Benefits of a Brand Style Guide
If you're launching a new business or refreshing your existing company, you should have a style guide in your marketing strategy. A brand style guide tells your entire team what your company's design standards are and helps writers, designers, and developers when they create content or marketing materials for you. It also helps you communicate your style and message with vendors, partners, and investors. A brand guide is key to communicating with your target audience, especially when launching a new brand or rebranding.
What is a Style Guide?
If you're running a business, it is important to know that a style guide is the visual DNA of your company. So, when you're starting out or going through a redesign process, make sure you create a new one.
A consistent style guide used across your marketing channels can boost brand recognition. Research shows that customers often see brands as a reflection of the company behind them, which can affect their buying decisions.
We humans are creatures of habit, so we usually buy from brands that we know and recognize. By keeping your branding consistent, you can meet your customers' expectations and deliver successful services. Trust me; it's worth taking a deeper dive into style guides!
Visual Style Guides
A visual style guide sets the standard for how a brand should look on all of its materials. This includes things like the logo, colors, and fonts, and even how things should be arranged on a page.
Having a style guide helps to keep everything looking consistent across all marketing efforts, which is important for building brand recognition. If each person working with you creates graphics however they want, it can lead to a confusing mess!
So, having a visual style guide means that everyone is on the same page and things look professional and cohesive across the company's website, blog, and social media pages.
Editorial Style Guides
In a nutshell, an editorial style guide outlines specific rules on how a company should sound. It could be in the first or second person and active or passive. This guide also has a list of banned words and regional dialects that you should use.
The style guide also covers abbreviations, spelling, and punctuation to ensure everyone is on the same page. Some companies go with a popular guide like the Chicago Manual of Style, while others develop their own standards.
Your brand has a voice that personifies it as a real person. Your online and digital marketing campaigns showcase your brand, so make sure you use a tone that aligns with your other content marketing efforts.
Benefits of a Brand Style Guide
When it comes to creating a brand image that looks and sounds consistent, a comprehensive style guide is essential. This guide helps unify your brand's editorial and visual aspects, which is crucial for maintaining a cohesive brand experience across all platforms.
Consistency is key when it comes to creating a brand identity that people recognize and remember. With a well-designed style guide, your brand's future customers will be able to easily identify your company and what it stands for.
Your style guide can cover everything from PowerPoint templates to writing samples to photography compositions. The length and level of detail in your guide will depend on your brand's unique needs. But regardless of its specifics, having a comprehensive style guide is a crucial step in building a recognizable and memorable brand.
A Great Tool in Your Marketing Toolbox
A brand style guide is like a cheat sheet for your content creators, so they can convey the same message to your audience every time. It's like a catalog of all the important things that make up your brand's visual identity, like what colors and textures to use and even your mission statement.
Having a style guide is like having a rulebook for your brand's look and feel. It ensures that your company sends the same message, no matter who's doing the sending. Plus, it shows your customers that you're legit and trustworthy.
So, don't skip out on creating a solid style guide.. Without it, your brand might end up looking all over the place and confuse your customers.
Interested in exploring style guides? Contact us to learn more.
With over 20 years in the field, Cori Z. Vallone has a deep understanding of visual communication, branding strategies, and marketing trends.
