When it comes to creating a cohesive and kick-ass brand, one of the most important things you can do is create a brand book. A brand book is a set of guidelines that outline the main elements of your companys brand identity, including your logo, color palette, font style, and brand voice. It helps to identify and define your companys personality, values, and vision, and ensures that these elements are consistently portrayed across every touchpoint with your audience.
Here are 5 easy steps to create a brand book that will help you achieve your branding goals:
- 1. Identify Your Brand Guidelines:
- 2. Create a Visual Style Guide:
- 3. Define Your Brand Voice:
- 4. Show Your Brand in Action:
- 5. Give Your Team the Tools They Need:
- Easy onboarding and a quick start
- Cohesive Brand Guidelines
- 1 Optus
- 2 LinkedIn
- 3 JEGS
- 4 Asana
- 5 Santa
- Goals of a brand book
- How To Create A Brand Book
- Things To Do Before Creating A Brand Book
- – Mission And Vision
- – Identify Your Target Audience
- – Create Your Brand Personality
- 5 Important Elements of a Kick-Ass Brand Book
- 1 Logo
- 2 Color palette
- 3 Font Guidelines
- 4 Images
- 5 Brand Voice
- Sources
1. Identify Your Brand Guidelines:
The first step in creating a brand book is to identify the main elements of your companys brand identity. This includes your logo, color palette, font style, and brand voice. Think about your companys values, mission, and vision, and consider how you want to be perceived by your target audience. List down these elements and decide on the guidelines that should be followed when using them.
2. Create a Visual Style Guide:
A visual style guide is a collection of visual assets that represent your brand identity, such as logo variations, color codes, and font styles. It helps to ensure that your brand visuals are consistent across all platforms and communication channels. Include examples and guidelines on how to use these visual assets, such as the correct placement of the logo and the appropriate use of colors and fonts.
3. Define Your Brand Voice:
Your brand voice is the tone and style of your companys communication. It reflects your companys personality and helps to establish a connection with your audience. Define the tone and style that aligns with your brand identity and values. List down examples of the language, vocabulary, and messaging that should be used when communicating with your target audience.
4. Show Your Brand in Action:
To help your team and clients understand how to apply your brand guidelines, provide examples of how your brand should be portrayed in different contexts. Show examples of your brand identity in action, such as on your website, social media profiles, and marketing materials. This will give them a clear idea of how to create content that aligns with your brand identity.
5. Give Your Team the Tools They Need:
Creating a brand book is not enough if your team doesnt have the tools they need to implement it. Provide them with templates, design assets, and resources that they can use to create branded content. This will ensure that your brand identity is consistently portrayed across all touchpoints with your audience, and will help to build brand recognition and loyalty.
Remember, creating a brand book is a continuous process. As your brand evolves and grows, you may need to update and refine your brand guidelines to stay relevant. Regularly review your brand book and make adjustments as needed to keep your brand on track and in line with your companys goals and values.
Easy onboarding and a quick start
When it comes to creating a brand book, the first thing you need to do is identify your brand’s mission, vision, and values. These three elements will help you define your brand’s personality and voice.
Before you can create a brand book, you need to know who your target audience is. This will help you tailor your branding elements and guidelines to best resonate with your customers. It’s important to have a clear understanding of who you are trying to reach and what motivates them.
Once you have identified your target audience, you can start creating your brand book. This document should include all the necessary guidelines and elements that will be used across your company’s branding efforts.
One of the main elements of your brand book is your logo. Your logo is the visual representation of your brand and should be placed across all your company’s assets, from your website to your social media profiles.
Another important thing to consider when creating your brand book is color. Colors can evoke certain emotions and have an impact on how your brand is perceived. Choose colors that align with your brand’s personality and values.
In addition to your logo and color palette, your brand book should also include guidelines for your brand’s voice and tone. This will help ensure that all communications, whether written or verbal, come across as cohesive and in line with your brand’s personality.
To help illustrate these guidelines, it can be useful to provide examples of how your brand should look and sound. You can use images, such as images from your website or kick-ass examples from brands like LinkedIn, Asana, Optus, or JEGS, to show the desired style and personality.
