Simple, Core, or Comprehensive?
If you’re building a brand — whether it’s a small business, passion project, or growing organization — one of the most valuable tools you can have is a brand guide. But here’s the thing: not every brand needs the same level of detail.
So how do you decide if you need a Simple, Core, or Comprehensive brand guide?
First Things First: What Is a Brand Guide?
A brand guide is like your brand’s instruction manual. It outlines your logos, fonts, colors, tone of voice, and more — helping you (and anyone you work with) create content that looks and sounds consistently “you.”
Depending on where you are in your journey, your brand guide can be minimal, medium, or full-on strategic. That’s where these three levels come in: Simple, Core, and Comprehensive. (Note: While the Comprehensive Brand Guide isn’t part of our standard packages, it may be included in your proposal if we see a need for it.)
Simple Brand Guide
The Simple Brand Guide is a quick-reference, one-page guide with just the essentials to get your visual identity off the ground.
What’s Inside: Primary and alternate logos, Color palette with HEX codes, Font selections, Brand mood or imagery direction
Optional: tagline or brand vibe words
Who It’s For: Solopreneurs, Side projects, Events or limited-run brands
It’s perfect when you want your brand to look consistent, but don’t need all the bells and whistles.
Core Brand Guide
The Core Brand Guide goes a step further. It’s practical, organized, and ideal for teams who need a clear visual and verbal foundation.
What’s Inside: Everything in the Simple Guide, Logo usage rules (sizing, spacing, etc.), Color usage suggestions (backgrounds, buttons, etc.), Font hierarchy (headlines, body text, and accents), Brand voice + tone basics, Photography and image style do’s and don’ts, 1–2 branded mockups (like a business card or social post)
Who It’s For: Small businesses, Non-profits, Entrepreneurs working with designers, VAs, or small teams
This guide keeps everyone on the same page without getting overly complex.
Comprehensive Brand Guide
The Comprehensive Brand Guide is the full package — designed for businesses who are ready to scale with a strong brand strategy behind everything they do.
What’s Inside: Everything from the Core Guide, Brand mission, values, and story, Audience personas, Messaging and content guidelines, Competitive positioning, Extended visual mockups (web, print, digital), Multi-platform brand application tips
Who It’s For: Established businesses, Agencies and marketing teams, Brands preparing for growth, rebrands, or launches
This one’s ideal when you want your brand to feel dialed-in, consistent, and intentional across every channel.
Final Thoughts
No matter the size of your brand, having a guide makes a huge difference. It keeps your content consistent, your visuals on-brand, and your message clear — even when your business evolves.
Whether you need something short and sweet or fully built out, choosing the right brand guide can set you up for long-term success.
Thinking about creating yours? Let’s make it happen — I’d love to help you craft a guide that fits your brand like a glove.
