How to create a Corporate Identity Manual step by step. Each company is a unique place with a diverse number of personalities. Every business must have certain visual differentiating elements to allow its clients to it among all the companies. So, today we will talk a little more in-depth about the identity manual, its importance, the structure, and how you should make one for your brand.

 

What is corporate identity?

 

Corporate identity is the set of aspects that make up a brand. This includes visuals, experiences, principles, values, and emotional bases. Its main goal is to create different and easily recognizable elements in terms of brand competencies. Besides, it also aims to be easy to position in the minds of consumers.

 

It’s worth saying that a company’s corporate identity isn’t the same as its identity manual.

 

Yes, these are related to each other, but an identity manual goes a little further. In fact, it’s a fundamental part of the marketing strategy that will allow you to implement it in the business.

 

What is a corporate identity manual?

 

A corporate identity manual is a document that contains all the indications on a brand’s image and visual aspects. It must be kept up to date and have many communicative elements to stand out from the rest. These documents tend to be used both internally and externally within the company.

 

More than just the instructions on the graphic element, the corporate identity must share the brand’s culture. It must reflect said culture on the products, services, strategies, and campaigns. It isn’t about just a logo or some colors; it represents how you will communicate with your clients—all this without uttering a single word.

 

Identity manuals help you to have a homogeneous image of your business and how others should see it. This blog will give you everything you need to carry out a corporate identity manual. However, first, you must understand why it’s important and all the benefits you can get from having one.

 

What is a corporate identity manual for?

 

We have already discussed some benefits of incorporating a corporate identity manual into your business. However, you must know all the reasons why the success of your brand needs to have this type of document at hand. Here are some of the benefits of having a corporate identity manual:

 

• You will have a much stronger brand image. With an identity manual, all the visual aspects of your brand will be focused on it when creating campaigns or content. A logo is not enough; all the correct ways in which it will be used and all the incorrect uses of the logo when creating campaigns or displaying the brand image must be established in the document.
• Help your brand stay in the minds of your clients: If your business is constantly changing concerning the image, your clients will find it very hard to remember you. That’s why having a final document with all the visual aspects will force you to commit to the visual elements already established.
• Strengthen your communication in other media: If you can appear in other media or newsletters or make alliances with other industries, your image must be clear to everyone who sees it. Have an identity manual, which you can send to others to learn its uses and misuse.
• Avoid everything that you don’t want to associate with your brand. As we mentioned on the blog, having an identity manual helps you unify all the elements and maintain image consistency.

Structure of a corporate identity manual

 

Once you know why having an identity manual is so crucial for your business, you must also understand exactly which elements you need to incorporate into your manual. Some of them are:

 

Introduction to the brand

 

Within the document, you must have a page specifying the brand’s pillars, which will provide the basis for all the visual elements. These should include the organization’s philosophy, values, personality, and tone.

 

Logo

 

A section for the logo collects all the information and specifications about the design—for example, the space between all elements, the color palette, and the allowed scales. Besides, you should also add a set of incorrect ways in which some can use the logo. This way, everyone will know how it should be used.

 

Color

 

You must describe your color palette and its names. This will make it much easier for designers and content creators to use the palette without making mistakes.

 

Icons and other elements

 

This section contains the entire library of icons the company uses in the newsletter and digital content. It is also part of the visual identity, and you should have some indications on how to use it.

 

Images

 

You must also discuss the images expected to be used and how you want your clients to feel once they see them. The images must reflect your values and business principles.

 

Typography

 

It is also essential to inform your teams about the correct use of the selected typeface for your business and how it is better to implement them, depending on whether they will make a title, subtitle, or normal text.

 

How to make a corporate identity manual?

 

To end this blog, we will briefly guide you on making a corporate identity manual. Now, you can start creating this special document for yourself and reap all its benefits for your company. The steps to follow are:

 

• Include the essence and philosophy of your brand

 

Explain everything your company encompasses as a brand philosophy in a paragraph or a maximum of two. In this short text, you can talk about what motivated you to start and what is your objective, mission, vision, and values. Besides, you can explain the added value you have as a company.

 

• Establish the uses of your logo

 

Place what are the best ways to use your logo. For this, you can place your logo on white, dark backgrounds and in all possible ways to use it and in the wrong ways to use it.

 

• Indicate the fonts

 

Include the family of fonts that your business will use. Each one should have a note about whether you will use it for text, subtitles, or titles within a design or newsletter.

 

• Include your brand colors

 

A very important factor in your corporate identity manual will be your brand’s colors. After all, this is what allows clients to recognize you among the competition easily. So, don’t forget about adding the colors that represent you as a business and include them in your manual. Once you do this, also add their use and their main and secondary forms of use. Remember to also add the names of each according to Pantone.

 

• Define your brand’s tone of voice

 

Explain the tone you will use when communicating with your clients. This must include all forms of communication, if possible, including printed materials and digital information such as social media or ads. On the other hand, you should also clarify the personality you will showcase when bringing new content to them.

 

BluCactus Korea, your ally in Digital Marketing

 

BluCactus is an international marketing agency serving clients worldwide. Our specialty is creating web designs and optimizing for online searches. Our team of experts focuses on helping businesses and brands succeed in one of the most competitive sectors in the market: the digital world.

 

BluCactus Korea will accompany you in every step of your brand’s creation, from branding your business to creating content. Our focus is on supporting you with the creation of your website or the administration of your social media accounts.

 

This online marketing agency, based in Seoul, KR, seeks to strengthen your image as a brand and take it to the next level. Don’t wait any longer to get the help of the best specialists in digital marketing. Subscribe to our weekly newsletter.