Why Brand Guides Matter
When we start working with a client, having a set of brand guidelines makes all the difference. Whether we’re designing assets in Canva or Adobe, creating document templates, designing social media posts or slide decks, brand guidelines help us produce your outcomes faster which saves you money.
Think of where you use your brand:
- Email Signatures
- Documents
- Posts
- Website
- Profiles
- Lead Magnets
- Landing Pages
- Online Courses
- Business Cards
- Newsletters
- Contracts
the list is infinite!
Your brand guidelines act as a valuable resource, enhancing brand perception, fostering consistency, and supporting scale and growth.
Example of a Mini Brand Guide
Example of a Full Brand Guide
Lisa's Tips
When starting out with a new client or even doing a one-off project, the first thing I ask for is the brand guide. This gives me all the information I need to start putting ideas together, knowing that I am using the correct logos, colours and fonts.
If the client does not have one, we can throw a mini guide together before we start the project. It doesn’t take long and it’s a great way to quickly get to know the brand, as it involves a little research and checking of consistency etc. Sometimes I come across a blurry or stretched logo while doing my audit, and I can get that rectified, which gives the client the confidence that I care about their brand and how it is presented.
A one page guide is especially useful when new people are joining the client or VA team. Think of it as a quick creative handover. It is also handy for providing to other parties such as web designers, branded merchandise, printers or sign writers, to ensure consistency across the brand.
TIP 💡
If you are considering getting a brand guide, to save time, gather all your documents with the logo on them, the logo files, any other information (an old brand guide, even a word doc with the colours on it) and URLs for all websites and social media sites so we can go through and check that it’s all looking like one big happy family (my way of saying consistent branding!)
TIP 💡
If you get a logo designed, or your existing logo redesigned/refreshed, be sure to request all final and raw artwork files. I’m surprised how many clients don’t have those on file, are no longer in touch with the original designer and are simply not able to get hold of the files for various reasons. The client owns the files if they have to get the designs done and these should be handed over to the client at the end of the design project.
QUESTION ❓
Do you have a favicon? This is a small icon representing your brand that you see next to anything that identifies your website – includes bookmarks, tabs, toolbar apps, history results, and search bars. As part of a brand guide we can create one for you.
Your Turn
If you don’t have a brand guide already, there’s no time like the present. Investing in this asset is an investment that will save you money in the future … not to mention saving you both time and frustration!
Lisa is our guru when it comes to creating these guides. As one of our graphic designers, she knows the value in having them available. She knows the time they save.
