Brand Manual template

Work on a brand’s identity does not end once the company has established its personality. Branding is aversatile entity, which is used in multiple communication channels and can even be used by people outside the business. So how do you avoid your identity falling by the wayside? Brand guideline manuals (or brand manuals) do just that, both protecting and promoting the brand’s identity.

What is a brand manual?

Brand guideline manuals are documents that explain how a brand should be presented in public and how people should come into contact with it. They are used not only by those working within the company, but also, most importantly, by those using the brand externally. They contain practical instructions to ensure the brand always remains recognisable, whichever communication channel is used.

Why does being recognisable matter so much? Because consumers, when purchasing something, often opt for something with which they are already familiar. It is therefore crucial to put a lot of energy into brand awareness, and then make sure that this work is respected through the visual brand manual. This applies equally to brands and to SMEs.

One of the most important brand assets for any company is their brand manual or brand style guide document. Being consistent in brand messaging is crucial to the growth and success of a brand. And a brand manual or brand guide does the job of ensuring this consistency.

When the brand identity of a brand is being created, the natural tendency is to simply focus on the logo design or primary brand mark and as soon as it is created to start using it and moving onto other activities such as marketing materials or website development.

The Importance Of A Brand Identity System | How To Audit Your Brand For Great Success

However, the right way to create a brand identity is to actually focus on creating a brand identity system as I had outlined in my previous article. This brand identity system takes your brand from having just a shirt to a three-piece suit which enables the brand to look the best and be perceived appropriately.

Once the brand identity system is created, it is essential that a set of rules and guidelines are established on how the various elements of the brand identity system are implemented and executed in your branding endeavors and campaigns. A document that dictates these rules and guidelines on the elements of your brand identity system and how they should be used is called a brand manual or brand style guide document.

This article is one of the lessons from my Ultimate Brand Builder Course. By completing the course you will have built a robust and stunning brand that will be poised to attract your target audience and dominate your market space.