Easy onboarding is also crucial when it comes to creating a brand book. You want to provide your clients and employees with a quick start guide that outlines the main goals and objectives of your brand. This will help them understand the brand’s purpose and how they can contribute to its success.
A brand book is a valuable tool that can help you create a strong and cohesive brand identity. By following the guidelines and elements in your brand book, you can ensure that your brand is consistently represented across all channels.
Cohesive Brand Guidelines
When creating a brand book, there are 5 main guidelines that every brand needs to follow in order to create a cohesive and strong brand identity.
1. Define your brand personality:
Before you start creating your brand book, you need to decide on the personality of your brand. What are the main goals and mission of your company? What motivates you and your team? Define your brand’s vision and mission so that you have a clear sense of direction when creating your brand guidelines.
2. Know your audience:
In order to create a successful brand, you need to know who your target audience is. Identify who your customers are and what they want. This will help you create branding elements that will resonate with them and attract them to your brand.
3. Have a consistent visual style:
Consistency is key when it comes to branding. Decide on a color palette, font, and logo that will be used across all your brand materials. Make sure to create images and examples to show how these elements should be used.
4. Give your brand a voice:
Every brand needs to have a unique voice that will resonate with its audience. Decide on the tone and style of language you want to use to communicate with your customers. This voice should be reflected in all your brand materials, from website copy to social media posts.
5. Show, don’t tell:
One of the main goals of a brand book is to show your clients, employees, and partners how your brand should be represented. Instead of simply listing your branding guidelines, provide visual examples and before-and-after images to help them understand the look and feel you want to achieve.
By following these guidelines, you can create a kick-ass brand book that will help you create a cohesive and strong brand identity across all your marketing channels. And remember, creating a brand book is not a one-time thing – it’s an ongoing process that needs to evolve as your brand grows and changes.
1 Optus
Optus is a telecommunications company based in Australia. They have a strong brand image and their branding elements are easily identifiable. The main thing that sets Optus apart is their brilliant logo, which motivates their audience and creates a strong association with their brand. The logo is placed across their website, social media, and other marketing materials.
When creating a brand book for Optus, it’s important to know their main branding elements. This includes their color palette, font, and voice. Optus has a vibrant color palette that reflects their energetic personality, with red being the main color. Their font is clean and modern, giving a professional and trustworthy vibe. Their voice is friendly and approachable, making it easy for customers to connect with them.
Optus has three main goals that they want to achieve with their brand: to create a cohesive image for their company, to identify their target audience, and to show their values and mission. To achieve these goals, they have created a set of guidelines that provide a quick and easy reference for their team and clients. These guidelines include examples of how to use the logo and imagery, as well as how to incorporate the brand’s voice and style into their work.
Before creating a brand book, it’s important to have a clear vision and mission for the brand. Optus’s vision is to be the lead provider of innovative telecommunications solutions, while their mission is to make their customers’ lives easier and more connected. These values should be reflected in every aspect of the brand, from the imagery used to the tone of voice.
Creating a brand book is a kick-ass way to kick start your branding efforts. It helps you to identify and define your brand’s personality, as well as set clear guidelines for how you want your brand to be perceived. By following a brand book, you can ensure that every aspect of your brand – from your logo to your website to your onboarding process – is consistent and cohesive.
So, if you want to create a brand book, start by listing out the main elements of your brand, such as your logo, color palette, and font. Then, define your brand’s personality, voice, and values. Finally, create guidelines that will help you and your team to stay on track and create a cohesive brand that resonates with your target audience.
2 LinkedIn
LinkedIn is a powerful platform that can help you reach your branding goals. It provides a great opportunity to showcase your company’s brand identity to a professional audience. Here are some guidelines on how to effectively use LinkedIn for your branding:
- Create a cohesive brand image: Start by identifying your company’s mission, vision, and values. This will help you decide on the main elements of your brand, such as your logo, color palette, and font. Make sure to use these consistently across all of your LinkedIn assets.
- Showcase your work: LinkedIn allows you to share examples of your company’s work. This is a great way to give potential clients and customers an idea of what you can do. Share images, videos, or links to projects that best represent your brand.
- Identify your target audience: Before you start creating content for LinkedIn, it’s important to know who you’re targeting. Understand the demographics, preferences, and needs of your audience, and tailor your content accordingly.
