Build a Brand People Recognise.

People decide whether to trust a business in seconds, often before they read a word. A consistent look tells them they are in the right place, and that the business takes care over the details they can’t see.

Start with a short brand kit

You don’t need a hundred-page guideline. One page that everyone can follow does more good:

• Logo: the main version, a one-colour version, and how much space to leave around it.
• Colours: two or three main colours with their exact codes, and one accent for buttons.
• Type: one typeface for headings and one for text, with sizes for each.
• Pictures: a few examples of the style you use, and a few you avoid.

Use the same building blocks everywhere

Your website, social profiles, adverts and printed materials are often made by different people at different times. Templates keep them related: a post layout, a story layout, an advert frame and an email signature, all built from the kit above.

Consistency isn’t about every piece looking the same. It’s about every piece clearly coming from the same place.

Check your profiles side by side

Open your website, Facebook page, Instagram profile and Google Business listing next to each other. Look for an old logo, a different profile picture, mismatched names or contact details that disagree. Fix those first; they are the quickest wins.

A five-minute review each month

1. Is the profile picture the same everywhere?
2. Do the name, phone number and address match?
3. Do recent posts use the current templates?
4. Are the links in your bios still working?

Protect what you build

A recognisable brand is worth protecting. Keep admin access to your pages with people you trust, turn on two-factor authentication, and keep records of your logo files and when you started using them. If someone copies your identity, those records make it much easier to act.

Small, steady steps add up. Choose one channel this week, bring it in line with your kit, and move on to the next.