Who the guide is for
Your brand gets made by many hands: a part-time employee making a social post, the print shop setting up a banner, a nephew updating the website. A guide gives all of them the same answers, so you're not approving every flyer. We write it for those people, in plain words, with pictures of right and wrong.
What's in it
| Section | Covers |
|---|---|
| Logo | Which version to use where, clear space, smallest size, and the mistakes to avoid |
| Color | Exact values for screen, print and paint, the tint scale, ratios and safe text pairings |
| Type | One or two typefaces, with free or included fallbacks for email and office documents |
| Photos and graphics | The look of your photos, icon style, and how to place text over images |
| Examples | Your own items laid out: business card, social post, flyer, sign or vehicle |
How long it should be
For most small businesses, a guide of a dozen pages or fewer gets read. A thick manual sits in a drawer. If you have a franchise, several locations or an outside marketing team, we can add sections such as templates and co-branding rules.
Format
You get a PDF that prints well on letter paper and reads well on a phone, plus the source files so it can be updated later. If you'd like printed copies for the shop, we can set up a print-ready file for your local printer.
Templates
Guides work best with a few ready-made files. We can add editable templates for the things you make most often, such as social post layouts, a flyer, a price sheet or an email signature, set up in the tools your team already uses.
What helps us write it
- Examples of things your team made that you liked, and some you didn't
- A list of vendors who will use the guide: printer, sign shop, web host, embroiderer
- Any rules you already follow, even informal ones
Questions
Can you write a guide for a logo you already have?
Yes. Many clients come to us with a logo they're happy with and just want the rules written down. We'll recolor or clean up files where needed.
Can the guide be updated later?
Yes. You get the source files, and we can update the guide when you add a location, a product line or a new vendor.
Ready to sort out your colors? Send your current logo, a few photos of your signs or packaging, and tell us what feels off.
Request a quote