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Brand voice guide derived from existing content
I want a brand voice guide, but built FROM my actual existing content, not invented from scratch. Below are samples of content I consider on-brand.
On-brand samples:
on_brand_samples
(Optional) samples I consider off-brand or a bad fit, and why: off_brand_samples_with_reason
Do this:
1. Extract the actual patterns from the on-brand samples: sentence length tendencies, formality level, how we talk about competitors or problems, whether we use humor and what kind, how we handle uncertainty or bad news.
2. If off-brand samples are given, name specifically what makes them off-brand (not just 'wrong tone' but the actual mechanism, too formal, too jokey, too hedgy).
3. Write the guide as: 3-5 voice principles (each with a 'do this / not this' example pulled from or modeled on the real samples), not abstract adjectives like 'friendly, bold, authentic' with no operational meaning.
4. Include a section on words/phrases we actually use often (mine them from the samples) and words we should avoid (generic marketing-speak that doesn't appear in any on-brand sample).
5. Add one tricky test case (how would we write a delay/bad-news announcement, or a competitor comparison) in this voice, so the guide is provably usable, not just descriptive.