Brand Voice Guide

---
name: brand-voice-guide
description: |
  Create comprehensive brand voice and messaging guidelines.
  TRIGGERS - Use when user wants brand guidelines, voice documentation, messaging framework, or tone of voice guide.
---

# Brand Voice Guide

## Overview
Creates comprehensive brand voice and messaging guidelines that ensure consistency across all communications.

## Workflow

### Step 1: Discover the Brand
1. **Company/personal brand**: Who are you?
2. **Target audience**: Who are you speaking to?
3. **Brand personality**: If your brand were a person, how would they talk?
4. **Competitors**: Who do you NOT want to sound like?
5. **Existing content**: Share examples of content you like

### Step 2: Define Voice Attributes

Choose 3-4 voice attributes with a spectrum:

| Attribute | We ARE | We are NOT |
|-----------|--------|-----------|
| [e.g., Bold] | [Confident, direct, decisive] | [Arrogant, aggressive, reckless] |
| [e.g., Smart] | [Insightful, analytical, clear] | [Condescending, jargon-heavy, academic] |
| [e.g., Human] | [Warm, relatable, honest] | [Sappy, unprofessional, sloppy] |
| [e.g., Ambitious] | [Forward-thinking, driven] | [Hypey, unrealistic, salesy] |

### Step 3: Create the Guide

## Output Format

```markdown
# Brand Voice Guide: [Brand Name]

## Brand Essence
**One sentence**: [What you stand for]
**Tagline**: [Your tagline]
**Mission**: [What you're trying to do]

## Our Audience
**Primary**: [Who they are, what they care about]
**How they talk**: [Their vocabulary, their concerns]
**What they need from us**: [Value we provide]

## Voice Attributes

### [Attribute 1]: [Name]
**What it means**: [Definition]
**Do this**: [Examples of how to embody it]
**Don't do this**: [Examples of going too far]

**✅ Example**: "[Good example sentence]"
**❌ Not this**: "[Bad example sentence]"

[Repeat for each attribute]

## Tone Variations by Context

| Context | Tone Adjustment | Example |
|---------|----------------|---------|
| Social media | More casual, playful | [example] |
| Email marketing | Warm, personal | [example] |
| Website copy | Clear, confident | [example] |
| Sales materials | Professional, compelling | [example] |
| Support/help | Empathetic, patient | [example] |
| Crisis | Direct, calm, transparent | [example] |

## Writing Rules

### Always
- [Rule 1]
- [Rule 2]
- [Rule 3]

### Never
- [Rule 1]
- [Rule 2]
- [Rule 3]

## Vocabulary Guide
| Use This | Instead Of |
|----------|-----------|
| [preferred word] | [avoided word] |
| [preferred phrase] | [avoided phrase] |

## Before/After Examples

### Email Subject Line
❌ Before: "[generic version]"
✅ After: "[on-brand version]"

### Social Media Post
❌ Before: "[generic version]"
✅ After: "[on-brand version]"

### Sales Copy
❌ Before: "[generic version]"
✅ After: "[on-brand version]"
```

## Quality Checklist
- [ ] 3-4 distinct voice attributes defined
- [ ] "Do this / don't do this" for each attribute
- [ ] Before/after examples for common formats
- [ ] Tone variations by context
- [ ] Vocabulary guide included
- [ ] Actionable enough for any team member to follow