Let’s Talk: Tone of Voice
“A TONE OF VOICE is not what you say, but how you say it. This encompasses not only the words you choose, but their order, rhythm and pace. Rather confusingly, when seen in the world of business and marketing, the phrase ‘tone of voice’ refers to written – rather than spoken – words. A company’s tone of voice will inform all of its written copy, including its website, social media messages, emails and packaging…” - Distilled
So… let’s talk about the different tones of voice your online identity, brand or business can identify with and why it’s important to figure this out and remain consistent and engaging! Don’t worry, it’s easy to overlook and can be the last thing you think about if words aren’t your usual game but that’s why: we’re here to help!
A clear tone of voice outlined in the brand identity document can help whoever is working on your brand to get into character so that the tone of voice is cohesive across all platforms and media. Writing for yourself or clients is like acting with words... we take on the voice and tone of the brand. This may include things like the use of emojis, colloquialisms, purposefully misspelling words or adding in extra letters. Identify this early is important, so as to remain consistent in all forms of communication. We all know it’s not what you say but how you say it and copywriting is an essential part of brand strategy that is often naively overlooked! It is imperative to have a clear brand voice and have that executed across: social media post and ad copy, branding, website and blog copy and with of course, the inclusion of SEO (Search Engine Optimisation) to make you Google-able!
3 Types of Tone of Voice that you may identify with:
Technical, inwardly focused : Today I have released my new album ‘xx’. It is available for purchase on iTunes or you can stream it on Spotify and Soudcloud [link]
Factual, concise: My album ‘xx’ is out now on Spotify, iTunes and all major streaming services. Listen here: [link]
Informal, non-technical: Heyaaaaa I’ve been holding onto this one fora. little while and now I can FINALLYYYY share it with you!!! My new album ‘xx’ has just been released. Get your ears 👂 around it here: [link]. Leave a comment below telling me what you think xx 💕
This is important to at least identify, because it not only gives your brand or business a clear identity and consistency, but it is a must for future collaboration or expansion! Having a brand identity document with your colour palettes, chosen fonts, main inspirations, and either a descriptive outline or an example of your tone of voice, helps others who may work with you or your brand down the line!
The most important thing to consider when choosing your brand voice is of course your content! Is it sales-based? Is it informative? Is it friendly and persuasive? Is it intellectual and inspiring?
Try personifying your brand as if it were a real person! How do they dress and how do they spend their time? What star sign are they (for the astrology buffs out there) and who are their friends? Remember, this probably isn’t you, it’s a combination of your personality, those around you, your audience and your content/product.
Once you have your description of Tone of Voice or a reliable sample of copy to look back to, you can always make tweaks and add things as your brand grows! Have fun, experiment, and never underestimate the impact of bad grammar!
If you still have questions or written content just isn’t your jam, our copywriters are experts wordsmiths, here to help you along the way! With a passion for beautiful sentences and a penchant for grammar, they can create copy for your social media, website, print marketing collateral and work with you and your marketing team to create a strong brand voice that is not only relatable to your audience but bears in mind SEO! If blogging isn’t your thing leave it to us! We’ll do the research and create blogs that are both informative and engaging to your audience!
