What is the BrandManual
The brand guidelines or brand manual, is practically a manual that includes the communication rules of your brand & identity. This manual can be in digital or hard copy and usually includes items such as:
- Logo: Color & Black & White versions of our logo along with rules for its correct use so that it is not used incorrectly in any medium.
- Colour Palette: the combination of Primary & Secondary colours that we have chosen many times makes the difference. Read more about how colours can influence the success of your website
- Font: What font families does your company use and in which cases?
- Slogan / Statement / Branded Hashtags: the so-called “catchphrase” of your business should be something short, concise & unique. A difficult combination, we know, but very, very important!
The harmonious use of a few simple and agreed upon guidelines creates “rhythm” and connects elements of your company in the subconscious of the audience when they see them online. But the decision on the elements of our brand identity must be made after research as it is the “core” from which any visualised information we intend to communicate comes from.
By following our manual, it becomes easier to create content and find the right solutions that fit our company’s image.
The value of the rules of the BrandManual
Brand guidelines are not only addressed to the public and partners, but also to the inside of your company, so that the visual elements of the brand are used in the right way. Such rules usually include color usage, when to put spaces, where in a document to use the logo, hashtags that accompany a social media mention, etc.
It should never be taken for granted that once you have prepared a brand manual, all your partners will know how to use it. Take the time to also build a section on your website where all the key elements of your brand identity and its use are available for download. You will be surprised how much easier your partnerships will become and how much you will gain in awareness by having them easily find e.g. your logo in a good dimension as well as some basic marketing templates with instructions!
Consistency & Continuity
Someone who visits your company’s social media or your website receives in the first few seconds all the visual information they need to form a first opinion about your brand and understand your purpose. It’s essentially your “shop window” and it must always be well polished, comprehensive and capture the interest of your target audience.
The online presence of a company that wants to be recognizable, however, must be characterized by visual & aesthetic consistency across all its channels. This way the audience recognizes it as trustworthy and understands that it does not leave details to chance but rather ensures efficient communication.
For example, when your company has a large number of new products or services to introduce, preparing online content to promote them can seem like a tedious process. But by using brand guidelines correctly, you have the tools you need to maintain aesthetic consistency quickly and easily and never stop the “dialogue” with your audience.
Recognition
Successful brand awareness is a marathon, not a race. It doesn’t happen overnight but it is an investment that always adds value to the company and drives the brand to a position of distinction that stands out alongside the industry leaders.
Setting goals through the BrandManual
As mentioned above, creating a Brand Manual works when done after extensive research, similar to creating a digital strategy. Every element of it is important and must serve a purpose. The audience we are targeting is “bombarded” with information on a daily basis and we have little time from their daily lives to communicate what we want through our online presence.
However, a brand manual that is created based on the objectives of the business and is dutifully adhered to, is not only capable of launching the image of the business but helps it to gain a place in the daily browsing of our audience without being “pushy” and tedious.
Is it time to rebrand your business and create a new visual identity for your brand? Contact us and the creative team of AstroLabs will “take off” your online & offline presence through a Brand Manual tailored to your goals and in full harmony with your company’s Digital Strategy!