- Define your brand voice: Your brand’s voice should be consistent across all platforms, including LinkedIn. Decide on the tone and style that best reflect your company’s personality and values, and use it consistently in your posts and interactions.
- Engage with your audience: LinkedIn is a social networking platform, so it’s important to be social! Respond to comments, join relevant groups, and participate in discussions. Engaging with your audience will help you build relationships and establish your brand as an industry leader.
LinkedIn can be a quick and easy way to kick-start your branding efforts. Make sure to follow these guidelines and use the platform effectively to reach your branding goals.
3 JEGS
JEGS is a company that specializes in providing high-quality automotive parts and accessories to car enthusiasts. Their logo is a brilliant red color, which is a reflection of their vibrant and dynamic personality. Before creating your brand book, it is important to identify your company’s goals, values, and mission statement. This will help you create a cohesive and consistent brand image that resonates with your target audience.
When creating your brand book, there are several key elements to consider. First, you need to decide on your company’s color palette. Colors have the power to evoke emotions and associations in people, so choose them wisely. For example, a car-related brand like JEGS might choose colors like red, black, and silver to associate with speed and power.
The second thing to consider is your brand’s voice and style. How do you want to communicate with your customers? Do you want to be formal and professional or casual and friendly? Your brand’s voice should be consistent across all touchpoints, from your website and social media presence to your emails and customer interactions.
Next, you need to identify your target audience. Who are your ideal customers? What are their wants, needs, and motivations? Understanding your audience will help guide your branding decisions and ensure that your message resonates with the right people. For example, JEGS’ target audience might be car enthusiasts who are looking for high-performance parts to enhance their vehicles.
Now that you know what you want your brand to represent and who your audience is, it’s time to start creating the visual elements of your brand book. This includes your logo, font choices, and imagery. For JEGS, their logo might incorporate images of cars or car parts to visually associate their brand with the automotive industry.
JEGS’ brand book might also include guidelines for how their logo should be placed on different materials, such as their website or promotional materials. This ensures that their logo always looks consistent and professional, no matter where it is used.
Finally, don’t forget to show off your brand’s personality! Use your brand book to showcase your company’s values, vision, and mission. This will help create an emotional connection with your audience and differentiate your brand from competitors. For example, JEGS might highlight their passion for cars and commitment to providing top-quality products and excellent customer service.
In conclusion, creating a brand book for your company is an essential step in developing a strong and cohesive brand identity. It helps you define your company’s goals, values, and mission, and provides guidelines for how to visually and verbally represent your brand. Whether you’re a start-up or an established company, investing time and effort into creating a brand book will pay off in the long run by helping you build a loyal customer base and stand out in a crowded market.
4 Asana
Asana is a popular project management tool that can be a great asset when creating a brand book. Here are 4 ways Asana can help you create a kick-ass brand book:
1. Style Guide Create a style guide in Asana to establish the visual elements of your brand. Define your brand colors, font choices, logo placement guidelines, and image usage guidelines. This will ensure consistency across all brand materials and give your brand a cohesive look. | 2. Mission and Values Use Asana to clearly define your company’s mission and core values. This will help you and your team stay aligned with the main goals and vision of your brand. |
3. Audience and Target Customers Asana can help you identify and understand your target audience and customers. Use it to create buyer personas, track customer insights, and analyze demographic data. This information will help you tailor your brand message and marketing efforts to attract the right customers. | 4. Brand Personality Define your brand’s personality in Asana. Decide on the voice and tone that you want to use in all your brand communication. This will ensure consistency in how you engage with your audience and how your brand is perceived. |
Using Asana’s capabilities, you can easily create a brand book that incorporates all the necessary elements to create a strong brand identity. Whether it’s creating guidelines for your brand’s visual identity, defining your mission and values, understanding your target audience, or establishing your brand personality, Asana can help you every step of the way.
5 Santa
In the world of branding, the kick-ass brand book is a must-have. It’s an easy and quick way to create a cohesive and consistent image for your company across all platforms and channels. But before you dive into creating your brand book, there are 5 Santa-like things you need to know:
- Identify your audience: To create a brilliant brand book, you need to know who your target audience is. This will help you decide on the style, tone of voice, and visual elements that resonates with them.
