Have you ever tried to create a marketing piece for your business and forgot the name of that font you really like? Have you ever worked with a graphic designer who needed a high res version of your logo and you had to spend hours trying to hunt it down?

What is a Style Guide?

A Brand Style Guide can solve those problems and more. A Brand Style Guide is a collection of elements that make up your brand and style. It provides details on your messaging, and how your image should be shared both visually as well as in text format applications. It also provides your logo along with how and where it should be used. Your Brand Style Guide is a useful resource for anyone who is writing copy for you, managing your social media content, or creating graphics for you. It saves you time, and it clearly defines how your brand should look and feel on any piece of content.

Why do I need a Style Guide?

A Brand Style Guide gets your staff and freelancers on the same marketing page with you without you having to say a word. If you're working with a graphic designer and you need a flyer done, send them a copy of your brand style guide and with the exception of special considerations, ideally they shouldn't bother you about font choices, color choices, or anything involving your brands' look and feel.

A Brand Style Guide is a visually appealing way to keep track of all of your branding elements in one place. It's a huge time saver and will keep help streamline your marketing efforts so that everyone you work with is on one accord. 

What is included in a Style Guide?

A style guide includes your logo along with its various versions. A logo can encompass many different variations including a black and white version, a version on a color background, or a horizontal version. Your Style Guide should include any other approved versions of your logo. 

It also should include font selections that your brand uses for text and written copy. These font selections should encompass headings, sub-headings, and body text. You could also share approved font sizes if necessary. 

Color palettes are also a big part of your brand and style and should be included in your Style Guide. Each color you prefer to use for your business should be shown along with the corresponding HEX Code number.  You can also share how or where color combinations should be used. For example, you might consider using a secondary color palette when you're trying to showcase a product as opposed to a primary color palette that you would use on flyers. There might be massive differences in color choices depending on what you're doing. Your Style Guide should account for that. 

Another thing you could include in your Style Guide is a list of guidelines on what not to do. If you like to use certain types of images to communicate a message, you could say that in your Style Guide. For example, if your brand revolves around strong families, then you would include that as a guideline in selecting stock images for marketing pieces. If you have specific requirements regarding imagery not to use, that can also be included in your Style Guide.

Lastly, you'll want to include a phone number and a contact in case there are any questions regarding the use of your brand. 

Your Style Guide is a visual representation of everything that is your brand. From color palette, look and feel, to your logo, your Style Guide informs everyone involved in bringing your vision to life how to apply your branding to any and everything. If you need help creating your Style Guide, click here.