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Understanding the different tones of voice and what they are is important to creating a tone of voice for your brand. When developing the tone for your brand we will need to take a look at the various aspects of how different tones affect the audience.
There are 5 basic tones of voice that will help to begin creating your brand’s own unique personality.
The conversational tone of voice should be used when you are writing to your audience as a friend or family member would. The tone should be informal and down to earth and make the audience feel like they can come to you with any question at any time.
This type of tone is used in content that is more educational or informative in nature. It’s good to use this tone when you are writing for people who know a lot or want to know a lot about the topic, and it will be more useful for them.
It’s important that your tone of voice is not too similar to everyone else. You should make it your own by adding some extra personality and pep in it, and making sure that you stand out from the crowd.
Examples of people who use this tone:
The authoritative tone is the tone of voice that people use when they are giving you directions or instructions. It is a very professional tone and it’s also very intimidating. You should only use this tone when you need to make a big impression on your audience.
This type of tone is best suited when you are writing for expert audiences or when you are trying to sell your product or service. You should also be careful not to overuse it as it might not appeal to many people.
People who use this tone:
Your boss
Your accountant
A police officer
A doctor
The friendly tone of voice is the tone of voice that you are probably most familiar with. This is the tone you use when speaking to your family members and friends. It is a very informal tone, but it can also be very powerful and frightening as well.
This type of tone is best used when you are writing for individual people or small groups who are directly related to you. The tone is very personal and intimate as well, so it can be useful when creating an e-commerce website.
It’s important that you avoid sounding too childish. It’s best to use this tone when writing for a more mature audience, or audiences who are interested in personal or romantic relations between people.
Examples of people who use this tone:
Your mom
A friend’s parents
A friend’s sister/brother
Your BFF at work
This type of tone is very similar to the authoritative tone, but this one is also very polite. The authoritative polite tone is different from the conversational tone because it is used when you are trying to please your audience. It can be used when you are buying something for someone else, or if you just want to give them a heads up about something. You are putting yourself in a position of submission and asking for their help in doing what you need to do.
This tone is best used when you are writing for people who are in a position of power. It’s also good for when you’re trying to change someone’s mind or make them do what you want them to do. It should only be used sparingly though because people don’t like it when you use it and they will start to get annoyed by it very easily.
Examples of people who use this tone:
A spouse
An employee
A significant other
Your boss
A friend’s wife/husband
The babysitter/caretaker
A casual tone of voice is also known as the hip tone of voice. It’s used when you are writing for fun. Because of the use of slang and funny humor; the casual tone is generally more entertaining than the authoritative tone. This can be a little trickier to use than the other 4 tones, as people will want to know where it came from and wonder if it’s authentic or if you just think that you’re cool because you’re using it.
This tone is best used when you are writing for people who are already interested in or familiar with the topic. It’s also good to use when you’re creating content for a night out or a laugh at work. You only want to use this tone when you are writing for people that you know will appreciate it.
Examples of people who use this tone:
Your friends
Your family
A comedian
An e-commerce store owner Creating your brand’s tone in 4 easy steps.