- Define your mission and values: The main goal of your brand book is to showcase your company’s mission and values. These elements should be placed front and center so that your customers and clients can easily associate them with your brand.
- Work on your brand personality: Every brand has a personality that motivates and attracts customers. Give your brand a personality by defining its values, tone of voice, and how you want it to be perceived.
- Create a color palette: Color is an important element in branding. Decide on a palette of 4 to 5 colors that will be used consistently across all brand materials.
- Show, don’t tell: When it comes to creating your brand book, visual examples are key. Use images and real-life examples to give your guidelines a visual representation and help your team understand how to apply them in practice.
By following these 5 Santa-like steps, you’ll be well on your way to creating a kick-ass brand book that will help your company stand out and leave a lasting impression on your target audience.
Goals of a brand book
Creating a brand book is an important step in the branding process. This cohesive document helps companies define their brand’s vision, mission, values, and personality. It provides guidelines and examples for how the brand should be represented across all platforms and touchpoints, ensuring a consistent brand image.
The main goals of a brand book can be summarized into 5 key elements:
- Identify the brand’s target audience – It’s important to know who your customers are and what motivates them. By understanding your audience, you can tailor your brand message to resonate with them and create a strong brand association.
- Define the brand’s voice and tone – Your brand’s voice and tone should be consistent across all communications. The brand book helps to establish the right style, font, and language that should be used to communicate the brand’s personality and values.
- Create a visual identity – A brand’s visual identity is made up of its logo, color palette, and imagery. These elements should be carefully chosen and placed consistently throughout all brand materials, including the website, social media, and marketing collateral.
- Give guidelines for creating brand imagery – Visual elements like images and videos play a crucial role in brand communication. The brand book should provide guidelines on the types of images that should be used, where they can be sourced from, and how they should be used to represent the brand.
- Help onboarding new employees or clients – A brand book is a useful tool for onboarding new employees or clients. It provides a quick reference guide that helps them understand the brand’s values, guidelines, and examples of how the brand should be represented.
By creating a brand book, companies can ensure that their brand is represented consistently and effectively. It serves as a kick-ass tool for guiding all brand-related decisions and helps to maintain a strong brand presence in the market.
How To Create A Brand Book
1. Start with your brand vision and mission
Before you can create a brand book, you need to have a clear understanding of your brand’s vision and mission. What are your goals and what motivates your company? Take some time to define these core elements of your brand.
2. Know your target audience
To create a strong brand, you need to know who your target audience is. Consider the demographics, behaviors, and preferences of your customers. This knowledge will help you tailor your brand to resonate with your audience.
3. Decide on your brand personality
Your brand personality is how you want your brand to be perceived by your audience. Do you want to be seen as professional and serious, or fun and energetic? Think about the characteristics and tone of voice that align with your brand’s values and mission.
4. Collect examples from across your companys
To create a cohesive brand, it’s important to collect examples of your brand elements from all areas of your company. Look at websites, onboarding materials, social media posts, and any other places where your brand is represented. This will give you a complete picture of your brand.
5. Create a brand style guide
A brand style guide is an essential part of a brand book. It includes guidelines for logo usage, font choices, color palette, and more. This guide will help ensure consistency in your brand’s visual identity.
6. List the elements of your brand
In your brand book, create a list of all the elements that make up your brand, such as logo variations, color codes, fonts, and imagery. This will serve as a reference for anyone working with your brand.
7. Show how to use your brand elements
In addition to listing your brand elements, show examples of how they should be used. Include mock-ups, templates, and guidelines for things like advertisements, social media posts, and website design.
8. Give your brand a kick-ass image
When designing your brand book, make sure to use high-quality visuals that represent your brand in the best possible way. Use images that are relevant to your brand and help reinforce your brand’s personality.
9. Make it easy to access and use
Once your brand book is complete, make it easily accessible to everyone in your company. Consider creating a digital version that can be easily shared and updated.
Remember, creating a brand book is an ongoing process. It’s important to regularly review and update your brand book as your company and brand evolve. Your brand book should be a living document that guides your branding efforts and ensures consistency across all touchpoints with clients and customers.
