How to Find Your Brand’s Tone of Voice (and Actually Stand Out)
If you feel like your content sounds just like everyone else’s… you’re probably right.
Not because you’re doing something wrong, but because the default these days is safe, polished, and forgettable.
And forgettable doesn’t convert.
I’ve built and sold a staffing agency for $28 million. I’ve tested a lot of messaging. What works isn’t slick marketing speak. It’s your voice. The way you show up.
In recruiting and staffing, we’re often offering similar services. So what actually sets you apart? How you connect. And tone of voice plays a big role in that.
Here’s a simple way to find yours and start using it intentionally.
1. Pick three words that describe how you naturally show up
Think about how you talk to people in real life. What three words would someone use to describe you?
I’m direct, a little funny, and I try to be helpful. That’s how I talk in meetings, emails, interviews…everywhere. If I tried to be wordy and bubbly, it wouldn’t land. It wouldn’t sound like me.
You don’t need to fake anything. Just figure out how you show up when you’re not overthinking it.
2. Write a paragraph like you're texting a friend
Keep it short. Three to five sentences explaining what you do or why you care about your work. Write it like you’re sending a text or a voice note.
This isn’t supposed to be polished. The whole point is to sound like yourself.
That’s the version of you people want to hear from.
3. Record yourself talking about your business, then read it back
Just hit record on your phone and talk. No notes. No outline. Just speak like you’re explaining it to someone over lunch.
Then get that transcribed and read it back. Compare it to what your last email or LinkedIn post sounded like. If the tone doesn’t match, adjust.
Your written voice should sound like you, not a watered-down version of you.
4. Write to different people in your audience
Think about who you’re talking to: a founder, a corporate client, a candidate, someone on your team.
Now write a short email to each of them. Keep your voice the same, but tweak how you’d speak to that person. This helps you flex your tone while still being yourself.
People can tell when something is real. It’s why cold emails have worked for me for years, because they sound like me, not like a script.
5. Look at what’s already worked
Go back through your past emails, messages, social posts, anything. What got responses? What felt natural when you wrote it?
That’s your tone. That’s what you want to keep using. Sometimes your best writing is hidden in your text messages or Slack chats.
Final Thought
Your tone of voice isn’t something you have to invent. It’s something you uncover. When you write like you actually talk, your content connects.
Especially in this industry, people aren’t just buying your services. They’re buying your perspective, your experience, and your energy.
So stop trying to sound “right.” Start sounding like you. That’s what cuts through.
Hi! I’m Diane Prince. I co-founded a company that we built from scratch to $50 million in six years and sold to a strategic buyer. I am a keynote speaker that talks and writes about building startups, founding businesses, and entrepreneurship. I share my perspective from my own experience from over 25 years building, scaling, and selling businesses.
Connect with me through the social icons below!
