Where Passion Meets Business
Updated for 2026 to include guidance on maintaining your brand voice when using AI tools.
There has never been more content online. Blog posts. Reels. Emails. LinkedIn updates. Podcasts. Webinars. And now — AI-generated everything. But here’s the problem. When everyone has access to the same tools, everyone starts to sound the same.
Polished. Structured. Professional. And completely interchangeable. If your content and messaging feel slightly inconsistent or harder to write than it should be, the issue is rarely effort — it’s clarity.
More specifically, tone of voice clarity.
Tone of voice is not about sounding more confident, more corporate, or more impressive. It’s about sounding like you, consistently. Your tone of voice is how people experience your brand through words.
It’s the difference between:
When your tone is unclear:
When your tone is defined:
That’s why defining your brand voice isn’t optional — it’s foundational.
One of the simplest and most practical frameworks for defining brand voice comes from research by the Nielsen Norman Group.
They identified four core tone dimensions:
Most small businesses don’t sit at the extreme ends. They sit somewhere in between.
And that balance is where personality lives.
For example:
The key is intentional positioning — not accidental tone shifts.
AI tools like ChatGPT are powerful. They save time. They create structure quickly. They help overcome blank-page syndrome.
But AI defaults to neutral, safe, generic language. Without clear instructions, it will write like everyone else. If you haven’t defined your tone of voice, AI will define it for you. And your brand will start sounding interchangeable.
That’s why tone of voice now acts as a filter. Everything you publish — whether written by you or generated with AI — should pass through your brand voice framework.
If it doesn’t align? It doesn’t get published. AI should be a starting point. Not the final voice.
Many small business owners believe they have a content problem.
They don’t. They have a clarity problem.
When your tone of voice is clear:
Clarity removes friction, which can slow most businesses down.
And when you use AI? You prompt with intention. You edit with awareness. You filter through your voice. Efficiency and personality.
If you want to define your brand voice properly, start here:
When you build this roadmap once, it becomes a long-term communication guide. Not just for blogs. But for:
Clear communication isn’t about being louder. Or more salesy. Or more polished. It’s about being intentional.
Your tone of voice is the bridge between what you know and how your audience feels when they read your words.
And connection begins with clarity.
If you’re using AI in your business — or creating content regularly — defining your tone of voice is one of the most powerful foundational steps you can take.
If your content feels inconsistent, generic, or harder to write than it should be, your tone of voice likely isn’t clearly defined yet.
My updated “Tone of Voice & Communication Toolkit” walks you through:
Because in 2026 and beyond, clarity isn’t optional. It’s your competitive advantage.
Check out this blog post titled “How to Define Your Brand’s Tone of Voice” by Semrush for more information on defining your tone of voice.
As an added resource, you can get a free copy of my “Discover Potential Ideal Clients with ChatGPT.” Click below if you would like to find out more information or would like a copy.
I’m so excited to share your free workbook, “Discover Potential Ideal Clients with ChatGPT!” It’s packed with actionable insights and AI-powered prompts to help you identify and connect with your ideal clients.
Whether you’re just starting up or refining your existing client base, this workbook is designed to help you gain clarity and confidence in reaching the right people for your business.