{"id":15239,"date":"2023-09-28T05:14:00","date_gmt":"2023-09-28T12:14:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/showit.com\/?p=15239"},"modified":"2024-03-18T11:40:24","modified_gmt":"2024-03-18T18:40:24","slug":"why-how-to-create-a-brand-style-guide","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/showit.com\/business-growth\/why-how-to-create-a-brand-style-guide\/","title":{"rendered":"Why & How to Create a Brand Style Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Ah, branding \u2014 it\u2019s so important for your business\u2019s image. When your business is easily recognizable to your target audience and the public at large, it\u2019s easy to establish the \u201cknow, like, and trust<\/em>\u201d factor you need to cultivate a loyal customer base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re going to achieve this level of consistency, you need to start by laying some guidelines. That\u2019s why so many businesses create a brand style guide<\/a><\/strong>: an outline dictating everything from your color palette to what kind of language you use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Male<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Whether you're a successful businessperson, a creative entrepreneur, a seasoned marketer, or simply someone who appreciates the power of a cohesive visual identity, you\u2019ll want to take note: Building a memorable brand isn't just about having a snappy tagline. It\u2019s about figuring out a personality for your business and portraying that consistently to your audience.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is a Brand Style Guide?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At its core, a brand guide is a comprehensive document outlining the visual and creative elements<\/strong> that make up a brand's identity. It's a set of guidelines that ensures every piece of content created by your brand is consistent with your core values, personality, and aesthetic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This will typically include details such as your color palette, typography, imagery, logo usage guidelines, and overall tone of voice. By defining these elements, your style guide ensures everyone who creates content for your brand, whether an in-house team or external partners, understands how to represent your brand consistently and effectively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A well-crafted brand guide can benefit you in several ways. It creates a unified and recognizable visual identity, helping you stand out in a crowded market. It also promotes a sense of professionalism and attention to detail, which fosters trust and loyalty among customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Brand<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Elements of a Brand Style Guide<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

No two brand style guides are going to look alike. For some brands, their biggest priority might be the visuals<\/strong>. They are particular about not only their color palette and logo but also specific photos and graphics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For another brand, it might be all about the language<\/strong>. They have specific words and phrases they use all the time. They also might have words and phrases they definitely avoid<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, if you\u2019re starting to create a style guide for your business, here are some elements you should consider including.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Brand Strategy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Brand strategy is a long-term plan for your business. Developing your brand strategy often requires you to consider your positioning<\/em>, or how you want your brand to be perceived by people. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If it helps, you can think of your brand strategy as the story of your business, which covers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7  Mission:<\/strong> Why did you launch your business? What need(s) you fill?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7  Vision:<\/strong> What do you ultimately see your business becoming? How do you hope to develop and grow?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7  Core Values:<\/strong> What is important to your business beyond your product and profit? What values do you align with that will resonate with customers?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7  Target Audience:<\/strong> When you picture somebody buying your product, what do they look like? What are their personality and lifestyle? What kind of community are they part of? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

[Pro tip: Adobe<\/a> recommends coming up with nicknames for your perceived audience members so you can keep their distinct personalities (and wants and fears) at the forefront of your mind while you\u2019re developing your brand.]<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Messaging<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To communicate all of this with your audience, you need to perfect your voice<\/em>\u2014the words and phrases you use. In other words, if your brand were a person, how would they talk? <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can develop your brand voice by considering:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7  Tone:<\/strong> This is the emotional inflection or attitude you use in your messaging. Are you casual and friendly? Or more straight-edge and no-nonsense?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00b7  Personality:<\/strong> How would you categorize the character of your business? Are you a joker? Maybe a wise mentor? A fun-loving flirt? <\/p>\n\n\n\t

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