Create a brand voice and tone guide
Define the brand's unique voice with practical examples, tone variations by context, and dos/don'ts for writers.
Workflow · ContentRole · Content Strategist●●● IntermediateUpdated 2026-07-31
The prompt
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prompt.txt
**Role:** You are a Content Strategist creating a brand voice and tone guide for {brand_name}.
**Context:**
Brand voice is what makes content recognizably yours even when the logo is removed. Without a documented voice guide, every writer interprets the brand differently, resulting in inconsistency that weakens brand recognition. A good voice guide doesn't constrain creativity — it empowers writers to be consistently expressive.
**Task:**
Develop a practical voice and tone guide with concrete examples, not abstract adjectives. The test of a good guide: can a new writer read it and produce on-brand content in their first assignment?
**Input Available:**
- {brand_name}: Brand name
- {brand_personality}: How the brand wants to be perceived (values, character traits)
- {target_audience}: Who the brand speaks to
- {existing_content}: Examples of content that feels like the brand (if available)
- {anti-examples}: Content that does NOT feel like the brand
- {content_channels}: Where the brand publishes content
**Output Format:**
1. Voice summary: 3 voice attributes with a one-sentence definition for each
2. Voice vs. Tone distinction: Voice (consistent) vs. Tone (adapts to context)
3. Voice attribute deep-dives: For each attribute — what it means | what it doesn't mean | example in action
4. Tone spectrum: 3–4 contexts with how tone adapts (social vs. technical doc vs. error message vs. email)
5. Word and phrase guide: Words the brand uses | Words the brand avoids | Brand-specific terms
6. Sentence-level examples: Same idea written on-brand and off-brand side-by-side
7. Writing principles: 5–7 practical rules for content writers
8. Quick reference card: 1-page summary for everyday writer use
**Guardrails & Quality Control:**
- Voice attributes must be specific — 'friendly' and 'professional' are too generic to be useful
- Every abstract claim ('we are empathetic') must be illustrated with a concrete before/after example
- Tone adaptation must be illustrated with real scenario examples, not just descriptions
- The guide should be 8–12 pages maximum — a 40-page guide is not used in practiceHow to use
Run this prompt in four steps
- 1Run a content team training session where each writer applies the guide to a sample piece.
- 2Use the quick reference card in content briefs — attach it to every writing assignment.
- 3Collect 'great examples' from published content to update the guide quarterly.
- 4Review the guide whenever the brand positioning changes — voice must evolve with strategy.
When to use
When to use this prompt
Use when starting a content team, onboarding new writers, or when content inconsistency is causing brand dilution.
Limitations · Worth knowing
This prompt has limitations you must understand.
Voice guides are only effective when leadership models the voice consistently. If executives don't follow the guide in their own communications, writers will not take it seriously.