The Power of Voice

In my other life as a social media consultant, I run "primer" sessions that help businesses understand the power of platforms like Twitter, Facebook and blogging for building a business. It doesn't have to cost a lot (as is noted by my friend Julie Cole of Mabel's Labels in this National Post article) to make a huge impact on sales. Social media MADE Clippo. It was through the support of the women on a web board of which I'm a member who catapulted Clippo into stores across Canada. It was Twitter and Facebook that built our fans and friends. But how did this happen when, really, there were a billion other similar companies on the market?

Voice.

Your voice is everything to you and whatever it is you're "selling" to the world: a product, service, or blog, it's all sales. You can have the best product in the world, but if your voice isn't clearly defined (or let's face it, if it's unsavoury), you'll lose in the end. You need to know who you are, and what you stand for in order to communicate this to the world.

Building a brand, be it a company or personal one means knowing who you are, and what your values are. It means standing up for what you believe in, and maintaining your integrity. The voice of Clippo is consistent across all platforms -- here, on Facebook and Twitter, even in person: what you read is what you get. When you meet me in person, I am exactly as I seem to be online. This is my voice, and as a small business I have given my company that voice. If I question something in text or say something in an email, I will happily do the same face-to-face. This is my voice.

Yep, I'm opinionated. 

Yep, I stand firmly in my beliefs. 

Yep, I don't shy away from confrontation when required.

But I am also an honest business owner, and I'm supportive and generous. I'm willing to share with you the life behind the business, and these are all things that have made Clippo what it is today.

And this is why I've been so thankful for all the wonderful emails many of you have sent me during our clearance sale. To know we've touched your lives is incredible to me. To know that you'll stick around because you like what I have to say means more than I can tell you.

Finding your true voice is the key to success, I'm sure of it. People want to buy from a voice they love. Be that voice.