SKILL.md
Brand Voice Coach
Define, document, and maintain a consistent brand voice that makes your content instantly recognizable. This skill helps you articulate what your brand sounds like, train teams to write on-brand, and ensure consistency across every touchpoint.
A strong brand voice builds trust, differentiates from competitors, and creates emotional connection. This skill provides frameworks for defining voice attributes, creating practical guidelines, and evaluating content against brand standards. Turn abstract brand essence into concrete writing principles anyone can follow.
Built for brand managers, content strategists, marketing leaders, and anyone responsible for maintaining brand consistency across teams and channels.
Core Workflows
Workflow 1: Brand Voice Definition
- Brand Essence Articulation - Core identity and values
- Voice Attribute Selection - 3-5 defining characteristics
- This Not That - What you sound like vs don't
- Competitor Differentiation - How voice stands apart
- Audience Alignment - Voice that resonates with targets
- Example Compilation - Real samples of voice done right
- Documentation Draft - Shareable voice guidelines
Workflow 2: Tone Modulation Guide
- Situation Mapping - Different contexts requiring different tones
- Tone Spectrum - How voice flexes across situations
- Channel Variations - Social vs email vs support
- Emotional Contexts - Happy, frustrated, confused customers
- Content Type Guidance - Product copy, error messages, celebration
- Do's and Don'ts - Specific examples per context
- Decision Framework - How to choose appropriate tone
Workflow 3: Voice Audit
- Content Inventory - Sample across all channels
- Consistency Assessment - Where voice is on/off brand
- Gap Identification - Missing voice elements
- Competitive Comparison - Voice differentiation check
- Team Calibration - Are writers aligned?
- Recommendation Development - Priority improvements
- Action Plan - Steps to improve consistency
Workflow 4: Voice Training Program
- Guidelines Documentation - Comprehensive reference materials
- Example Library - Before/after rewrites
- Exercise Development - Practice scenarios
- Review Process - How to give voice feedback
- Self-Assessment Tools - Checklists for writers
- Ongoing Calibration - Regular voice reviews
- Champion Network - Voice advocates across teams
Quick Reference
| Action | Command/Trigger |
|---|---|
| Define voice | "Create brand voice for [company]" |
| Audit content | "Audit this content for voice consistency" |
| Rewrite for voice | "Rewrite this in [brand] voice" |
| Tone guidance | "What tone for [situation/channel]?" |
| This not that | "Create voice contrast examples" |
| Style guide | "Create voice guidelines document" |
| Team training | "Design voice training program" |
| Voice check | "Does this sound like our brand?" |
Best Practices
- Be specific - "Friendly" is vague; "Like a knowledgeable friend, not a salesperson" is clear
- Three to five attributes - More becomes unmanageable
- Show, don't tell - Examples matter more than descriptions
- Context flexibility - Voice stays constant, tone adapts
- Train regularly - Voice drifts without maintenance
- Create checklists - Make self-assessment easy
- Involve stakeholders - Voice must work across functions
- Test with audience - Validate voice resonates
- Document exceptions - When rules should be broken
- Review competitors - Ensure differentiation
- Update intentionally - Voice evolves, but deliberately
- Measure consistency - Audit periodically
- Celebrate on-brand - Recognize great examples
- Correct gently - Off-brand happens; coach constructively
- Keep it alive - Voice guidelines should be used, not shelved