12 Steps to a Small Business Website
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Step 6 – Create Your Branding Guide
12 Part Series for a Small Business Website
Branding is more than just a logo or a catchy tagline—it’s the essence of your company. It’s what people think of when they hear your name, see your logo, or read your content. A well-crafted branding guide ensures that your brand remains consistent and recognizable across all platforms and communications. This article will walk you through the essential elements you need to include in your branding guide.
Why You Need a Branding Guide
Before you begin designing your website or creating marketing materials, it’s crucial to establish a branding guide for your business. This document will serve as a blueprint for how your brand should be displayed and will help maintain a unified, professional branding strategy.
Core Elements of Your Brand Identity
Let’s break down the core elements that every branding guide should include:
1. Your Company Logo
Your company logo is one of the most important elements of your brand. It should be simple, memorable, and easily recognizable. Here are some tips for using your logo effectively:
- Simplicity: A simple logo is easier to recognize and remember.
- Memorability: Make sure your logo stands out and is unique.
- Versatility: Include alternate versions of your logo (e.g., black and white, mobile display) to ensure it looks good in all situations.
- Consistency: Use your logo consistently across all platforms and materials.
2. Website Colors
Colors play a significant role in reflecting your company’s personality. Choose colors that are consistent with your logo and use them throughout your website. Here’s how to choose and use colors effectively:
- Text, Headings, and Background: Select a specific color for each and use it consistently.
- Limit Your Palette: Avoid using too many different colors as this can confuse your customers.
- Reflect Personality: Ensure that the colors you choose align with your brand’s personality and values.
3. Website Font
Fonts are another crucial element of your brand identity. They should be simple, easy to read, and used consistently throughout your website. Here are some guidelines for choosing and using fonts:
- Simplicity: Choose fonts that are easy to read.
- Consistency: Use one font for titles and a complementary font for normal text.
- Readability: Ensure that the fonts are legible on all devices and screen sizes.
Fonts are another crucial element of your brand identity. They should be simple, easy to read, and used consistently throughout your website. Here are some guidelines for choosing and using fonts:
- Simplicity: Choose fonts that are easy to read.
- Consistency: Use one font for titles and a complementary font for normal text.
- Readability: Ensure that the fonts are legible on all devices and screen sizes.
Establishing Guidelines for Use
In addition to defining the core elements, your branding guide should include guidelines on how to use these elements effectively. Here are some tips:
- Logo Usage: Specify the minimum size of your logo and how far it should be placed from other text.
- Color Codes: Provide exact color codes (e.g., hex, RGB) for consistency.
- Font Sizes and Styles: Specify the sizes and styles of fonts to be used for different types of text (e.g., headings, body text).
- Spacing and Alignment: Include guidelines for spacing and alignment to ensure a clean, consistent look.
Ensuring Consistency Across Platforms
A unified, professional branding strategy is essential for small business owners aiming to build a strong brand. By following the guidelines in your branding guide, you can ensure that all communications are consistent and reflect your company’s values. Here are some tips for maintaining consistency:
- Training: Ensure that all team members understand and follow the branding guide.
- Templates: Create templates for common documents and marketing materials.
- Regular Reviews: Periodically review your branding guide to make sure it remains current and relevant.
Creating a branding guide is an essential step in establishing a strong, consistent brand. By including clear guidelines for your logo, colors, fonts, and usage, you can ensure that your brand is presented professionally across all platforms and materials. Taking the time to establish a comprehensive branding guide will pay off in the long run by helping you build a recognizable and trustworthy brand.
Step 1 – Get a Great Domain Name
Let’s take a look at what a domain name is, what a URL is, how to get a website domain name, a bit of
Step 2 – Create an Outline of Your Small Business Website
Let’s take a look at what a domain name is, what a URL is, how to get a website domain name, a bit of
Step 3 – Write Compelling Content for your Website
Let’s take a look at what a domain name is, what a URL is, how to get a website domain name, a bit of
Step 4 – Choose Your Content Management System
Let’s take a look at what a domain name is, what a URL is, how to get a website domain name, a bit of
Step 5 – Select Web Hosting for Your Business
Let’s take a look at what a domain name is, what a URL is, how to get a website domain name, a bit of
Step 7 – Design Your Small Business Website Frontend
Let’s take a look at what a domain name is, what a URL is, how to get a website domain name, a bit of
Step 8 – Test Your Responsive Website Design
Let’s take a look at what a domain name is, what a URL is, how to get a website domain name, a bit of
Step 9 – Connect Your Domain Name to Your New Website
Let’s take a look at what a domain name is, what a URL is, how to get a website domain name, a bit of
Step 10 – Security Measures for your Small Business Website
Let’s take a look at what a domain name is, what a URL is, how to get a website domain name, a bit of
Step 11 – Local SEO: Tell Search Engines about Your Website
Let’s take a look at what a domain name is, what a URL is, how to get a website domain name, a bit of
Step 12 – Establish a Website Support Plan
Let’s take a look at what a domain name is, what a URL is, how to get a website domain name, a bit of
Simple Website Service
Simple Website Service is an affordable, turn-key, custom professional website service for small business owners. Our website design solution comes with full ongoing support for updates, maintenance, security and backup. Our customers speak with a REAL person. With over 100 customers, our singular focus allows us to keep costs down for our customers. Small business websites are ALL we do. For over 17 years, we’ve listened to our customers – small business owners who need help creating professional websites that truly represent their brand. But, traditional options are expensive and time consuming while templated do-it-yourself solutions fail to capture the essence of what makes their businesses unique. That’s why we created Simple Website Service for small business owners who don’t have the time to wade through the complexities of a web project.