What Your Authentic Brand Voice ISN’T

Like with all things, each individual person has their own definition of a brand voice. But there are some standard things that you should know in terms of what a brand voice ISN’T so you can set your expectations accordingly.

I’ve always thought of brands as people. And in the world of personal branding, it’s especially true. YOU are your brand. Which means YOUR VOICE is your brand voice ;)

But this isn’t an article about what your brand voice IS, it’s about what it ISN’T.

Your Brand Voice is NOT off the shelf

Recently, a lot of branding “specialists” have been talking about brand voice as if it’s something you can just go to the store and buy.

Just get a unique brand voice to stand out in the market.

Unfortunately, that’s not the way it works.

There’s no supermarket for personal brands. You can’t walk down the aisle and say, “Ooh, that one looks good”.

All of the things that make up your brand voice come from INSIDE you. It’s not something you can just go pick up, like an email service provider, or even a logo. So, just let that go. If you want an authentic brand voice, it MUST come from YOU.

Your Brand Voice is NOT created by another person (when it’s authentic anyway)

Ever had one of those times when you just said, “I just need someone to do it for me”?

Well, your brand voice is NOT one of those things that someone else can just create for you.

Why?

Same reason as above.

Your brand voice is YOU. So, if someone shows up and tells you, “you just need to sound like THIS”, it’s not authentic. It’s their opinion of how you should sound, based on what is probably very little knowledge about who you actually are.

There is no one right way to sound when it comes to branding. There is just YOUR way to sound.

So, can you outsource your marketing? Sure you can. AFTER you know what your brand voice is.

Because who needs to own it at the end of day? YOU.

Your Brand Voice is NOT more or less based on someone else

As much as I’m a proponent of authentic brand voices, even I’ve had people in my workshops say, “I just need to sound more like you”.

Nope. And here’s why.

I will ALWAYS be better at sounding like me than you will. Because I AM me. And the people who like to listen to me? They’ll choose me; because I’m better at being me.

You need to sound more like YOU. Not anyone else.

The more you try to sound like someone else, the farther you move away from your uniqueness in being YOU. You start spending your time being a second-rate someone else instead of a first-rate you. Bad time investment.

You are not TOO MUCH or TOO LITTLE of anything. You are you. And that’s what makes you stand out. Not being more like someone else.

Your Brand Voice is NOT separate from Your Voice

The world of social media has created an environment where people create different personas for themselves in different places.

I can only share personal stuff on my Facebook profile.

I need to be professional on LinkedIn.

I need to sound more composed when I’m public speaking.

I need to stay more focused and not go off on tangents when I’m on a podcast.

All of these thoughts keep you separated from your authentic brand voice. That inner voice that pings you when you see something you care about. When you see something that you want to stand against.

Your brand voice is NOT separate from that. It IS that.

At the end of the day…

Your brand voice is YOUR voice. Nothing different. Not one with a better vocabulary. Not one who uses less ums and ahs. Not one who should be MORE energetic or LESS all over the place. Not one that should speak slower. Not on that should be louder or more quiet. Not one who shouldn’t be so high pitched.

Just you. Just as you are.

Don’t let anyone else convince you that for your voice to be heard it needs to be DIFFERENT. Because it’s just absolutely not true.

If you’re ready to find your authentic voice, let’s chat.