THE FOUNDATIONS OF A BRANDING GUIDELINE & WHY YOU NEED ONE FOR YOUR BUSINESS
Most people who consume your content are sitting on the toilet at the time of viewing. There, I said it.
But what is it that makes someone stop and consume what you are producing (let’s pretend they are OFF the toilet by now…)?
Yes, good content is powerful. What is more powerful though is if it is a consistent message, style, tone, voice, language or anything else in between. Because if you think about it, when you see a great post, you look to see who posted it.
In today’s world, branding is everything when it comes to creating a successful business. A company’s brand is its identity, and it’s what sets it apart from competitors. People online like to feel like they belong, so build a community and you can’t go wrong. Your branding when done right will attract the right demographic.
Even one step better, if you aim to create a movement with your brand, you are winning! Your fans will sell your product for you….
It’s what also gets your audience returning. If they align with your brand, they will then consume more of what you have to offer. It also builds TRUST.
And TRUST in your brand is the biggest factor in converting leads to a sale….
To create a strong brand that resonates with your audience, it’s essential to have a branding guideline in place for your business or organisation.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss the foundations of a branding guideline and why it’s crucial for your business.
What is a Branding Guideline?
A branding guideline is a set of rules and guidelines that dictate how a company’s brand is presented to the world.
It’s a document that outlines the visual and messaging elements that make up a brand, including the logo, colour palette, typography, tone of voice, and more.
The goal of a branding guideline is to ensure consistency and cohesiveness across all marketing materials, so customers can easily recognise the brand and build a connection with it. Again, the trust factor….
Foundations of a branding guideline –
Brand values –
The first foundation of a branding guideline is brand values. What does your company stand for, and what is the mission? These values will form all aspects of the branding guideline, from the messaging to the visual elements. By clearly defining the brand values, you can create a consistent and cohesive brand identity that resonates with your audience.
Target audience –
The second foundation of a branding guideline is the target audience. Who is your ideal customer, and what are their needs and desires? Understanding your target audience is crucial to creating a brand that resonates with them. The branding guideline should outline the tone of voice, imagery, and messaging that will best connect with the target audience.
Visual identity –
The visual identity is the third foundation of a branding guideline. This includes the logo, color palette, typography, and any other visual elements that make up the brand. The branding guideline should outline the proper usage of these elements to ensure consistency across all marketing materials.
Tone of voice –
The fourth foundation of a branding guideline is the tone of voice. This refers to the style of language used in all messaging, including website copy, social media posts, and advertising. The tone of voice should align with the brand values and target audience, and it should be consistent across all marketing channels
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Why do you need a branding guideline?
Now that we’ve talked about the foundations of a branding guideline, let’s talk about why it’s crucial for your business.
Consistency –
One of the primary reasons you need a branding guideline is for consistency. When all marketing materials follow the same set of guidelines, it creates a consistent brand identity that is easily recognisable to customers. This consistency builds trust and helps customers connect with the brand on a deeper level.
Professionalism –
A branding guideline also ensures professionalism across all marketing materials. When you have a set of rules in place for how your brand is presented, it eliminates any guesswork or inconsistency. This level of professionalism can help establish your business as an authority in the industry.
Efficiency –
Finally, a branding guideline can improve efficiency within your team. When everyone is working from the same set of guidelines, it streamlines the process of creating marketing materials. This can save time and resources, allowing your team to focus on other important tasks.
It is clear to see why a branding guideline is an essential tool for any business looking to create a strong, recognisable brand identity.
By defining brand values, target audience, visual identity, and tone of voice, you can create a consistent and cohesive brand that resonates with your audience. This consistency builds trust, establishes professionalism, and improves efficiency, so if you haven’t yet created a branding guideline for your business, chat to us today about your needs.
Thanks for stopping by! We hope you gained value from this article…
Regards,