7 Brand guideline strategies every D2C brand needs to know about
If you’re running a business or selling products online, brand guidelines might sound complicated. But they’re really just a simple way to make your business look professional and consistent everywhere, on your website, social media, and packaging.
Here are 7 practical strategies to help you create brand guidelines that work for your business:
Here are 7 practical strategies to help you create brand guidelines that work for your business:
1. Focus on What Your Customers Love
Your brand should reflect what your customers value and expect. Think about what makes them excited about your products.
- Why It Matters: When your brand matches what your customers like, they feel more connected to you.
- How to Do It: Talk to your customers or check their feedback. Use what you learn to create a logo, colors, and tone of voice that they will love.
Example: Meera runs a handmade soap business. After talking to her customers, she found they love eco-friendly products. She used shades of green and beige in her branding and highlighted sustainability in her messaging to connect with her audience.
- Why It Matters: When your brand matches what your customers like, they feel more connected to you.
- How to Do It: Talk to your customers or check their feedback. Use what you learn to create a logo, colors, and tone of voice that they will love.
Example: Meera runs a handmade soap business. After talking to her customers, she found they love eco-friendly products. She used shades of green and beige in her branding and highlighted sustainability in her messaging to connect with her audience.
2. Stick to a Personality for Your Brand
Every brand has a personality, like being fun, caring, or adventurous. Pick one that fits your business and use it everywhere.
- Why It Matters: A clear personality makes your brand memorable and relatable.
- How to Do It: Decide how you want people to feel when they see your brand. Then, make sure your photos, colors, and words match that feeling.
Example: Rahul sells quirky T-shirts. He wants his brand to feel young and playful, so he uses bright colors, bold fonts, and funny captions on his website and social media.
- Why It Matters: A clear personality makes your brand memorable and relatable.
- How to Do It: Decide how you want people to feel when they see your brand. Then, make sure your photos, colors, and words match that feeling.
Example: Rahul sells quirky T-shirts. He wants his brand to feel young and playful, so he uses bright colors, bold fonts, and funny captions on his website and social media.
3. Stay Consistent, But Be Flexible
Your brand should feel the same everywhere, but you also need to adapt to different platforms, like Instagram, your website, or packaging.
- Why It Matters: Too much change can confuse customers, but being rigid can limit creativity.
- How to Do It: Create rules for things like logo placement and brand colors but allow flexibility for social media posts or special campaigns.
Example: Priya’s jewelry business uses a soft pink logo with a gold accent. While her website keeps the same theme, she adds trendy graphics for Instagram posts during festive seasons.
- Why It Matters: Too much change can confuse customers, but being rigid can limit creativity.
- How to Do It: Create rules for things like logo placement and brand colors but allow flexibility for social media posts or special campaigns.
Example: Priya’s jewelry business uses a soft pink logo with a gold accent. While her website keeps the same theme, she adds trendy graphics for Instagram posts during festive seasons.
4. Think About Every Place Your Brand Appears
Your brand isn’t just your logo. It’s how you look and sound on social media, your website, emails, and even packaging.
-Why It Matters: A strong brand feels the same everywhere customers interact with it.
- How to Do It: Include examples in your guidelines of how your logo, colors, and tone should appear on different platforms.
Example: Amit runs a spice business. His website has earthy colors and a traditional tone. He uses similar tones for his product labels, but his Instagram captions are more casual to engage with younger audiences.
-Why It Matters: A strong brand feels the same everywhere customers interact with it.
- How to Do It: Include examples in your guidelines of how your logo, colors, and tone should appear on different platforms.
Example: Amit runs a spice business. His website has earthy colors and a traditional tone. He uses similar tones for his product labels, but his Instagram captions are more casual to engage with younger audiences.
5. Use Data to Shape Your Brand
Check what’s working with your customers and use that to refine your brand over time.
- Why It Matters: Data helps you figure out what your customers like the most.
- How to Do It: Track which colors, designs, or social media posts get the best reactions and use that information to improve your brand.
Example: Neha, who sells organic teas, noticed her green tea posts get more likes. She started using green-themed visuals across her branding to emphasize health and freshness.
- Why It Matters: Data helps you figure out what your customers like the most.
- How to Do It: Track which colors, designs, or social media posts get the best reactions and use that information to improve your brand.
Example: Neha, who sells organic teas, noticed her green tea posts get more likes. She started using green-themed visuals across her branding to emphasize health and freshness.
6. Get Input from Your Team
If you work with a team, involve them in creating your brand guidelines. They’ll have ideas and will be more likely to follow the rules.
- Why It Matters: When everyone is on the same page, your brand looks more professional.
- How to Do It: Ask your team for feedback and examples of what works well. Use their input to make your guidelines clear and practical.
Example: Ramesh owns a bakery and involves his delivery staff in branding discussions. They suggested adding cheerful thank-you stickers to the boxes, which became a customer favorite.
- Why It Matters: When everyone is on the same page, your brand looks more professional.
- How to Do It: Ask your team for feedback and examples of what works well. Use their input to make your guidelines clear and practical.
Example: Ramesh owns a bakery and involves his delivery staff in branding discussions. They suggested adding cheerful thank-you stickers to the boxes, which became a customer favorite.
7. Update Your Guidelines as Your Business Grows
Your brand will evolve as your business grows, so keep your guidelines fresh and relevant.
- Why It Matters: Outdated guidelines can hold your business back.
- How to Do It: Review your guidelines every year and make changes based on new products, customer feedback, or market trends.
Example: Kavita started selling only candles, but after adding aromatherapy oils, she updated her brand colors to reflect a more holistic wellness vibe.
- Why It Matters: Outdated guidelines can hold your business back.
- How to Do It: Review your guidelines every year and make changes based on new products, customer feedback, or market trends.
Example: Kavita started selling only candles, but after adding aromatherapy oils, she updated her brand colors to reflect a more holistic wellness vibe.
Conclusion: Build Your Brand, Build Your Business
Brand guidelines don’t have to be complicated. By following these 7 strategies, you can create a professional and consistent brand that builds trust and loyalty with your customers. Start small and grow your brand as your business grows! SmartBiz by Amazon to help you begin your online journey easily. Powered by Amazon’s two decades of experience in shaping the e-commerce landscape around the world and in the process, helping millions of businesses scale, you can be assured that SmartBiz will help you build a strong digital foundation for your business effectively. Try for free now.
COMPANY
Built in
© 2023 Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. All rights reserved