When you read your business writing, whose voice do you hear?

• Your boss’?
• Your mentor’s?
• Your mother’s? (just making sure you’re paying attention)

If you don’t hear your voice in your business writing, you need to re-think your strategy.

Finding Your Voice

Whether you do your own business writing or have someone do it for you, it’s your business.

Your business writing should be –

• Your ideas
• Your passion
• Your voice

Sounds simple, right?

For some people, it is. For others, it’s a struggle. After all, isn’t that why you hire a professional business writer?

Trust me, I am all for hiring a professional writer. But, business communication that does not reflect you is bound to fail.

So, how do you find your voice?

Voice Exercises

I have several notepads on my desk. My favorite is one with my name and a lighthouse overlooking the ocean.

It reflects who I am.

• I seek the calm and beauty of simplicity
• I hope to light the way for others seeking the same

Corny? Perhaps. I guess that’s why I’m a writer.

If you struggle to identify your passion, take one of those notepads on your desk.

Try these exercises and jot down your responses.

• Don’t edit yourself
• Write the first thing that comes to mind

#1 – Why did you start your business?

• What made you pick your business and not something else?
• What did you hope to achieve?
• What excited you the most when you got started?

If you had no concerns about money, would you still do what you’re doing? If you feel you lost your way, your business writing may reflect that.

See if you can recapture the enthusiasm from the launch of your new business. If that campfire is beyond igniting, you have much bigger issues than your business writing.

#2 – What is your favorite product/service?

• What do you like about it?
• What makes it unique?

Ask these same questions of each product/service you deliver.

This is one time it’s okay to focus on what you like, instead of your customer. If you are not excited about what you’re selling, how can you expect your customer to get excited?

#3 – Would you make a good interview subject?

Imagine you are interviewing yourself.

• Create a list of questions you’d ask someone about their business
• Answer those questions for your business
• Share your favorite business stories
• Answer as though it were television or a featured article

The Write Feel

Review your notes and highlight the ideas/phrases that leap out at you – the ones that ring true.

That’s your voice.

No matter if it’s your writing or a business writer’s, make sure your business communication sounds like that voice.

I do quite a bit of ghostwriting. Let me share a story that illustrates this point.

Recently, a client called to say the analogy I selected to tell her story just wasn’t her.

At first, I was shocked.

We have a great relationship and I feel I know her style very well. I have been writing bi-monthly articles for her the last three years.

Then I remembered the cardinal rule about ghostwriting –

It’s the client’s voice – not the ghostwriter’s

If phrasing, a story or an analogy does not sound like something you’d say, get rid of it.

Be true to your voice.

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Idea #2 Note Pad

In a recent post, 10 business blog ideas were sitting right in front of my face. I looked at 10 items sitting on my desk and used them for blog post ideas.

To demonstrate that I practice what I preach I decided to do a 10-part series, using each one of the 10 main ideas. This post is #2 in the 10-part series.

The 2nd item from my desk was a note pad. I have several, but I hope you enjoyed this post inspired by this particular note pad.

What tips do you have to ensure it’s your voice in your business writing?

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Helping you Keep it simple, clear & uniquely yours – contact me for help with your business writing needs.

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