Things To Do Before Creating A Brand Book
Before you start creating a brand book for your company, there are a few important things you need to do to ensure its success.
1. Know Your Brand Personality
Before you can create a cohesive and consistent brand, you need to define your brand’s personality. Decide on the main values, mission, and vision of your company. This will help you identify the image you want to portray and the voice that will resonate with your target audience.
2. Identify Your Target Audience
Knowing your target audience is crucial when it comes to creating a brand book. You want to create a brand that will appeal to your customers and attract them to your company. Take the time to understand who your ideal clients are and what motivates them.
3. Define Your Brand Elements
Before you start creating a brand book, you need to decide on the key elements that will make up your brand. This includes your logo, color palette, font style, and any other visual elements that will be associated with your brand. These elements will help give your brand its own unique identity.
4. Research Other Brands
To get inspiration and ideas, research other successful brands across different industries. Look at their brand books and guidelines to see how they have created a strong and cohesive brand image. This can help you come up with ideas for your own brand book.
5. Have Examples of Your Work and Case Studies
If you’re already working with clients, it’s important to have examples of your work and case studies that show the results you have achieved. This will help potential clients see the value you can bring to their own business.
Before you start creating a brand book, make sure you have all of these things in place. It will make the process much easier and ensure that your brand book is a kick-ass representation of your brand.
– Mission And Vision
Your company’s mission and vision are important elements of your brand. They serve as a guiding force for your brand’s identity and help to establish a sense of purpose and direction. Mission and vision statements tell your audience what your company does, why it does it, and where it wants to go.
When creating your brand book, it’s essential to clearly define your mission and vision. These statements should be concise and impactful, capturing the essence of your company’s values, goals, and main objectives.
Here are some quick tips and examples to help you craft a kick-ass mission and vision statement:
1. Identify Your Audience | Before creating your mission and vision statements, take the time to identify your target audience. This will help you tailor your messages to resonate with your intended customers. |
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2. Know Your Values | Think about the values that your company holds dear. What motivates you to do what you do? Your mission and vision should reflect these values. |
3. Set Clear Goals | Having clear goals will give you a sense of direction and purpose. Your mission and vision should align with these goals. |
4. Give Examples | Use real-life examples to illustrate your mission and vision. Show how your company has made a difference and how it will continue to do so. |
5. Be Brilliant and Concise | Avoid using jargon or complicated language. Keep your mission and vision statements simple and easy to understand. |
Once you have your mission and vision statements nailed down, you can start creating the visual elements that will help convey your brand’s personality to your customers. This includes things like your logo, color palette, font style, and images.
Every element in your brand book should be cohesive and align with your mission and vision. When designing your website, for example, make sure that all the images and colors you choose are placed with intention and reflect your brand’s identity.
For inspiration, take a look at the brand books of successful companies like Asana, LinkedIn, Optus, and Target. These brand guidelines can help you kick-start your own brand book and provide you with examples of how to create a cohesive and impactful brand image.
Remember, your company’s mission and vision are the heart and soul of your brand. They help define who you are, what you do, and why you do it. By having a clear and powerful mission and vision, you can create a brand that resonates with your audience and leaves a lasting impression.
– Identify Your Target Audience
When creating a brand book, it’s important to know who your target audience is. Your target audience will shape the way you communicate your brand’s values, mission, and personality. Identify who your main customers are and who you want to attract with your brand.
One way to identify your target audience is by creating customer personas. These are fictional characters that represent different types of customers you want to reach. Think about their demographics, behavior, preferences, and motivations. This will help you understand their needs, desires, and aspirations.
Another thing to consider is how your brand resonates with your target audience. What do you want them to associate with your brand? Is it quality, reliability, innovation, or affordability? Define the core values of your brand and ensure they align with what motivates your audience.
It’s also important to know where your target audience spends their time online. Do they use social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn? Are they more likely to visit specific websites or online communities? Understanding their online behavior will help you tailor your brand’s messaging and visual elements to reach them effectively.
When identifying your target audience, look for examples of other brands that successfully target a similar audience. Study their branding elements, voice, color palette, font style, and imagery. This can give you inspiration and guidance for creating a cohesive and appealing brand that resonates with your target audience.
