Hey Reader!

Over the last couple of weeks we talked about brand image – your logos, colors, and fonts...

This week, we're diving into the other half of your brand equation: your brand VOICE.

And here's the thing...

You can have the most beautiful brand image in the world, but if your voice doesn't match or isn't consistent, your brand will feel off, and people won't connect with you the way they should.

Quick version if you're short on time:

• Your brand voice is HOW you communicate across all platforms
• It's different from tone (voice stays consistent, tone adjusts by situation)
• Defining your voice involves understanding your personality, values, and audience
• Consistency in your voice builds trust and recognition
• You can DIY this or have us create a custom Brand Voice Guide for you

Want to Watch or Listen?

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Let's figure out what YOUR brand sounds like...

Your brand voice is basically your brand's personality expressed through words.

It's how you show up in every caption, email, blog post, and conversation.

Think about some of the brands you follow and love. I bet you can "hear" their voice in your head, right? Or they become the "best friend in your head" kinda connection. Because you feel like they just "get you".

That's the power of a well-defined brand voice.

Understanding Voice vs. Tone

Before we go further, let's clear up something that confuses a lot of people: voice and tone are NOT the same thing.

Your brand VOICE stays consistent – it's your core personality and how you always show up. It's who you are.

Your TONE adjusts based on the situation – it's how you express that voice in different contexts.

Here's an example using Studio117 Creative:

My brand voice is: warm, straightforward, knowledgeable, supportive, real

But my tone adjusts:

• In a celebration email: Excited, enthusiastic, energetic
• Addressing a serious issue: Direct, calm, solution-focused
• In a tutorial: Patient, encouraging, step-by-step
• In casual social media: Playful, conversational, relatable

See the difference?

The core voice stays the same (I'm still me!), but the tone shifts to match the moment.

How to Define Your Brand Voice

Okay, let's get practical.

Here are the questions you need to ask yourself to define your brand voice:

1. If your brand were a person, how would it talk?

Close your eyes and imagine your brand walking into a room. How do they introduce themselves? Are they:

• Formal and polished, or casual and relaxed?
• Serious and authoritative, or fun and playful?
• Direct and to-the-point, or warm and conversational?

Write down 3-5 adjectives that describe how your brand "sounds."

2. What do you want people to feel when they interact with your brand?

Your voice should trigger specific emotions. Do you want people to feel:

• Empowered and confident?
• Understood and supported?
• Excited and inspired?
• Safe and reassured?
• Entertained and engaged?

Your voice should naturally create these feelings through word choice, sentence structure, and overall tone.

3. Who are you talking to, and how do THEY talk?

Your ideal audience's communication style matters. You don't have to match them exactly, but you should speak in a way that resonates with them.

If your audience is corporate executives, your voice might be more professional and polished.

If your audience is creative entrepreneurs, your voice might be more casual and expressive.

Look at how your ideal clients communicate in their own spaces. What words do they use? What's their energy like?

4. What makes YOUR voice unique?

What can you say or how can you say things that your competitors can't or don't?

For Studio117, my unique voice elements include:

• Using phrases like "Listen..." and "Here's the thing..."
• Being real about the messy parts of business
• Teaching everything I know (no gatekeeping)
• Making tech feel accessible, not intimidating
• Mixing professionalism with personality

What are YOUR signature phrases, approaches, or perspectives that make your voice distinctly yours?

5. What do you absolutely NOT want to sound like?

Sometimes it's easier to define what you're NOT than what you are.

I know I don't want Studio117 to sound:

• Overly corporate or stuffy
• Condescending or gatekeep-y
• Too technical or jargon-heavy
• Fake-enthusiastic or overly salesy

What are your voice dealbreakers? What words, phrases, or styles make you cringe?

Brand Voice in Action: Real Examples

Let's look at how brand voice actually shows up in different contexts.

Example 1: Website Homepage

Generic voice: "We provide comprehensive digital solutions for small businesses seeking to optimize their online presence."

Studio117 voice: "Your website should be your hardest-working team member. Let's make sure it's actually doing its job."

See the difference? Same message, completely different voice.

Example 2: Email Newsletter

Generic voice: "Thank you for your continued patronage. Please review our latest offerings."

