How to Build a Strong Brand Voice

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How to Build a Strong Brand Voice

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How to Build a Strong Brand Voice

Navigating the realm of branding requires more than just a catchy tagline; it demands a resonant and consistent brand voice. This article distills expert advice on creating a strong, authentic brand identity that speaks directly to the audience. From aligning with core values to ensuring an emotional response, discover the strategies that make a brand voice stand out.

  • Transform Brand Voice Guide into Audio Library
  • Implement Three-Word Rule for Consistency
  • Understand Audience and Align Core Values
  • Create Comprehensive Style Guide
  • Ensure Emotional Response with Consistent Voice
  • Define Core Values and Personality
  • Marry Creativity with Compliance
  • Use Empathy and Data for Brand Voice
  • Understand Value and Audience Needs
  • Document Personality Traits and Use Templates
  • Listen to Patient Stories for Authentic Tone
  • Create a Voice Palette for Consistency
  • Develop Brand Persona and Playbook
  • Align Everything with Core Vision and Mission
  • Ensure Clarity and Consistency
  • Audience Defines Voice, Not Brainstorming
  • Make Brand Voice Instantly Recognizable
  • Blend Aesthetics with Functionality
  • Use Same Profile Picture for Recognition
  • Create Consistent Content Across Platforms

Transform Brand Voice Guide into Audio Library

We transformed our brand voice guide into an audio library of real client conversations after realizing written tone guidelines weren’t sticking with our content team.

Recording actual client calls, with permission, demonstrated to writers exactly how our customers talk about their challenges.

When creating content for a cybersecurity client, our writers listened to sales call snippets where IT directors described their security concerns. The difference was immediately apparent – our blog posts began using the same technical shorthand and practical language their audience used daily.

This small change doubled our organic traffic as content resonated more with their target readers.

Each new writer now starts by listening to these conversation clips rather than reading style documents. Real customer language beats artificial tone guidelines every time.

Our content naturally stays consistent because it mirrors how our audience actually speaks about their challenges.

Aaron WhittakerAaron Whittaker
VP of Demand Generation & Marketing, Thrive Digital Marketing Agency


Implement Three-Word Rule for Consistency

As a marketing manager who’s helped build Trusted Wedding Gown Preservation’s brand from the ground up, I’ve learned that authenticity is the cornerstone of a strong brand voice. Our success story at TWGP perfectly illustrates this principle.

When I first joined the company, our messaging varied significantly across platforms. Some posts were formal and technical, while others were casual and emotional. This inconsistency was confusing our audience and diluting our brand impact.

I implemented what I call the ‘Three-Word Rule’: identify three core brand personality traits and filter all content through them. For us, these were ‘trustworthy, caring, and expert.’ This simple framework transformed our communication strategy.

One of my favorite examples is when we revamped our preservation status updates. Instead of sending generic technical updates, we now share progress in a warm, caring tone while maintaining our expert stance. For instance, we changed ‘Your gown is undergoing preservation treatment’ to ‘We’re carefully preserving your precious memories using our expert SYSTEMK4 technology.’

This consistent voice led to a 65% increase in customer engagement across our platforms. More importantly, our customer feedback showed they felt more connected to our brand, with comments often mentioning how our communication made them feel ‘cared for’ and ‘confident.’

The key to maintaining consistency is creating a comprehensive brand voice guide that includes specific examples for different platforms. I recommend including do’s and don’ts, sample responses, and tone variations for different situations while keeping the core brand personality intact.

I’ve found that regular team training sessions are crucial. Every quarter, we review our brand voice guidelines and practice applying them to new content formats or platforms. This ensures everyone, from social media managers to customer service representatives, speaks in one unified voice.

I’d be happy to share more specific examples of how we’ve maintained brand consistency across different platforms.

Mary LopezMary Lopez
Marketing Manager, Trusted Wedding Gown


Understand Audience and Align Core Values

To build a strong brand voice and tone in your content, it’s critical to start with a deep understanding of your audience and what resonates with them. At One Rawr, I’ve seen how crucial it is to first align on core values and unique selling propositions that truly differentiate you. This can involve collaborative workshops and stakeholder interviews to distill what makes your company unique. For instance, with a client focused on sustainability, we crafted a tone that speaks to innovation and transparency, emphasizing data-driven impacts they make in their sector.

