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Voice and Tone

This section outlines how we write to express our brand and values — and how we adapt our content for different contexts.

Thumbtack’s voice doesn’t change

We always speak in a way that is relatable, grounded, and natural.

Our voice isWe soundWe don't sound

Relatable

  • Approachable
  • Generous
  • Empathetic
  • Neutral
  • Impersonal
  • Perfect

Grounded

  • Reasonable
  • Realistic
  • Pragmatic
  • Lofty
  • Aspirational
  • Slick

Natural

  • Unaffected
  • Conversational
  • Subtly playful
  • Cutesy
  • Punny or hammy
  • Overly crafted

Thumbtack’s tone changes with context

While we always speak in the same voice, we often adjust our tone so that it’s appropriate to the user’s needs and emotional state.

We consider these factors to decide the right level of tone:

  • Stage of user journey
  • User emotions
  • Space for content

Low tone

Medium tone

High tone

  • Error messages
  • Sensitive info collection (like addresses or SSNs)
  • Pricing changes
  • Unhappy paths (like when no pros are found)
  • Legal content
  • Transactional emails
  • Feature updates and announcements
  • Ghost text
  • Celebratory moments
  • Onboarding
  • Explore page
  • Moments of inspiration