Whenever I’m chatting with a brand owner, one of the first things we discuss is their brand identity.  Having an established identity not only makes it easier for your audience to connect with your brand, but it also differentiates you from your competitors. With so many businesses being created every day, now is the time to ensure your brand sticks in the minds of potential recurring consumers. One essential tool for establishing your identity is having a Brand Style Guide.

So what exactly is a Brand Style Guide?

A Brand Style Guide is a document that outlines the visuals for your brand. It’s usually broken down into:

Your Logo and any associate logos

Your Brand Colors

Your Typeface (or fonts)

Your brand inspiration

Having a style guide also helps properly communicate a consistent message across all channels. When you think of some of your favorite brands usually you remember their logo, brand colors, and the feeling that the brand gives off right? Keeping a consistent visual identity definitely helps in the long run because this builds trust with your audience and makes it easier when collaborating with designers and/or writers who will be creating for your brand.

While it’s great to solidify your style guide when you’re first establishing your brand, it’s still never too late! It’s also especially crucial if you plan on having a brand redesign or if you’re simply looking to have some brand clarity. Let’s quickly break down each aspect:

1.Logo

We all know having a logo is key to every brand but when it comes to your brand style guide, this helps especially with any brand equity. If you have an associate logo (or a variation of the logo you currently have), both should be placed under this section.

2. Brand Colors

Establishing your brand colors correlates directly to brand consistency. While each brand is unique, having at least one to two colors helps with your visual identity. These colors will also play a big role when establishing your website (link text colors, buttons, header/footer section, etc.).

3. Typeface or Text

Whichever fonts you’ve used to create your logo should be included in the style guide. This should also include the weight and any additional variations.

4. Brand Inspiration

It’s great to include inspiration in your style guide as it establishes your brands mood. These elements will also help when creating any designs, packaging, and various brand elements.

Establishing these guidelines for your brand is a crucial step to the overall success of your business. Being able to have your audience immediately resonate with what you communicate is key to building your customer base and who doesn’t want that?

Be sure to kick start your brand with a style guide today!