How to clarify your brand voice in 3 simple steps
So you can write with confidence, not second-guessing
If you’ve ever opened a blank page and thought:
“I know what I do… I just don’t know how to sound like myself,”
you’re not alone.
Your brand voice is the bridge between your ideas and your audience.
When it’s unclear, everything feels harder: content, websites, bios, proposals.
You don’t need a rebrand.
You don’t need a copywriter.
You just need these three steps, and about twenty minutes.
Let’s walk through them together ✨
Step 1: Choose 3 qualities that feel like you
Before we can clarify your voice, we need to define the feeling you want it to give off.
Forget buzzwords like “authentic” or “innovative.” Let’s keep it grounded and personal.
What are three qualities you want people to feel when they experience your brand?
Examples:
Calm, clear, thoughtful
Warm, grounded, creative
Direct, strong, visionary
Now flip it.
What are three qualities you never want to be associated with?
The ones that don’t feel like you, or send the wrong message.
Examples:
Trendy, robotic, sarcastic
Corporate, cold, performative
Your turn:
Write down your three “yes” qualities and your three “not-me” qualities.
These are your tone boundaries. They’ll help you stay consistent when writing copy, creating content, or briefing your team.
Step 2: Answer three voice-defining questions
Every strong brand voice is rooted in belief.
The way you sound comes from how you see the world.
These three questions will help you create internal filters that guide your tone.
What do you believe that not everyone agrees with?
Example: Strategy matters more than design.
Or: You don’t need to be everywhere to be visible.What do you never want your audience to feel when they interact with your brand?
Example: Confused, pressured, overwhelmed.What do you want them to feel instead?
Example: Seen, capable, steady, understood.
Write your answers somewhere you can revisit. These become the filters for how you speak, write, and present your work.
Step 3: Write your voice anchor sentence
Now that you know the tone and values behind your voice, it’s time to capture it in a single line.
This isn’t for public use. It’s for you. A reference point you can come back to whenever you're writing something new.
Use this fill-in-the-blank:
We sound [tone/qualities] when we talk about [what you do], so people feel [the impact or result].
Examples:
We sound warm and honest when we talk about brand strategy, so people feel clear and confident.
We sound calm and direct when we talk about growth, so people feel steady and in control.
Your anchor line will help shape your:
Website copy
About bio
Social captions
Client proposals
ChatGPT prompts
Team onboarding guides
It’s a simple tool with long-term power.
Recap:
To clarify your brand voice, complete these three steps:
Choose your three “yes” qualities and three “not-me” qualities.
Answer the three filter questions.
Write your voice anchor sentence.
You don’t need to get it perfect.
You just need to get it down.
Revisit it in a few months. Voice evolves, but clarity compounds. The more you practice writing as yourself, the more your brand begins to feel like home.
If you'd like feedback on your anchor sentence or qualities, drop them in the Chat. I'm happy to take a look.