Maintaining consistency across platforms requires a cohesive strategy. I recommend creating a comprehensive content style guide that dictates tone, terminology, and visual elements across all channels. This guide acts as a North Star, ensuring every piece of content, whether it’s a tweet or a blog, speaks with the same voice. For one of our SaaS clients, consistent data reporting allowed us to refine our approach until the brand voice became second nature.

Consistency is further ensured by training your team and partners to understand and embody this voice. Regular feedback loops can refine and reinforce this consistency. We employ a “feedback first” approach with our teams, requiring that any cross-platform content undergoes peer review to align with our established brand guidelines. This method not only guarantees uniformity but also fosters a culture of ownership and collective branding responsibility.

Harps MangatHarps Mangat
Founder & CMO, One Rawr


Create Comprehensive Style Guide

Building a strong brand voice starts with deeply understanding your target audience and aligning your content with their values and expectations. During my time promoting 66Disco, a plus-size wholesale brand, I honed this by leveraging feedback loops from customers to fine-tune our voice.

The key was consistency. By creating a comprehensive style guide—detailing vocabulary choices, tone, and messaging—we ensured that all team members were aligned across formats and platforms. This guideline was our anchor, sparking creative content yet maintaining a unified voice.

A memorable experience was when we launched our virtual product website on a modest budget. Consistently voicing our brand’s story as a bold, inclusive fashion entity resonated with our audience, transforming an 8,000 RMB investment into a thriving brand.

For effective application, always align content with your brand’s core values and maintain regular cross-platform audits. These audits’ insights keep your message on track, evolving with your audience, and building trust with familiarity.

Jazz SuJazz Su
Digital Marketing Manager, Shewin


Ensure Emotional Response with Consistent Voice

I am Cody Jensen, the CEO of Searchbloom, an SEO and PPC marketing firm. A powerful brand voice goes beyond merely having a consistent tone; it’s about ensuring that people have the same emotional response each time they engage with your content. The greatest error brands commit is viewing voice as a checklist rather than a character. You can’t just slap on guidelines and expect them to stick. We build our voice from the inside out, ensuring our team actually believes in how we communicate before it ever hits a blog, ad, or social post. Instead of forcing a rigid tone, we focus on situational consistency—where the style adapts to the platform, but the brand’s energy stays the same. That’s what makes a voice real. It’s not about uniformity—it’s about feeling unmistakably you every time someone hears from you.

Cody JensenCody Jensen
CEO & Founder, Searchbloom


Define Core Values and Personality

To build a strong brand voice and tone, it’s crucial to define your brand’s core values and personality from the start. This serves as a compass for all content creation. At LeadsNavi, I led a team initiative where we established key phrases and adjectives that represent our brand – think “innovative”, “reliable”, and “customer-centric”.

We incorporated these elements into every piece of content, creating a consistent voice whether in expressive blog posts or concise social media updates. One effective method we used was developing a style guide that outlined preferred language, tone, and imagery. It ensured everyone from our writing team to customer service maintained the same brand essence.

Additionally, regular team workshops helped us reassess and streamline our voice across new platforms. This approach not only empowered us to maintain consistency, but also adaptable communication that resonated with varied audiences.

For actionable insights, I’d suggest starting small with a brand voice guideline and gradually expanding it into a comprehensive style guide as your brand grows. This structured approach fosters clarity and consistency, no matter the platform.

Ara ZhangAra Zhang
Head of Marketing, LeadsNavi


Marry Creativity with Compliance

When building a strong brand voice and tone, I focus on marrying creativity with compliance. At Juvenon, our voice is authoritative yet approachable, grounded in our commitment to providing scientifically backed health solutions. Protecting consumer trust is crucial, so every piece of content is carefully reviewed to meet legal compliance standards without losing its engaging essence.

To maintain consistency, I developed a comprehensive style guide that delineates voice and tone for various platforms. This ensures our narrative remains cohesive, whether we are conveying content through a health blog or a product insert. For instance, when launching a new supplement like Peak NAD+, we maintain a consistent, factual tone that reassures customers of our product’s integrity.

Feedback is critical, so I regularly analyze content performance and customer engagement metrics. At Juvenon, post-campaign assessments have shown a 20% increase in engagement when our content is aligned with both our brand ethos and compliance requirements—demonstrating the effectiveness of blending precision with creativity.

