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February 28, 2025

Speak Their Language: The Power of Brand Voice for Startup Success

Imagine a Wild West cowboy. He's got the look: the hat, the boots, the mustache, even the cigar. But what makes him memorable? Is it just the outfit? Nope. It's his personality.

But imagine that cowboy is unexpectedly kind to children. He tells silly jokes, makes them laugh, and brightens their day. Suddenly, he's not just another cowboy, he's memorable.

Your brand is the same. A cool logo and snazzy colors get you noticed, but without a distinct personality, you're just another face in the crowd. Another cowboy blending into the dusty sunset.

What is a brand voice?

Brand voice is the distinct personality a brand conveys in its communication. It's how you talk to your audience, whether it's through your website, social media, emails, or even your packaging. 

Think of it as the human element behind your brand, the way you express your values, beliefs, and attitude. 

Just like people have different personalities, brands can be playful or serious, formal or casual, quirky or straightforward.

Why does it matter?

Build Trust Faster

A consistent brand personality shows your audience who you really are, building trust faster than any flashy campaign ever could. 

When you're consistent in how you communicate, and more importantly, in how you act and react, people see your true colors. 

They know what you stand for, and they know they can rely on you. That's how you build a brand that people believe in, a brand that earns their loyalty.

Attract the Right People

A consistent brand personality acts like a magnet, attracting the right people to your tribe. 

When you're clear about who you are and what you stand for, you resonate with those who share your values. It's like a beacon signaling to like-minded individuals: "This is your place." They see your true colors, connect with your mission, and become loyal customers, passionate employees, or invested partners. 

You're not just building a brand, you're building a community of believers.

Navigate Crisis with Grace

A well-defined brand personality acts as a compass during stormy weather. 

When a crisis hits, your core values guide your response, ensuring consistency even in the face of adversity. It's like having a strong anchor that keeps you steady amidst the waves.

Your audience knows who you are and what you stand for, allowing them to weather the storm alongside you. This fosters resilience, strengthens loyalty, and helps you emerge from challenges with renewed purpose.

How do you build a brand voice?

1. Know Your Crowd

Finding your brand's voice is like tuning into the right radio frequency. You need to make sure you're speaking the same language as your ideal listeners.

Who are they? What makes them tick? What do they care about? Dive deep and get to know your audience. Understand their values, their passions, even their pet peeves. Listen to how they talk, the words they use, the jokes they share.

The more you understand your audience, the better you can craft a brand voice that truly resonates with them.

2. Find Your Unique Voice in the Market

Just like your favorite band stands out from the rest, your brand needs its own sound. 

Take a look at what your competitors are doing. Are they all buttoned-up and corporate? Maybe you can be the friendly, approachable one. Or perhaps everyone's playing it safe – that's your cue to be bold and daring. 

3. Uncover Your Core Values

Before you can start shouting from the rooftops, you need to know what you stand for. 

What are the core values that guide your company's decisions and actions? Are you all about innovation, sustainability, customer service, or something else entirely? 

These values are your brand's compass, guiding your voice and ensuring consistency in every interaction. Think of them as your brand's moral code, the principles that shape how you show up in the world.

4. Build a Brand Voice Chart

Think of a brand voice chart as your brand's ultimate style guide. 

It's a handy document that outlines the do's and don'ts of your communication, ensuring everyone on your team is on the same page. 

This chart should include details about your tone of voice, language preferences, and even examples of how to communicate in different situations. It's like a cheat sheet for creating consistent and on-brand content, whether it's a social media post, a website copy, or an email newsletter.

5. Release it into the Wild

You've done the research, scoped out the competition, and created your guidelines. Now it's time to let your brand voice shine! 

Start using it in your marketing materials, website content, social media posts, and customer interactions. 

But don't just set it and forget it. Pay attention to how your audience responds. Are they engaging with your content? Do they resonate with your tone? Gather feedback, analyze the results, and be willing to tweak and refine your voice over time.

Examples of Outstanding Brand Voices

Dollar Shave Club

DSC isn't just about selling razors; they're disrupting the men's grooming industry with a witty, irreverent, and buddy-like approach. They offer high-quality blades at a fraction of the cost, delivered right to your door, all while making you laugh along the way.

Casual and Conversational: DSC ditched the stuffy corporate tone common in the men's grooming industry. They talk like a friend would, using everyday language, slang, and even a bit of playful sarcasm. This instantly makes them relatable and approachable.

Witty Humor with a Side of Self-Deprecation: Their humor is sharp and clever, but often at their own expense. This avoids coming across as arrogant or condescending, which is key when tackling potentially sensitive topics like personal hygiene.

Honest and Straightforward: While they joke around, they're also upfront about the problem they're solving: overpriced razors. They don't shy away from discussing bodily functions, but they do it with a lightheartedness that avoids being crude or disrespectful.

Confident but Not Cocky: They're confident in their product and their brand, but they don't take themselves too seriously. This avoids alienating potential customers who might be turned off by an overly boastful approach.

SafetyWing

SafetyWing offers a safety net for the modern nomad. They provide flexible and affordable travel and medical insurance designed specifically for remote workers, freelancers, and location-independent adventurers, fostering a global community of like-minded individuals.

Adventurous and Free-Spirited: They embrace the lifestyle of their target audience, using language that evokes a sense of freedom, exploration, and global citizenship. They often use imagery and storytelling that captures the excitement and challenges of living a nomadic life.

Community-Oriented: SafetyWing fosters a strong sense of community among their customers, referring to them as "nomads" and creating content that resonates with their shared values and experiences.

Transparent and Trustworthy: They aim to be transparent about their policies and pricing, using clear and straightforward language that avoids jargon. They also emphasize their commitment to ethical practices and customer support, building trust with their audience.  

Global and Inclusive: They cater to a global audience and embrace diversity, using inclusive language and imagery that reflects the values of their customers. They also offer products that are tailored to the needs of different nationalities and travel styles.

Wise

Wise is taking on the big banks with a mission to make international money transfers cheaper, faster, and more transparent. They champion fairness and empower customers with a global, inclusive, and customer-centric approach, challenging the status quo of hidden fees and confusing jargon.

Transparent and Honest: Wise is all about fairness and transparency in the often murky world of international finance. They openly challenge traditional banks and their hidden fees, using clear and straightforward language to explain their own pricing and processes.

Rebellious and Disruptive: They position themselves as rebels fighting against the established financial system. Their messaging often challenges the status quo and champions a fairer, more transparent approach to money transfer.

Customer-Centric: Wise puts the customer at the heart of everything they do. They use a friendly and empathetic tone, acknowledging the challenges and frustrations of sending money internationally.   

Practical and Empowering: They aim to empower customers with knowledge and tools to manage their money effectively across borders. They provide helpful resources, guides, and support to make international money transfer as easy and stress-free as possible.

Conclusion

Your brand voice is more than just words – it's the heart and soul of your company. It's what connects you with your audience, builds trust, and makes you unforgettable. By taking the time to define and cultivate your brand's unique voice, you're not just creating a marketing strategy, you're crafting an identity that will resonate with your audience for years to come.

Ready to find your brand's voice but not sure where to start? Let's chat! I can help you craft a brand voice that truly connects with your audience and sets you apart from the competition. 

Schedule a free consultation today, and let's explore how we can bring your brand to life.