Before creating a brand book, kick-ass and create a brilliant brand strategy that is aligned with the needs and desires of your target audience. When you have a clear vision and direction, creating a brand book becomes an easier task. Stick to your brand’s guidelines and ensure that all elements, from the logo placement to the use of images, are aligned with your brand’s personality and values.
By identifying your target audience, you can create a brand book that not only reflects your company’s goals and vision, but also speaks directly to the people you want to attract and engage. This will help you differentiate yourself from competitors and build a strong and loyal customer base.
– Create Your Brand Personality
When it comes to creating a brand, one of the most important things you can do is to establish a strong and cohesive brand personality. Your brand personality is the way your company is perceived by your audience, and it should reflect your company’s values, mission, and vision.
Here are some steps you can take to create a brand personality that resonates with your target audience:
- Identify your company’s values and goals. Before you start creating your brand personality, it’s important to know what your company stands for and what it wants to achieve. This will help you align your brand personality with your company’s vision and mission.
- Decide on the main characteristics of your brand. Are you a fun and playful brand like Santa? Or are you a professional and serious brand like LinkedIn? Think about the traits you want your brand to be associated with and make a list of them.
- Choose a color palette that reflects your brand personality. Colors can evoke certain emotions and convey different meanings, so it’s important to choose colors that align with the personality you want to show. For example, if you want to give a sense of trust and reliability, you might go for a blue color palette.
- Develop a brand voice. Your brand voice is the tone and language you use to communicate with your audience. It should be consistent across all your brand materials, from your website to your social media posts. Decide on the tone and style that best represents your brand personality.
- Create guidelines for your brand elements. This includes your logo, font, and imagery. Determine how these elements should be used and where they should be placed to maintain consistency across all your branding materials. This will help create a cohesive and recognizable brand identity.
By following these steps, you can create a brand personality that reflects who you are as a company and resonates with your target audience. Remember to stay true to your brand’s values and always keep your customers in mind. With a kick-ass brand personality, you’ll be able to attract and connect with your clients and stand out from the competition.
5 Important Elements of a Kick-Ass Brand Book
When it comes to creating a kick-ass brand book, there are 5 key elements that every company should have. These elements will help you create a cohesive and strong brand image that resonates with your target audience. Whether you’re just starting out or already have an established brand, these elements are essential for success.
1. Brand Vision and Mission: Before you begin creating your brand book, you need to have a clear understanding of your brand’s vision and mission. This will guide everything else that you do and help you stay focused on your goals.
2. Brand Values: Your brand values are the guiding principles that drive your company. They will help you make decisions and give you a sense of purpose. Take the time to identify what motivates you and align it with what motivates your clients or customers.
3. Brand Personality: Just like people, brands have personalities. Think about how you want your brand to be perceived by your audience and how you want them to associate with it. For example, are you a fun and playful brand like Asana or a professional and serious brand like LinkedIn?
4. Brand Voice and Tone: Your brand’s voice and tone are how you communicate with your audience. It’s important to establish a consistent voice and tone across all of your brand’s communication channels, whether it’s on your website, social media, or in your marketing materials.
5. Brand Visual Identity: One of the most important elements of a kick-ass brand book is your brand’s visual identity. This includes your logo, color palette, font style, and imagery. These elements should be carefully thought out and placed strategically to help create a strong and memorable brand image.
By including these 5 key elements in your brand book, you’ll be well on your way to creating a kick-ass brand that stands out from the competition and resonates with your target audience.
1 Logo
A logo is one of the most important elements of a brand. It serves as a visual representation of your company’s mission, vision, and values. A well-designed logo can help create a cohesive brand identity and give your target audience a quick and easy way to identify your brand.
When creating a logo, it’s important to know your audience and what you want your brand to represent. Start by identifying your brand’s goals and values. Decide on the main message and personality you want to convey through your logo.
Before you start creating your logo, it’s crucial to do some research. Look at examples from other brands in your industry and beyond. Identify what works and what doesn’t, and list down the elements that you like the most.
One thing to keep in mind is that your logo should be versatile and work well across different mediums. It should look good in both color and black-and-white. Also, consider how it will be placed on various assets such as your website, social media profiles, and marketing materials.