Michelle M. HensonMichelle M. Henson
Head of Copywriting, Legal Compliance Editor, Juvenon


Use Empathy and Data for Brand Voice

Empathy and data are crucial for shaping a strong brand voice. At FLATS®, I analyze resident feedback and engagement metrics to understand what resonates. For our properties like The Sally Apartments, this informed our focus on pet-friendly amenities, which we highlighted in our marketing as a core differentiator. By addressing specific needs, we foster a relatable and engaging brand tone that inspires trust.

Consistency starts with a central message custom for each platform. Our campaign for The Sally Apartments used visual storytelling on Instagram and detailed blog posts on our site, each reinforcing our commitment to modern, pet-friendly living. Maintaining this consistency ensures our message feels authentic, no matter where our audience encounters it.

Technology plays a vital role in maintaining consistency. At FLATS®, our use of the FLATS life app for resident interactions ensures our tone remains aligned across all touchpoints. By integrating tech with our marketing strategy, we sustain a brand voice that is both consistent and engaging across formats.

Gunnar Blakeway-Walen TSAGunnar Blakeway-Walen TSA
Marketing Manager, The Sally Apartments by Flats


Understand Value and Audience Needs

A strong brand voice comes from clearly understanding your value, what your audience wants, and how to communicate with them. It’s important to remain honest and natural because people will immediately notice fakeness.

My advice is to find three main associations with your brand. It could be a color, an animal, a personality trait, or even a song. These three things will guide you in creating your style. I advise you to write this style down in a tone of voice guide that includes examples in different contexts, such as social networks or emails.

Another important consideration is consistency. Your style should be reproduced in every publication on different channels. The best way to do this is to use certain branded phrases or headings, specific emojis, etc. However, keep your brand voice adaptable, as it should evolve with your audience.

Kate AlonsoKate Alonso
CMO, Oriole Insights


Document Personality Traits and Use Templates

In my years of SEO and CRO work, I’ve found that documenting your brand’s personality traits and creating content templates helps maintain consistency – like how we use specific tone guidelines for our wall mural product descriptions. When I started Tech Studio, we struggled with voice consistency until I created a shared spreadsheet of example phrases and responses for different situations, which made a huge difference in our team’s communication. I always tell my clients to think of their brand voice like a character and ask “Would this character say it this way?” before publishing any content.

Robert PortilloRobert Portillo
Cro Consultant, Peel and Stick Wall Murals


Listen to Patient Stories for Authentic Tone

I’ve found that building a strong brand voice starts with really listening to actual patient stories and conversations – it’s how we developed an authentic tone for Plasthetix that resonates. When creating content, I always keep a shared Google Doc with approved phrases and tone examples that our whole team can reference, which helps maintain consistency whether we’re writing Instagram captions or email newsletters. Being a marketing agency founder for plastic surgeons has taught me that the most engaging content comes from capturing the genuine enthusiasm and expertise of the surgeons themselves, rather than trying to sound overly polished or corporate.

Josiah LipsmeyerJosiah Lipsmeyer
Founder, Plasthetix Plastic Surgery Marketing


Create a Voice Palette for Consistency

I believe the key to a consistent brand voice is creating what I call a ‘voice palette’ – essentially a collection of words, phrases, and tone examples that reflect your brand’s personality, which we’ve successfully used at Etna Interactive. After 20+ years in healthcare marketing, I’ve learned to document everything from common medical terms to approved casual expressions, helping our team maintain the right balance of professional yet approachable across all platforms. Working with diverse healthcare clients has shown me that the best brand voices emerge when you focus on how you want patients to feel after engaging with your content, not just what information you want to convey.

Ryan MillerRyan Miller
Founder & CEO, Etna Interactive


Develop Brand Persona and Playbook

Know who you are—and who you *aren’t.* A strong brand voice isn’t just about what you say, it’s about how you say it. Are you bold and witty? Warm and conversational? Sharp and authoritative? Lock that in, and **stay consistent** across everything—social, blogs, emails, even error messages.

The trick? Create a **brand voice cheat sheet** with key traits, dos and don’ts, and real-world examples. And **read your content out loud**—if it doesn’t sound like you, rewrite it. The goal is for someone to recognize your brand’s voice even without a logo.

