6-steps Guide to SEO-powered Brand's Voice [+Checklist and Examples]

Exploring a ToV and Its SEO Benefits

According to John Allen, a prominent figure in search optimization, "SEO is the key to getting your brand voice heard." John emphasizes the crucial role of search engine optimization in amplifying your brand's message and reaching a wider audience. Collaboration between your SEO and marketing teams is key. SEO efforts will improve your website's search engine performance, aiming to secure a spot in the top positions on Google since most users don't venture beyond the first page of results.

Crafting catchy title tags that include primary keywords, keeping them concise, and creating enticing meta descriptions are essential strategies. Additionally, using attention-grabbing headlines and incorporating your brand voice throughout the main article copy helps engage readers and enhance brand perception and memorability. Including appealing images that align with your brand's personality and colors further boosts the user experience and SEO impact.

Developing a distinctive brand voice that appeals to customers and is optimized for search engines can be a game-changer. By maintaining an on-brand voice, you foster brand loyalty and ensure customers make the connection between your offerings and their positive experiences.

How to find your Brand's Voice (+Checklist)

Imagine a brand that focuses on fitness and wellness. Their personal tone of voice might be energetic, positive, and motivating, reflecting their core brand values of health and vitality. However, when they discuss topics like mental health or overcoming personal challenges, the tone may shift to a more compassionate and empathetic approach to connect with their audience on a deeper level.

In this example, the brand voice remains consistent, conveying the overall essence and character. Meanwhile, the tone adapts to the context, allowing the brand to resonate with its audience and address different topics with the appropriate emotional inflection.

Step 1. Researching Your Audience

Why is it important to research your target audience when defining your brand's tone? It is essential to understand who your audience is and what they expect from your brand.

This step requires a deep understanding of your target market, including their needs, preferences, pain points, and motivations. Additionally, it is essential to know how they search for information, the keywords they use, and the devices they use to access your content. You can use tools such as Google Analytics, Google Trends, Serpstat, and social media analytics to gain insights about your audience, which provide valuable data to inform your brand voice strategy.

Step 2: Competitors Analysis

Understand your competitors' online presence and tone of voice using the Serpstat Top Pages report and Domain analysis. Furthermore, examine the keywords that drive the most organic traffic to their sites. Analyze the content and structure of their website pages to understand what they are communicating. This approach allows you to discern the tone and messaging that resonate with your target market, enabling you to align your ToV accordingly.

Step 3: Defining Your Brand Persona

While the marketplace is saturated with many brand voices, it's important to note that many are merely variations of existing stereotypes. These personalities are influenced by brand archetypes, representing human character traits that align with your brand. Identifying the one best suits your brand will help shape your unique voice.

Source: https://iconicfox.com.au/brand-archetypes/

Employing AI chat technologies like GPT can be immensely helpful in defining brand personas and identifying the ideal customer profile (ICP). With GPT's capabilities, you can simulate conversations and gather insights to create comprehensive buyer personas that capture the essence of your target audience. These personas, in turn, assist in shaping the appropriate brand voice that will resonate with your specific customer segments.

Source: LinkedIn 

Step 4: Aligning the Tone of Voice with SEO Strategy and Brand Messaging

To formalize your brand voice process, consider using a table format. In this table, document the 3-5 core characteristics you identified as significant for your brand's voice. Then, outline how your writers can effectively incorporate these traits.

Or create a table with three rows for each primary characteristic, accompanied by three columns: a brief description, does, and doesn't. If needed, include an additional row for secondary features that require further explanation. 

ToV Example, miramar-group.co.uk

Step 5: Mission and Vision

To align your tone of voice with your SEO strategy, you should also define a clear mission. A brand message architecture serves as a framework that outlines your communication goals, typically consisting of a collection of terms, phrases, and statements. 

Take time to study and assess your company's mission statement, identifying the fundamental values that define your brand.

This template is intended for use within the company:

Step 6: Consistency in Brand Messaging

Here are some best practices to achieve this besides what we discussed in the 4th step:

• Train your team. Educate your team members, including employees and stakeholders, about your brand's messaging guidelines. Provide training and resources to ensure everyone understands and aligns with the brand's voice and values.
• Use consistent language and terminology. Establish a set of key phrases that reflect your brand's unique identity. Consistently use these in all communication tone to reinforce your brand's message and create a coherent experience for your audience.
• Regularly review and refine. Continuously evaluate your brand messaging to ensure it remains aligned with your brand's goals and values, and check news and trends in your business line. 
  

Tesla's Autopilot feature, the "Traffic Light and Stop Sign Control," has been found to occasionally mistake Burger King signs for stop signs. Burger King quickly seized this opportunity and transformed it into an ad campaign. They created an interactive advertisement featuring a Tesla Model 3 and encouraged people to share their experiences of the Autopilot mistaking Burger King signs for stop signs on social media using the hashtags #AutopilotWhopper or #FreeWhopper. Participants would receive a promo code for a free burger.




Your brand voice is not fixed but should be continuously assessed and refined as your business evolves. Regularly monitor how your audience reacts to your content and assess the impact of your brand voice.

How to Apply the Defined Tone of Voice to Various Brand Touchpoints?

The impact of brand consistency across all channels proves to drive substantial growth, with companies experiencing an average growth rate of 33%. When a brand maintains consistency in its messaging, visuals, and overall brand identity across different touchpoints, it fosters a sense of connection with its audience. Customers are more likely to engage and purchase from brands they perceive as authentic and with whom they feel a genuine connection.

Take the time to identify what sets your tone. What distinctive qualities or offerings does your brand possess? Then, consider how your brand voice can effectively communicate and amplify these strengths, making it stronger and more impactful. By aligning your brand voice with your unique value proposition, you can create a compelling and memorable identity.

Conclusion

To create a brand voice that truly represents your brand and resonates with your audience, remember to consider the following factors:

• Relatability. Your brand voice should connect with your audience, addressing their needs and aspirations.
  
• Consistency. Maintain a consistent brand voice across all channels, ensuring users can quickly identify and associate it with your brand.
  
• Flexibility. Allow your brand voice to evolve and adapt over time as your brand grows and responds to changes in the market. Target's inclusive approach to sizing and gender-neutral products is a prime example of embracing flexibility.
  

Use our 6 steps checklist to empower yourself to create your own tone of voice or run the rebranding process. The tone examples provided in this article will guide and inspire you. Good luck!