Brand Guidelines: 4 Reasons You Need Them
Have you ever had someone tell a story about you that isn’t true, or where you felt they misrepresented who you really are? Not a good feeling, right? While it can be frustrating on a personal level, the impact can be detrimental on a company level. As an organization, it’s imperative to clearly articulate who you are, what you stand for and what that looks like. Don’t worry; we’re here to break it down and make that easy for you. Enter, brand guidelines.
Brand guidelines are a visual guide of your brand, usually listed on a page on your website or printable PDF. They communicate your brand standard guidelines and how you want to be represented. A few key elements of brand guidelines include:
• Logo (all iterations)
• Brand colors
• Fonts
• Tone of voice guidelines
• Approved brand images
• Mission statement
• Tagline
Let’s take a closer look at why brand guidelines can be great for your company, and we’ll also include a template so you can get started on creating your own guidelines.
They set the rules for your brand
Brand guidelines set the tone that you’re serious about your company and how it’s represented. They ensure that, when your logo is included in something like a media release or a brochure, it is listed correctly and in the right colors.
They ensure brand consistency
Employees and outsiders alike need guidelines when it comes to representing your brand. Brand guidelines help to ensure your marketing team is utilizing the right colors, logos, and fonts when creating new promotional materials.
They help create a strong brand identity
When your logo and marketing materials have a consistent look, it helps build your brand. Brand guidelines provide an easy way to check to ensure everything has a cohesive look.
They help communicate your purpose and values to your team and the outside world
Most importantly, your brand guidelines ensure that the brand’s story and messaging are in alignment with who your company truly is at its core. Brand guidelines are a perfect place to reiterate your mission statement and taglines.
Brand Guideline Examples
Before you get started on designing your own brand guidelines, let’s take a look at some companies who do this really well.
Foursquare
Foursquare’s brand guidelines utilize a simple layout that is easy to follow. Sometimes less is more.
Click here to view Foursquare’s brand guidelines.
Animal Planet
Animal Planet incorporates photographs in their brand guidelines and explains their color choices in detail. Animal Planet’s color palette stems from the wide range of colors in the animal kingdom. When someone is following your brand guidelines, it helps to give them an understanding of why certain choices were made, as Animal Planet does in their guide.
Click here to view Animal Planet’s brand guidelines.
Black Watch Global
Black Watch Global utilizes a creative layout to express their brand guidelines and has the pages set up to look like a 3D representation. Brand guidelines can be as simple or as creative as you want them to be, depending on the overall look you want to have to match your brand.
Click here to view Black Watch Global’s brand guidelines.
Your Free Brand Guideline Template
Interested in trying your hand at creating your own brand guidelines? Click here to download a free template to get started. Rather not create it on your own? We have a great graphics team who would be happy to help. Contact us to help with your creative needs today.