Justin BelmontJustin Belmont
Founder & CEO, Prose


Align Everything with Core Vision and Mission

Consider your brand personality in the same way you consider your target audience–develop a persona. What does Brand value? How does Brand like to spend their time? Are they intellectual, funny, serious? How would Brand explain what you do to their neighbor? Once your brand becomes a being, it becomes easier to hear the things Brand would say and how they would say them. That’s one way to maintain the consistency you need. Another is to come up with a brand “playbook” that outlines your brand persona and provides templated brand “takes” on your target audience’s pain points and the benefits offered by your products/services. Using that playbook as a guide, your team members can adapt as needed for the situation or outlet. Finally, if it makes sense to personify your brand as a mascot or “living” logo, do that–complete with regular communications (thoughts/quotes/column in an internal newsletter) that solidify for everyone on your team who you are and what you stand for as a brand. The content then becomes an extension of a common companywide understanding.

Michelle MellonMichelle Mellon
Founder, CEO & Chief Storyteller, WordBird


Ensure Clarity and Consistency

A strong brand voice and tone come down to vision and mission. If you’re representing a company, everything must funnel into that core message. “We help real estate business brokers flip more houses. Double within 90 days.” That level of clarity cements brand positioning.

Personal branding is different. It’s not just what you say but how you show up, your professional photos, speaking events, podcast appearances, and social media presence all need to align.

If you wear a T-shirt in one video, a suit in another, and a hoodie elsewhere, you create inconsistency. Look at Kallaway. He’s amazing in what he does. His videos are so uniform that you can’t forget him. You just can’t.

Platform consistency matters too. A 20-minute YouTube video makes a lasting impression. The same time spent on Instagram? People might not even remember your name. The audience retention power of each platform is different, and your brand strategy must adapt. Beyond visuals, CTA flow is critical. I can’t send Instagram followers to YouTube, then send YouTube viewers to my website, only to show them a Calendly link. Everything must lead to one end goal. The last riot.

Bhavik SarkhediBhavik Sarkhedi
Founder & Content Lead, Ohh My Brand


Audience Defines Voice, Not Brainstorming

Building a strong brand voice starts with clarity—knowing exactly what your brand stands for, who it speaks to, and how it wants to be perceived. For me, a brand voice is like a personality—it should feel familiar, relatable, and authentic to the audience.

The key to consistency is a well-defined brand style guide. This ensures that whether the content is a social media post, a long-form article, or an email campaign, the tone and messaging remain aligned. It’s also important to regularly audit content across platforms, refining the voice based on audience feedback and engagement trends.

Some of the most memorable brands—like Apple and Zomato’s—have mastered this by embedding their brand personality into every interaction. Whether it’s a witty tweet or a sleek product launch, they maintain a signature style that reinforces trust and connection. Ultimately, a strong brand voice isn’t just about communication—it’s about creating a lasting impression that resonates with your audience.

Akhilesh SharmaAkhilesh Sharma
PR Strategist


Make Brand Voice Instantly Recognizable

In the early days of my career, I worked with a fintech startup that wanted to sound “friendly but authoritative.” We published blog posts and social media content with jokes and emojis. But our audience (CFOs and finance managers) skipped those posts.

They engaged with detailed case studies instead. We pivoted and swapped humor for clear, data-driven language. Within three months, email sign-ups increased by 40%. The moral of the story: your audience defines your voice, not your brainstorming sessions.

To lock in consistency, create a living style guide. Mine has three non-negotiables: banned words (no “disruptive” or “game-changing”), sentence structure (short, active voice), and emotional tone (e.g., “supportive, not sales”). Tools like Hemingway Editor help keep sentences sharp, but the real hack is training your team to use the guide like a checklist. My agency runs every LinkedIn post, email, and whitepaper through the same Google Doc rubric before publishing.

Platforms matter, too. I once managed a skincare brand that used the same formal tone on TikTok as their website. The videos flopped. We A/B tested casual “Get ready with me” clips using slang their teen audience loved—views tripled in a week. Now we adjust delivery, not core voice: TikTok gets playful hooks; blogs keep the brand’s earnest, educational tone.

