How to Find Your Brand Voice With These Easy Prompts

A big part of a successful website is copywriting. While images, colour, fonts and graphics all help convey a message, your words are so important in telling your brand story. ⁠Enter the brand voice.

What is Brand Voice?

Defined by CoSchedule as “the personality and emotion infused into a company’s communication.”

Your brand voice is what gets your message heard and makes a lasting impression. It includes the specific language you use but also the personality that emerges from those words.

For example, if you run a bakery your copy might be sweet and airy. Or, if you run a fitness studio your communication style might be motivational and direct.

Now, there’s a lot that goes into developing a brand voice but getting started doesn’t have to be hard. It can be as simple as keeping your own brand word bank.

Related Post: How to Make a Remarkable First Impression With Your Business

Getting Started With Brand Voice – Create a Word Bank

You may be asking what exactly is a word bank? Well, it’s simply a list, or bank, of words and phrases that you want to use in your brand copywriting. I keep mine in a google doc and sometimes make lists in notepad. Create yours somewhere that is easy to access while you are writing your business copy.

What to Say & Not to Say

Part of finding your brand voice is knowing what words to use but also what words or phrases you would never use. ⁠Sometimes, if you’re not sure what to say, think about it in reverse. What would you never say? This will often bring up great ideas.

Let’s try it! What are some common terms in your industry? Are there some you use all the time? Perhaps there are others that make you cringe? If so, there is probably a reason behind it like a value or belief that is pretty important to you.

Related Post: How to Define Your Values and Get Clarity on Your Business

Words My Brand Won’t Use

What are my words? Well, even though I’m a mom and my son is one of my biggest why’s for starting a business, the term mompreneur just about drives me crazy. For me, mompreneur lessons the fact you’re an entrepreneur. Don’t put an asterisk in front of it. I say own it and be proud!

Also, anything along the lines of boss babe or business bestie will hopefully never come out of my mouth! They just aren’t a great fit for my brand but that doesn’t mean they aren’t perfect for yours.⁠

This brings up another great point. Maybe you have some words or phrases that you really don’t like but your ideal client uses them all the time. Well, in order to relate to her, you’ve got to use her words.

Now your turn.

Related Post: Should I Actually Bother With An Ideal Customer Profile?

What words would you never use when writing for your business?

Jot down the first five that come to mind and keep a list somewhere.

As words come to you, start to build out your brand word bank. Then, when it’s time to write your next blog post, Instagram caption or website copy you’ll have a great tool for quick reference.

Looking for some extra prompts to build your own word bank & brand voice?

Give these a try:

• What are my isms? You know, things you always say and are unique to you.
• When sending friendly emails to clients I often say…
• What do my followers write when responding to my social media posts
• How do I say hello? What about goodbye?