A style guide for content marketing will significantly increase the success of your campaign. When working with subjective content, a style guide can help develop the structure required. These guides set clear expectations for creatives while allowing brands to control the process reasonably.
When working on a campaign for content marketing, these controlling factors are essential because they allow a marketing manager to scale production and keep the brand message consistent.
Content marketing will continue to grow throughout 2017 and beyond. Content marketing is growing every day. Many of these pieces are published on and off the brand’s site. Style guides will increase demand as content increases and become more versatile. Your social media content differs from the content for your blog or emails.
Each medium requires its own set of style rules. Each campaign or department should have its style guide. This style guide should be an ever-evolving document, updated frequently to reflect changes in your industry or the medium used.
Style guides are essential when working with remote employees, freelancers, or vendors. Telecommuting and outsourcing are also rising, particularly in creative industries like content marketing. A style guide should be created when working with freelancers, vendors, or employees who do not represent your brand.
A style guide provides a complete overview of the brand and its relationship to the current project. A practical style guide will include high-level summaries of the brand voice, identity, and campaign requirements.
This could include brand logo requirements, colors to contain/exclude, typeface, and other stylistic elements that will make this infographic consistent with other a href=”https://marketinginsidergroup.com/content-marketing/10-best-infographics”> content-based infographics/a> and brand messaging. It could be a style guide that includes the brand logo, colors that should be included or excluded, typeface, and other elements to ensure that your infographic is consistent with other infographics.
Online, there is fierce competition for many brands. It’s not just about the competition within industries. It’s also about competing for customers and their attention. Successful brands leave a lasting impact on their customers and can be easily recognized by them when they see or hear a logo, a message, a song, etc. Consistent branding is one of the best ways for brands to establish their identity. Brand style guides are essential tools for content marketing and help companies achieve consistency.
Style guides require commitment and time. Style guides must be updated regularly to reflect technological changes, consumer trends, and brands. Iterate on your style guide based both externally and internally. Check out the infographic created by CopyPress below for more tips on making your style guide.