Actionable steps:

1. Audit feedback monthly: Use Google Analytics’ demographics and Hotjar surveys to spot tone mismatches.

2. Test one variable per quarter: Try a sarcastic Instagram caption or a minimalist email—measure CTR.

3. Update your style guide every 90 days: Add new banned words, successful phrases, and platform-specific tweaks.

Brands that rigidly stick to a voice sound out of touch. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s relevance. Treat your voice like a conversation, not a manifesto, and your audience will stick around.

Soubhik ChakrabartiSoubhik Chakrabarti
CEO, Icy Tales


Blend Aesthetics with Functionality

The key to a strong brand voice isn’t just about what you say—it’s about how you say it and how you make people feel. Your voice should be a natural extension of your personality, while your tone adapts to fit the context and audience.

My tip is to get crystal clear on three things:

1. Who you are: Define your brand personality. Are you bold? Warm? Witty? Thought-provoking? Polished? Fun? Conservative?

2. Who you serve: Understand what your audience needs to hear and how they need to hear it. Are they bold? Warm? Witty? Thought-provoking? Polished? Fun? Conservative?

3. How you want to be remembered: Every piece of content should reinforce what makes you distinct.

A strong brand voice is instantly recognizable—it’s the difference between blending in and standing out from a sea of sameness. I always ask, “If someone removed your name from a post, would they still know it’s yours?” If the answer is no, you need to refine it further.

Here’s what I always remind myself of:

1. Define your purpose: I have core messaging themes (e.g., intentional leadership, perception, decision-making) that serve as my foundation. Every piece of content ties back to these key ideas. If it doesn’t (or if I can’t), then it’s either not the right message for my brand, or I haven’t framed it in a way that aligns with my audience’s needs.

2. Adapt your tone, but not your voice: My brand voice stays the same, but the tone shifts based on the platform. LinkedIn? Probably more professional but still engaging. Instagram? Way more conversational and personal. My website? A polished, authority-driven extension of my expertise, with a witty undertone.

3. Read everything out loud: This may sound weird, but it’s one of the easiest ways to keep your brand voice authentic. If it doesn’t sound like me, I tweak it until it does. Or if I wouldn’t say it in a conversation, I won’t post it. I believe that if it feels awkward to me to say it out loud, it will feel awkward to read for others.

The goal isn’t just to be heard—it’s to be unmistakable. The real power of a strong brand voice is in recognition and resonance. When your audience hears your words, reads your content, or sees your message, they should feel like they already know you. Like they could recognize you without your name attached. Like what you say isn’t just content—it’s an experience, a perspective, a standard they now measure others against.

Sylvie Di GiustoSylvie Di Giusto
Keynote Speaker & Author | Helping Professionals Lead Better, Sell Faster, Persuade Instantly, Sylvie di Giusto


Use Same Profile Picture for Recognition

When it comes to building a strong brand voice and tone, I focus on blending aesthetics with functionality to create user-friendly, emotionally engaging experiences. At Webyansh, we craft unique user experiences by emphasizing clear, concise messaging and intuitive design. For instance, while working on a project for a healthcare client, we integrated soothing color palettes and empathetic language to reflect the brand’s caring nature.

To maintain consistency across different formats and platforms, I implement structured internal linking and seamless design elements that resonate with our core brand message. By leveraging tools like Webflow, we maintain a cohesive visual language and tone, ensuring our brand voice is clear and recognizable, whether on a website, blog, or social media platform. A great example is Trello’s landing page, which uses strategically placed CTAs to maintain a focused user path, embodying consistency and clarity throughout their user interaction.

Data from our transparent pricing page designs show a 72% user preference for accessible pricing details; understanding such preferences allows us to tailor content consistently. HubSpot’s advanced navigation bars also exemplify how organized content can guide user experiences across different platforms while maintaining tone and usability. Implementing these insights can help anyone achieve a uniform brand voice across varied channels.

Divyansh AgarwalDivyansh Agarwal
Founder, Webyansh


Create Consistent Content Across Platforms

First, I would recommend having the same profile picture across all platforms. It lets users identify you very easily. Next, I would say only post things that represent your brand as a whole and be consistent across all platforms. I’m not saying you have to post the same thing on all platforms, but rather don’t completely change what you’re posting across platforms so that users will follow you across the different platforms.

Keagan StapleyKeagan Stapley
Owner, NYC Meal Prep


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