When it comes to branding, consistency is key. But ensuring a cohesive look, feel, and voice across all platforms requires more than just a well-designed logo. That’s where brand guidelines and brand style guides come in. While they may sound similar, they serve different purposes—and understanding the difference can help businesses build a stronger, more recognisable brand identity.
What is a Brand Style Guide?
A brand style guide is a basic set of visual rules that define the core elements of a brand’s appearance. It’s a go-to reference for designers, marketers, and anyone creating branded materials.
At Adtrak, our brand style guide includes:
- Logo – The primary mark representing your brand.
- Colour Palette – A selection of brand colours for consistency.
- Fonts – The typography used across all brand materials.
A style guide is essential for ensuring a uniform look and feel, but it doesn’t go in-depth on brand application or messaging.
What are Brand Guidelines?
Brand guidelines are more comprehensive, offering not just visual identity elements but also instructions on how to use them correctly. They help ensure that branding is applied consistently across different media and touchpoints.
Our brand guidelines include:
- Logo – The main brand mark.
- Logo Colour Application – Approved colour variations of the logo.
- Logo Usage – Rules on placement, size, and spacing.
- Fonts & Typography – Specified typefaces and how they should be used.
- Colour Palette – Primary and secondary brand colours.
- Secondary Graphics – Additional design elements that complement the brand.
- Brand Application Mockup – Examples of real-world branding in action.
These guidelines act as a rulebook to maintain brand integrity and ensure consistent application across various platforms.
Taking It a Step Further: Brand & Copy Guidelines
For businesses that want to define not just the visual identity but also the brand’s tone and messaging, Brand & Copy Guidelines are the ultimate resource.
Our Brand & Copy Guidelines include everything from our standard brand guidelines, plus:
- Tone of Voice – The personality and style of brand communication.
- Vocabulary – Key words and phrases associated with the brand.
- First or Third Person – Guidance on brand perspective.
- Who Is the User? – A clear understanding of the target audience.
- Strapline (if required) – A succinct brand tagline.
By establishing both visual and verbal identity, businesses can create a seamless brand experience that resonates with their audience.
Which one do you need?
If you're a business looking for a simple guide to maintaining a visual identity, a Brand Style Guide is a great start. However, if you want to ensure proper brand application across various platforms, Brand Guidelines are the way to go. And if your business also relies on strong messaging, Brand & Copy Guidelines will keep both your visuals and communication aligned.
Ready to Elevate Your Brand?
At Adtrak, we specialise in crafting tailored brand guidelines that help businesses stand out. Whether you need a basic style guide or a full-fledged brand and copy guideline, we can help you create a strong, consistent, and impactful brand identity.
Get in touch today to take your brand to the next level!
