How to Create a Brand Voice Guide: A Step-by-Step Instruction

Ever noticed how brands like Apple, Nike, or Spotify sound consistently recognizable across all their communications? That's not by accident – it's the result of a well-crafted brand voice guide. Today, I'll show you exactly how to create one for your brand.

Table of Contents

• What is a brand voice guide

• Why you need one

• Step-by-step creation process

• Implementation tips

• Common mistakes

• Templates and examples

• Measuring success

What is a Brand Voice Guide?

Think of your brand voice guide as your brand's personality manual. It's a document that defines how your brand should sound in all communications – from tweets to email newsletters to product descriptions.

Key components include:

• Tone characteristics

• Writing principles

• Do's and don'ts

• Channel-specific guidelines

• Example snippets

Why You Need One

Let's start with some real talk:

• 45% of consumers will unfollow brands that don't maintain consistent messaging

• 90% of consumers expect consistent brand experience across channels

• Companies with consistent branding see 23% higher revenue on average

Step-by-Step Creation Process

Step 1: Define Your Brand Personality

Start by answering these questions:

• If your brand was a person, who would they be?

• What are your brand's core values?

• How do you want customers to feel when interacting with your brand?

• What makes your brand different from competitors?

Step 2: Establish Your Core Characteristics

Choose 3-4 core voice characteristics:

• Professional but not stiff

• Friendly but not casual

• Expert but not condescending

• Fun but not silly

Step 3: Create Your Voice Chart

For each characteristic, define:

• What it means

• What it doesn't mean

• Examples of correct usage

• Examples of incorrect usage

Step 4: Channel-Specific Guidelines

Different channels need different approaches:

• Social media guidelines

• Email communication rules

• Website content standards

• Customer service protocols