Did you know that the very first thing that I ask for when I work with a client when managing their social media is a brand guideline?
You might be wondering what is a brand guideline and what has it got to do with social media.
A brand guideline is a reference of how your brand appears online so that you look consistent and cohesive throughout your social media platforms.
Your audience can immediately associate with you with a consistent branding. This is your brand’s personality.
Don’t panic just yet, you can either do this on your own (even if you are not a graphic designer) or outsource this.
You can change this at any time and as and when your brand goes through an uplift.
Always remember that DONE IS BETTER THAN PERFECT!
Let’s get you started. Here’s what you need to create your brand guideline:
1️⃣ Colour
Visuals sell…especially on Instagram. Take a look at your favourite brands and and list down what caught your attention in terms of the aesthetics.
Colours have meanings and they convey emotions so the first thing to decide on when creating a brand is your colour palette. Decide on 3 primary colours that best represent you and another 2 complementary colours to use to spice things up. If you would like to add more colours, it is entirely up to you.
To make this easier for you. Here’s what you need to ask yourself:
- Which colours best represent you and your business’ personality?
- Think of at least 3 adjectives that describe you
If you are bold and confident then choose vibrant colours like red, orange, bright yellow or a combination and a mixture of these three shades!
Or if you want to portray luxury and sophistication, then that’s the same thing you want for your business to convey. You can use colours like black, white or even gold. It’s your call!
As long as your colour palette speaks a lot about you and your brand.
2️⃣ Font
Just like colours, fonts also have their own personality. So, I suggest that you select 2 fonts that best represent you- one primary and a complimentary so that you can mix and match the fonts at any time.
Here’s a tool to help you with pairing fonts: https://www.canva.com/font-combinations/
3️⃣ Tone
Brand is all about authenticity and the best way to make sure your audience feel you are authentically ‘YOU’ through your brand’s tone and voice.
Ask yourself – How do you want to communicate with your audience? Is it a friendly, casual or a formal tone?
If you are enthusiastic and fun then that should come out on all your social media posts and when engaging with your audience.
Now that you have a framework of what you need for your brand guideline, here are some tools to get you started.
Your brand is your trademark. The more it is consistent and cohesive, the more your audience can relate and connect with you. It speaks volume and it’s an integral part of you and your business. And by keeping these 3 steps in mind, you’ll have better representation of your business.
So go start putting together a brand guideline and get ready to make a lasting impression!
TOOLS:
- Colour Selection:
https://www.canva.com/colors/color-palettes/ (Free)
- Brand Kit Creation:
Canva For Business (Paid)
https://www.canva.com/