Millions of brands speak to their customers via social media, over the phone, through traditional marketing like billboards and posters, and face to face. It doesn’t matter if you’re a 1-10 person company or a 100-500 employee company, you should make sure that your brand has a voice that consumers can recognize.
While we’re here, we should point out that brand voice doesn’t mean just how you speak and interact with your customers. It’s about how you present yourself to them overall, with respects to your logo, motto, ideas, products, and basically everything you are as a brand.
A brand voice doesn’t just come instantly either. It’s something that takes time and a lot of effort to convey properly. It’s the exactly the same thing as a person meeting another individual for the first time. You make a first impression, connect and share ideologies and values, and expand on who you are and what you believe in.
There isn’t any one correct voice to have for your brand. Just as all humans are unique, each brand must be able to portray that it is different than its competition, using its voice.
Step 1: Start by thinking about your product or service. What problems do these solve, and who are likely to buy them?
Step 2: Jot down a quick list of your values, morals, beliefs, and your most prominent personality traits.
Step 3: Ask yourself; “If my brand were a person, how would it act if it walked in a room filled with people it didn’t know?”
Step 4: Once you have your brand’s basic characteristics down, it’s time to start thinking about your target audience. Think of your ideal customer. What would their personality be?
Step 5: Make sure everything about your brand’s personality is written down, and there is a set plan in place to maintain a similar voice throughout your company.
Understanding who your target demographics are from a business perspective is imperative to your brand voice success. If you want your brand to achieve the perfect voice, you must first consider your audience.
Your brand voice can be anything you want! But there are a few quick guidelines when creating one. We recommend you follow these rules:
A good company voice is arguably a business’ greatest asset. Once you and your company feel comfortable using it, you can use it as a tool to grab the attention of consumers who have similar character traits. Also, it’s important to note that brand voices can in fact change, just like people do. As a business matures, its values may change, and it’s important that the voice follows that change. Don’t be afraid to take risks with it. If necessary, the voice will change without much hassle. Be mindful of what you portray through your business as an owner or social media account manager. Align yourselves so that you know what you want to say and how you want to say it.
If you have any comments or queries about brand voice, don’t hesitate to tweet us, or message us through Facebook! We’re always available to talk and would love to answer any questions you may have.