in mind. For starters, stay away from trends. They can be extremely enticing but all trends have a very short life. So, if you base your brand voice around trending voices at that time, your brand will die along with the trend . . . and quickly at that.
The second mistake I see often is the most obvious – not staying consistent. In order for your clientele to get familiar with your voice you need to show up consistently. Any and all content must be written or spoken in the brand voice or it defeats the purpose of even having one.
Another common mistake is sounding too corporate. If your messaging feels overly complex or formal, you risk losing a large portion of your audience. Strong brand voices are clear, engaging, and accessible. They don’t try to confuse their clients with unclear jargon.Brands craft a brand voice to expand their audience and connect with a wider range of people. Meaning you don’t want to turn away people whose vocabulary may not match yours. Keep it fun, entertaining, and informational
Section 4: How to develop one
There are a couple different ways you could mold your brand voice because at the end of the day it’s what you prefer and what you know you can maintain. However, there are a few things to keep in mind. You need to know your audience. Who are you trying to sell to? The more specific the better. For example, I’m helping my friend develop his brand voice for his clothing brand. I asked him what his purchases look like, what their age range is, what are their hobbies, what do they like, what don’t they like. The more specific, the better.
Then you need to define your tone. How do you want to come across to your audience? This step builds on the last. For example, if I know my readers are young women in their 20s who are interested in education,fashion, beauty, celebrities, politics. Then I know my tone has to be fun (in their 20s) but all my sources need to be cited (they are smart), and I can get away with using more advanced language because my audience loves to learn – so if they don’t understand what I’m talking about, I’m confident they will after they look it up.
Lastly, it’s worth emphasizing: stay consistent.
A strong brand voice not only builds trust, but also increases engagement and helps convert casual viewers into loyal customers. Crafting and staying consistent with this voice is one of the most important marketing tactics to date. Every single huge corporation started the same way. Developing their voice and then sticking to it. Over time, that consistency is what turns attention into trust and trust into loyalty.
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