Tone of Voice
From the seasoned enthusiast to the first-timer, people across the globe come to Simply for enriching, personalized journeys.
To help them do this, it’s important that we connect with audiences on a level they can identify with and understand. Our Tone of Voice is how we bring this to life.
Whenever we speak — whether on our website, a social post, or in-app — our TOV shines through. Both what we say (the content) and how we say it (the tone) ensure our messages land successfully and our audiences feel supported, uplifted, and inspired.
Pillars
Our two pillars (Joyful & Empowering, Supportive & Authentic) are complementary and work together. For our high points, we can dial up our Joyful & Empowering tone. For lows, we can be more Supportive and Authentic.
Principles overview
Use these TOV principles to guide you when writing copy, and you’ll find the Simply voice comes naturally to you.
Creating narrative
Sometimes, we want to write copy beyond a headline. So we concentrate on being Joyful & Empowering in the topline message, and Supportive & Authentic in the subcopy.
Sliding scale
We can easily adjust how we want to sound by referring to our sliding scale. It helps us visualize how our tone changes between ‘Joyful & Empowering’ and ‘Supportive & Authentic’, and tailor our voice according to the audience or channel we’re writing for.
Copy by channel
Here’s how we can apply our Tone of Voice to different channels while maintaining a unified identity. It’s important to remember: keep it short and concise. Don’t use more words than you need to make your point, especially in digital formats where attention spans are short.
Product differentiation
Our Tone of Voice flexes and adapts across our different brand personalities. Whether we’re writing for the family-friendly Simply Piano, the slightly irreverent Simply Guitar or the cool Simply Draw, we still make sure we sound unmistakably Simply.
Personalization & segmentation
We can personalize key app screens to bring joy to our learners and promote belonging in the Simply community.
Dos & don’ts
Here are some basic ground rules to follow to make sure you’re hitting the right notes, time after time.
Language, grammar & punctuation
From notes on capitalization to when to write in the first person, we’ve outlined some key style points you need to follow.
Application
Here are some successful examples of our Tone of Voice in action that demonstrate the undiluted joy of our written communications.