The logo should also reflect your brand’s style. Decide on a color palette and a font that align with your brand’s personality. These guidelines will help maintain consistency across all brand materials.
When creating a logo, consider how it will show up on different marketing materials, such as business cards, website, and company letterhead. Make sure the logo is easily recognizable and scalable.
Some examples of brands with brilliant logos are LinkedIn, Asana, Optus, JEGS, and Santa Cruz Bicycles. Take inspiration from them, but make sure your logo is unique and representative of your own brand.
Remember, the logo is just one element of your overall branding strategy. It should work together with other branding elements like the brand book, website design, and onboarding materials to create a cohesive and consistent brand image.
A logo is not just a visual icon; it’s a symbol that represents your company’s mission, vision, and values. It’s what motivates your employees and helps your customers associate with your brand. So, when creating your logo, give it the time and attention it deserves to make a kick-ass first impression.
2 Color palette
When creating a brand book, one of the most important elements is the color palette. The colors you choose will help define your brand’s personality and will be used across all your branding materials, from your logo to your website.
To start, you need to identify your main brand colors. Think about the values and goals of your company, who your target audience is, and what you want to communicate with your brand. Ask yourself, “What colors best represent our brand’s mission and vision?”
There are many sources you can use to help you decide on your color palette. Look for inspiration from other brands that you admire or find examples of color palettes from websites, magazines, or even nature. By gathering a list of colors that speak to you and align with your brand’s goals, you can begin to narrow down your choices.
When choosing your brand colors, it’s also important to consider how they will work together. Aim for a cohesive palette that can be used across different platforms and mediums. Think about how the colors will look together when placed side by side, and how they will appear in different images and backgrounds.
Now that you have a general idea of the colors you want to use, it’s time to create your brand’s color palette. A common approach is to start with a main color, which will be the primary color used in your branding materials. This color should represent your brand’s personality and should be easily associated with your brand. It will be the color that people think of when they see your brand.
In addition to your main brand color, you should also choose a set of secondary colors that complement your main color. These colors can be used as accents or to add variety to your branding materials. Make sure the secondary colors work well together and also align with your brand’s personality and values.
A great example of a brand with a kick-ass color palette is Asana. They use a combination of vibrant blue, deep purple, and warm red as their main colors. These colors are energetic, inspiring, and perfect for a company that wants to motivate their clients to take action. They also have a set of secondary colors that work harmoniously with their main colors, creating a cohesive and visually stunning brand.
Another example is Optus, the Australian telecommunications company. They have a main brand color of bright yellow, which is immediately associated with their brand. This color reflects their fun and friendly personality and is used consistently across all their branding materials.
To give you a quick list of things to do when creating your brand’s color palette:
- Identify your brand’s mission, vision, and goals
- Research and gather inspiration from other brands and sources
- Choose a main brand color that represents your brand’s personality
- Select a set of secondary colors that complement your main color
- Ensure your colors work well together and can be used across different platforms
By following these steps, you will be able to create a color palette that not only reflects your brand’s personality and values but also resonates with your target audience. Your color palette will help create a strong visual identity for your brand and communicate your brand’s message effectively.
3 Font Guidelines
When creating a brand book, one of the most important things you need to decide on is the font style. Fonts play a crucial role in representing your company’s image, personality, and values. Here are three font guidelines to help you create a cohesive and kick-ass brand:
1. Know Your Audience and Brand Personality
Before you start selecting fonts, it’s important to know your target audience and your brand’s personality. Decide on the type of image you want to portray to your customers and how you want them to perceive your brand. Take into account your brand’s values, mission, and vision, and make sure your font choices align with them.
2. Choose Three Fonts
When it comes to choosing fonts for your brand book, the rule of thumb is to stick to three fonts: one for the logo and headings, one for the body text, and one for accents or callouts. Having a limited font palette will help maintain consistency and make it easy for your clients to associate the fonts with your brand.
3. Opt for Legibility and Versatility
The main goal of your brand’s font choices should be legibility and versatility. Make sure the fonts you select are easy to read across different platforms, including print and digital media. Consider the different sizes and weights of the fonts to ensure they work well in various contexts. Think about how the fonts will look on your website, marketing materials, and other brand assets.
