As someone who owns their own business, we’re going to let you in on a little secret…copywriting is not the same as your voice.
Your business may have nothing to do with writing, but you will be creating content for so many things, from your website and email newsletter to social posts and pitches to other businesses or customers.
Since you’ll be writing for your business no matter what it is, finding your unique voice will make your copywriting more impactful.
It’s like the yin and the yang. Copywriting and voice will work together to give you the best result.
So in today’s blog post, we’re going to teach you how to tap into that inner voice and embrace it—because the success of your business depends on it.
How To Find Your Unique Voice for Your Online Shop
1 | Do Identify Your Target Audience
If you think about your content strategy overall, your north star is your target audience. You have to have your audience front and center in everything you do to make your messaging resonate.
If you don’t know who your target audience is or if you write to many different audiences, you’re going to have the same problem. Your communications won’t be effective because you aren’t tailoring your message to the right people.
Writing to a different audience than the one you intended can make customers feel like you’re not giving them a personalized experience at best and alienate them at worst.
The lesson here is to do your homework on who your target audience is before starting to write for them.
Related Post: How To Figure Out What Your Audience Wants To Read
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2 | Do Have a Vision
Finding your unique voice also means that you need to have a vision…make that a crystal clear vision. Think of this as your hopes and goals for your customers.
For you to take your business to the next level, you should know how you are solving your customers’ problems. Think about the following and see if any of them apply to you.
- My business makes people more productive.
- My business takes the load off of people by alleviating their stress.
- The products I offer make people happier.
- The services I offer allow people to think of something bigger than themselves.
- I help make people’s lives easier.
Notice that all these examples focus on the positive? Keep that in mind as you find your own unique voice.
Have an online shop? Here's how to find your unique voice that will make you stand out among competitorsClick To Tweet3 | Don’t Forget Your Purpose
Your purpose is like the mission statement of your business—and often why you wanted to get into business for yourself in the first place.
To find your purpose you really need to know yourself. Dig down deep and think about your own purpose in life.
Maybe it’s to empower female entrepreneurs or make busy parents’ lives easier by selling them the product they’ve always needed but never even knew they wanted.
Think about your core values and what your business stands for—the why you do what you do. This is exactly the thing that differentiates you from everyone else.
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4 | Don’t Forget Personality
You can’t find your voice without some personality. Whether it’s cheeky, informal, informative or flavorful, there are personalities in every shape and size when it comes to your online shop—and your brand.
And to tell you the truth, you don’t even have to pick just one.
You may be a combination of a few of these. What’s important here is to personify your brand, no matter what your business is or what you sell.
That means sticking to a few brand ethos that makes you unique and differentiates you from the competition.
So if you think of your brand as savvy, confident and real, your voice should be exactly that. It shouldn’t be too stuffy or formal.
In fact, someone should be able to know it’s your brand without even seeing your logo.
Get inspiration from looking at some of your favorite brands.
Learn what they stand for and how their voice reflects that. Chances are you’ll get a new understanding of how the two are linked…and how you can adapt your voice to your brand personality.
Want to know more? Here are 4 Ways to Infuse Your Brand Personality Into Your Website.
5 | Do Differentiate Yourself
The key to finding your unique voice also means differentiating yourself from the competition.
The products you offer are unlike anyone else’s, so your voice should follow suit. But that starts with knowing exactly why you are different and celebrating that through your voice.
If every brand sounded the same, the retail landscape would be a very boring place. It would also make it harder for customers to pick you out from the pack.
When your voice is unique, it helps you stand out and make you memorable in the customer’s eyes. These days, customers have so many choices on where to buy things, and making sure they remember your brand is essential for your success.
Related Post: 5 Tips to Make Your Website Sound Like You
6 | Do Practice Consistency
One of the most important things to remember when it comes to voice is to be consistent.
If you think about all the ways you communicate with customers, from your website to social media to interviews you give on a podcast or guest post, consumers want to have a similar experience across all channels.
If a consumer is hearing a different voice through different mediums, they aren’t going to know who you are or what you stand for. If you are going to build a brand, you need to have a clear vision and voice.
Inconsistencies in voice not only confuse customers, but it also won’t help you differentiate yourself from competitors.
To make sure you don’t fall into this trap, read all of your communication with fresh eyes. Think if you were a new customer engaging with your brand, how would they feel about your voice and the consistency throughout your platforms.
Don’t be afraid to edit your voice or go back to the drawing board. Sometimes you have to let go of bad copy to create a meaningful message that resonates with customers.
Final Thoughts
When it comes to developing content for your online shop, it’s not a good idea to throw up a bunch of messaging and hope for the best.
Knowing who you are as a person, as a business, and as a brand is essential to finding your unique voice. So if you need to do some soul searching, go for it!
