I know what you might be thinking: Everything there is to say has already been said by someone else — right? What could you possibly have to add to the endless streams of conversations pulling at everyone’s attention?
Girl, can you trust me for a minute?
I’ve been in the brand and content marketing game for over 15 years. Needless to say, I’ve seen a lot of shitty content and a lot of voices that aren’t much worth hearing.
So, believe me when I say, yours isn’t one of those.
Somewhere buried inside you is a voice that is absolutely worth hearing, and your success as an entrepreneur depends on you finding that voice, honing it, and sharing it with the world. Ready?
Find your voice to unleash your brand
Let’s start by addressing the elephant in the room. What does your voice have to do with your brand?
Everything.
(Unless you’re running some multi-million dollar conglomerate, in which case, what are you doing here?)
If you’re like most of my readers, you’re a small business owner, more than likely a solopreneur. Whether you think of it this way or not, your business is you; you are your business. Frankly, if your business feels completely disconnected from who you are at your core, something ain’t right.
The key, then, to developing a scroll-stopping, recognizable, and impactful brand that attracts your ideal customers is to find your own voice and make that shine.
Let’s dive in on how to do just that, by answering 5 key questions.
1. Who are you, anyway?
Do you know yourself? Like, really know yourself?
Your gut reaction is probably to say yes, because of course you know yourself! What kind of a question is that?
Most people would say the same, but 85–90% of them would be wrong. Research shows that only 10–15% of people are truly self-aware (even though most people believe they’re self-aware).
Even if you’re in that 10–15% of people (I don’t doubt it!), when was the last time you sat with yourself and got underneath the hard questions? Questions like:
- What makes you tick?
- What’s most important to you?
- What are the quirks and idiosyncrasies that make you you?
- What values drive you to spend your time doing the things you do?
You can journal on these questions, or talk them through with a trusted friend. Or, if you’re feeling stuck, you can get expert help (this is much of what I help my clients do with my Brand Magic Potion service).
Also, revisit my recent post on crafting your brand story.
2. What do you have to say?
You may think you don’t have anything unique to add to the mix, but I know you do.
Whether you just started your business or you’ve been at it for a while, you started this journey for a reason — or several.
No one takes the entrepreneurial path because they’re looking for an easy, simple life. (Or maybe some people do, but those are unlikely to be successful in the long run). You started your business because you wanted to make an impact; you wanted to do something meaningful and big.
You saw a gap in your industry, a problem that needed solving, and you took it upon yourself to make your mark. That decision tells me very clearly that you have something to say. You have a unique perspective that lends itself to an authoritative voice that captures an audience.
Brainstorm some of those ideas, reminding yourself of why you took this path.
Think through all the aspects and branch points of your vision, paying particular attention to those topics or ideas you have strong feelings about.
But don’t overthink it. That old adage, “there’s nothing new under the sun,” is really true. You don’t need to come up with something no one has ever said before; it’s just a matter of adding your unique spin to it.
3. What barriers do you have to overcome?
We all face obstacles — internal or external — that keep us from feeling like we can express our true, authentic selves.
The two most common culprits? Imposter syndrome and societal expectations.
Imposter syndrome
This is a topic that warrants its own blog post, but that pesky inner critic that says we’re not good enough, smart enough, or experienced enough is something I’d venture to guess 99% of us face.
Seriously, anyone who tells you they’ve never experienced imposter syndrome before is probably lying (or completely lacks that oh-so-important self-awareness we talked about earlier).
Imposter syndrome can be paralyzing, keeping us stuck and afraid to put ourselves out there. But here’s the thing: you don’t have to have it all figured out to use your voice. You don’t need to be perfect or have all the answers. You just need to be willing to show up, share your perspective, and trust that it matters. Because it does.
Societal expectations
As much as I’d love to say I’m fully enlightened, free from the burdens of societal expectations, none of us can say that — and that includes you, missy. Family, cultural conditioning, gender roles — they all shape our beliefs about what’s acceptable, and they can make a big impact on how free we feel to find and express our voices.
Deciding to move beyond those constraints and color outside the lines takes courage. But remember: just because something is expected doesn’t mean it’s right for you. You get to decide what aligns with your values and allows you to be true to yourself.
Give yourself permission to question expectations and push back against pressure to conform. Your voice is too important to be silenced by arbitrary rules.
4. Who’s your audience?
Finding your voice isn’t just about self-expression. It’s also the best way for you to attract the right people into your orbit. If you’re trying to build a business, your brand voice (which shouldn’t be fully distinct from your authentic voice, remember?) is essential for attracting your ideal customers — and repelling the people you don’t want to work with.
So, how can you use your authentic voice to connect with your audience?
First, think about your target audience — what are their interests, challenges, and desires?
You’ll want to tailor your voice and content to resonate with them. Speak their language, address their pain points, and celebrate their wins. Show them why you are exactly the right person to answer the challenges they face.
And make sure your content is authentic and relatable. When you share your own experiences, struggles, and triumphs, it helps your audience connect with you on a deeper level. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable and share personal stories that illustrate your message. Your brand message will resonate so much more when it’s wrapped in relatable, human experiences.
5. What’s your preferred mode of expression?
You’ve gotten to know yourself better. You’re embracing your quirks, feeling clear on your values, and you’re aware of what’s holding you back (even if you haven’t quite vanquished those demons yet).
How does all that translate into developing a clear and unique voice?
It’s gonna take practice, and some trial and error, but let’s start flexing those voice-activating muscles by getting our hands dirty.
Harnessing the power of writing
For many (myself included), writing is the ultimate form of self-expression. Putting pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) can be cathartic and empowering, while allowing you to uncover some things you might not be able to otherwise.
But you don’t have to be a “writer” to benefit from using writing to find your voice. There’s something about choosing each word with intention that helps you see your thoughts take shape. Whether it’s in the form of free journaling, blogging, whiteboarding, or a more structured and strategic brainstorming session, the page is a powerful place to work through ideas, gain clarity, and find and use your voice.
Here’s one of my favorite “finding your voice” exercises I went through in grad school when I was getting my Master’s in English:
- Choose a piece of writing from a favorite author. It can be an essay or a paragraph from a book — even a few choice sentences work.
- Pick one of the topics you brainstormed about above and write about it, trying to mimic the style of that favorite piece of writing.
- Now, repeat this exercise as many more times as you’d like, sticking with the same topic, but choosing a different writing style each time.
Going through this exercise helps you flex your writing muscles and learn what it even means to shape a piece of writing to a particular style. This will help you learn what you like and what you don’t, what feels like you and what doesn’t.
Staying true to your voice
As you and your business evolve and grow, your voice may change over time. That’s okay — growth is a natural part of the journey.
Embrace these changes while staying rooted in your core values and beliefs. Allow your voice to adapt and mature without losing sight of what makes it uniquely yours. Your experiences, your perspective, your truth — those are what makes your voice powerful. Don’t let anyone dim your light or silence your story.
Keep checking in with yourself to ensure your brand voice still feels authentic and aligned with your true self. It’s okay if that voice changes over time. What matters is that it always reflects who you are at your core.
Ready to transform your business?
It begins with finding your voice so you can create a consistent and magnetic messaging and brand experience for your customers. Enter your email below to grab our Brand Story Worksheet so you can start the process of finding your voice and crafting your narrative.