By following these three font guidelines, you can create a brand book that has a cohesive and professional look. Remember, fonts are not just a “nice-to-have” element; they play a significant role in portraying your brand’s identity and helping your target audience quickly identify and associate with your brand.
4 Images
When creating your brand book, it’s important to include visual elements that represent your company’s personality, values, and goals. One of the main aspects of branding is the use of images to create a cohesive and easy-to-associate visual identity for your brand. Here are four images that you may want to consider including:
- Logo: The logo is a crucial element of your brand and serves as a visual representation of your company. It should be placed prominently on your website, onboarding materials, and any other materials associated with your brand.
- Color palette: A well-chosen color palette can help evoke specific emotions and create a sense of visual unity across all your brand materials. Decide on three to five main colors that best represent your brand and use them consistently in all your visual assets.
- Example images: Show examples of images that reflect your brand’s vision and values. These could be specific images from your work or images that represent the aesthetic and tone you want to associate with your brand. Giving your audience a visual representation of what motivates your brand can help them better understand and connect with it.
- Typography: Choose a font or set of fonts that align with your brand’s personality. Typography can convey a lot about a brand’s style and voice, so it’s important to choose fonts that resonate with your target audience and reflect your brand’s vibe.
By including these four crucial images in your brand book, you can create a kick-ass visual identity that resonates with your customers and helps them recognize and remember your brand.
5 Brand Voice
When creating a brand book, one of the most important things to consider is the brand voice. This is the personality and tone of the brand that will guide how it communicates with its customers. Here are five key elements to consider when defining your brand’s voice:
Brand Voice | Examples |
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1. Identify your audience | Know who your target customers are and what they want. This will help you tailor your brand voice to resonate with them. |
2. Define your brand’s personality | Decide on the main attributes of your brand’s personality. Is it fun and playful, or serious and professional? |
3. Set guidelines for your brand voice | Create a set of guidelines that explain how your brand’s voice should be used across different channels and platforms. |
4. Use consistent language | Ensure that the language used in all brand communications, from your website to your LinkedIn profile, is cohesive and aligned with your brand voice. |
5. Show, don’t tell | Give examples of your brand voice in action. Show how it motivates and engages customers through your content and messaging. |
By following these five brand voice elements, you can create a kick-ass brand book that helps you build a strong and easily recognizable brand. Remember, your brand voice is one of the key building blocks of your brand identity, so take the time to define it before you start creating your brand book.
Sources
When creating a brand book, there are several important sources you can consult for inspiration, guidelines, and examples. These sources can help you identify and define your brand’s elements, style, and voice. Here are five kick-ass sources to help you create a cohesive and brilliant brand book:
Source | Description |
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1. LinkedIn Brand Guidelines | LinkedIn provides comprehensive brand guidelines that can help you understand how to create and maintain a strong brand identity on their platform. These guidelines cover everything from logo usage to tone of voice. |
2. Asana’s Brand Guidelines | If you’re looking for inspiration for a well-executed brand book, check out Asana’s brand guidelines. They do a fantastic job of showcasing their brand’s mission, values, and personality through a visually appealing and informative document. |
3. Optus Brand Book | Optus, an Australian telecommunications company, has created a brand book that effectively communicates their brand’s vision, mission, and goals. It’s a great example of how to showcase your brand’s image and goals in a concise and visually appealing manner. |
4. Santa Cruz Bicycles Brand Book | Santa Cruz Bicycles’ brand book is a great resource if you’re looking for examples of how to create a brand book that resonates with your target audience. Their brand book captures their brand’s personality, values, and style through compelling images and well-crafted copy. |
5. JEGS Branding Guidelines | JEGS, an automotive parts company, has a well-structured and easy-to-follow brand book. Their guidelines provide clear instructions on logo usage, color palette, font choices, and more. It’s a great resource if you’re just starting out with your brand book. |
These sources should give you a good starting point when creating your own brand book. Take the time to study their examples, guidelines, and recommendations before you start working on your brand book. It’s essential to have a clear understanding of your brand’s elements, values, and voice before you embark on this journey.