Finding your professional voice for your content is one of the most important things you will do for your business. It’s the one major factor in helping you find your audience as well. Or, really helping your audience find you. Plus, it’s really hard to keep up a fake persona. So why not just figure out who you are, and be the best you that you can be?

What Three Adjectives Most Describe You?

It’s important to learn about yourself so that you can find your professional voice. Write down three adjectives that describe yourself – just three words. Then ask a few friends to write down three words that describe you from their perspective. Study those words and let that be your guide to where your professional voice is.

What Do You Enjoy Reading? Why?

Another way to help you find your voice is to study the types of things you like to read about your topic or niche. Study the words and why you like to read it. What factors about the personality of the writer can you determine by reading the information? What would you like to impart to your readers about your personality through your content?

Write How You Talk

Many people are scared of writing content. They try to write in a way that is unnatural to them, adding words that aren’t necessary and convoluted phrasing that they think will prove that they’re smart. The truth is, writing how you talk is more important because that’s your true voice and one that you can keep doing. You’ll soon tire of an inauthentic voice and you won’t be able to keep it up long term. You want to be in business a long time, so it just makes sense to be yourself.

Understand Who Your Ideal Reader Is

By knowing who your audience is, you’ll be able to deliver regular content that they want to read. You’ll know their fears, wants, desires, and needs and you’ll be able to fulfill them with your content offerings. Knowing your audience won’t change your voice, but it may change what you choose to write about. The audience is there to keep you on track and on topic, but they shouldn’t control your voice. Your voice is yours alone.

Let Your Writing Rest

Try not to write anything at the last minute. If you can, let your writing rest at least a day or two, then go back and read it as if you’re reading someone else’s writing. In this way you will be able to determine if the content is something you would want to read, and something your audience will want to read. Don’t edit at that time, just read it through, then edit for grammar, punctuation, and mistakes.

The most important thing you need to know about finding your professional voice for your content is to be authentic. Don’t try to be anyone else but yourself. There are enough other people in the world, and only one of you. Be the best you that you can be and let everyone else be themselves.