How can you make your social media voice and tone more inclusive?

1 Assess your current voice and tone

Before you make any changes, you need to understand your current voice and tone, and how they align with your brand identity and goals. You can use tools like voice and tone audits, surveys, feedback, and social media analytics to evaluate your strengths and weaknesses, and identify any gaps or inconsistencies. You should also review your existing guidelines, policies, and best practices, and see if they need to be updated or revised.

2 Define your inclusive voice and tone

Once you have a clear picture of your current voice and tone, you can start to define what you want your inclusive voice and tone to be. You should consider your target audience, their needs, preferences, and expectations, and how you want to communicate with them. You should also think about your brand personality, values, and mission, and how you want to express them. You can use tools like voice and tone charts, personas, and style guides to document your inclusive voice and tone, and share them with your team.

3 Use inclusive language and avoid bias

One of the most important aspects of inclusive voice and tone is the language you use. You should avoid words or phrases that are discriminatory, derogatory, or insensitive to any group of people, and use terms that are respectful, accurate, and appropriate. You should also be aware of your own biases, assumptions, and stereotypes, and how they might affect your language choices. You can use tools like checklists, dictionaries, and editors to help you spot and correct any problematic language.

4 Adapt to different platforms and contexts

Inclusive voice and tone is not a one-size-fits-all solution. You should be able to adapt your voice and tone to different social media platforms, formats, and contexts, depending on your purpose, audience, and message. You should also be aware of the cultural, social, and political nuances of each platform and context, and how they might influence your voice and tone. You can use tools like calendars, templates, and tests to help you plan and optimize your content for different platforms and contexts.

5 Listen to and learn from your audience

Inclusive voice and tone is not a static or fixed concept. It is a dynamic and evolving process that requires constant listening and learning from your audience. You should monitor and measure your social media performance, feedback, and sentiment, and use them to evaluate and improve your voice and tone. You should also engage with your audience, ask for their opinions, suggestions, and experiences, and show them that you value and respect their voices.

6 Be authentic and accountable

Finally, inclusive voice and tone is not just about what you say, but how you say it. You should be authentic and consistent with your voice and tone, and avoid being fake, contradictory, or opportunistic. You should also be accountable and transparent with your voice and tone, and admit and apologize for any mistakes, errors, or offenses. You should also take action to correct and prevent any harm or damage caused by your voice and tone.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?