Most people who view your content are most likely sitting on the toilet when viewing. There, I said it.
But what is it that makes someone stop?
What are you producing (let’s pretend they are OFF the toilet by now…)?
Yes, good content is powerful. But what is more powerful? If it is a consistent message, style, tone, voice, language, or everything else. 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 to create a successful business. A company’s brand is its identity, which differentiates it 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, you win if you aim to create a movement with your brand! Your fans will sell your product for you….
It’s what also gets your audience returning. If your audience identifies with your brand, they will consume more of what you offer. It also builds TRUST.
And TRUST in your brand is the most significant factor in converting leads to a sale….
Creating a strong brand that resonates with your brand, it is essential to have a branding guideline in place for your business or organisation.
In this blog post, I’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 and showcased 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.
A branding guideline aims 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 its 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. It includes the logo, colour palette, typography, and other brand visual elements. The branding guideline should outline the proper usage of these elements to ensure consistency across all marketing materials.
The tone of voice –
The fourth foundation of a branding guideline is the tone of voice. It refers to the language style 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 be consistent across all marketing channels.
Why do you need a branding guideline?
Now that we’ve discussed 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 guidelines, it creates a consistent brand identity that is easily recognisable to customers. This consistency builds trust and helps customers connect with the brand deeper.
Professionalism –
A branding guideline also ensures professionalism across all marketing materials. Having a set of rules in place for how your brand is presented 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 works 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 essential tasks.
It is clear why a branding guideline is an essential tool for any business looking to create a robust and 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 still need to create a branding guideline for your business, feel free to contact us about your needs.
Thanks for stopping by! We hope you gained value from this article.
Warm Regards,
Jason
I started my career in hospitality working all aspects of a restaurant from back of house cook to front of house server, bar and management. The last 15 years of my career have truly been a journey of discovery. I have worked for some of the major telecommunication brands in Australia as Sales both in store and B2B, Manager, Trainer and Marketing. I have worked in the Job Services industry which in my role I was exposed to many different businesses and curious as to how they operated. I also returned to Telco only to discover I had a passion for wanting to do my own thing. I am a keen learner and Social Media was not only fun but the biggest change to marketing since television.
My first experience of sales and marketing was when I was 18 and I interviewed for a job with an electrical/telecommunications retailer who tossed a blue BIC pen on the desk between us and said “Sell me this pen” my natural instinct was to start talking, and to anyone who has known me for a very long time, I didn’t stop for a number of years.
Karen Denny is a real powerhouse who is both driven to succeed with a clear understanding of how to get there! Karen comes from a diverse background with a plethora of qualifications behind her.