Studio117 voice: "Hey! I've been working on something I think you're gonna love. Want to see what I've been up to?"

One feels like a corporate memo, the other feels like a message from a friend.

Example 3: Social Media Caption

Generic voice: "Excited to announce our new service offering. Link in bio for more information."

Studio117 voice: "Listen... I've been sitting on this for weeks and I'm finally ready to share it with you! Link in bio, but also – tell me what you think in the comments!"

The Studio117 voice invites conversation and feels like a real person, not a brand account.

Example 4: Responding to a Problem

Generic voice: "We apologize for the inconvenience. This matter will be addressed promptly."

Studio117 voice: "Oh no, this shouldn't have happened! Let me jump in and fix this for you right now. I've got your back."

Both acknowledge the problem, but one feels robotic while the other feels human and supportive.

Common Brand Voice Mistakes to Avoid

As you're defining and implementing your brand voice, watch out for these pitfalls:

Mistake #1: Trying to sound like everyone else in your industry

Just because everyone in your field talks a certain way doesn't mean YOU have to.

Your unique voice is what will make you memorable.

Mistake #2: Being inconsistent across platforms

Your LinkedIn shouldn't sound completely different from your Instagram. And Instagram shouldn't sound completely different from your emails.

The core voice should be recognizable everywhere.

Mistake #3: Overthinking it and sounding forced

Your brand voice should feel natural, not like you're trying too hard.

If it doesn't feel like YOU, it probably isn't right.

Mistake #4: Forgetting that your voice can evolve

As your business grows and changes, your voice can too.

Don't feel locked into something that no longer serves you.

Mistake #5: Not documenting it

If it's only in your head, it's hard to stay consistent and impossible to share with collaborators.

Write it down!

How to Stay Consistent With Your Brand Voice

Okay, so you've defined your voice. Now, how do you actually USE it consistently?

Create a brand voice guide – Document your voice characteristics, examples of what to say/not say, and your signature phrases.

Review your content before publishing – Ask yourself: "Does this sound like me? Would my audience recognize this as my voice?"

Share your guide with anyone who creates content for you – VAs, designers, collaborators need to understand your voice to maintain consistency.

Audit your existing content periodically – Look at your website, social media, and emails. Does it all sound cohesive?

Be patient with yourself – Finding and refining your voice takes time. It's okay if it evolves as you get clearer on who you are and who you serve.

Your DIY Brand Voice Action Steps

Here's what I want you to do this week:

1. Write down 5-7 adjectives that describe how you want your brand to sound
2. Look at your last 10 social media posts or emails – Do they reflect those adjectives? Where are you on-brand and where are you off?
3. Create a simple brand voice document that includes:
   • Your voice characteristics
   • Words/phrases you love to use
   • Words/phrases you avoid
   • 2-3 examples of your voice in action
4. Rewrite one piece of existing content using your newly defined voice – See how it feels!
5. Share your voice guide with anyone who helps create content for your business

Want Help Defining Your Brand Voice?

Listen, I believe in teaching you how to do things yourself – that's what I have done here for you.

Everything I just shared will absolutely help you define your brand voice on your own.

BUT.

If you're thinking "This sounds great, but I don't have the time/energy/clarity to do this right now," I've got you.

Studio117 Creative offers custom Brand Voice Guides where we work together to define, document, and create a comprehensive guide for YOUR unique voice.

Here's what you get:

• A complete Brand Voice Guide with your characteristics, tone variations, and examples
• Dos and don'ts lists specific to your brand
• Real examples of your voice in action across different platforms
• A guide you can share with your team so everyone sounds like YOU

We handle the heavy lifting, you get a clear, strategic guide that makes content creation faster and keeps your brand consistent.

Want to learn more about Brand Voice Guides? Book a Strategy call and let's talk about whether this is the right fit for you!

Want your own guide Now? Let's get started drafting your personalized guide.

Remember: Whether you DIY it or work with us, the important thing is that you HAVE a defined brand voice. Your brand deserves that clarity.

Coming Up Next Week

Next week, we're moving on to the second pillar in our series: WEBSITES!

We'll be talking about making sure your website is actually working for your business (not against it).

Got questions about brand voice? Hit reply and let me know what's confusing or what you need help with!