What are the benefits of using a content style guide?
A content style guide presents brands with a list of attributes, including:
- Consistency: No matter the author in charge of writing the content, with a style guide, it should always sound like it comes from the same brand.
- Better Communication: Emphasize conciseness and understandability to improve message reception and comprehension within your target audience.
- Efficiency: A style guide carries clear instructions that may lead to fewer edits, resulting in saved time and effort.
- Brand Recognition: Assists in maintaining a robust brand voice using the same language patterns.
- Professionalism: By following a style guide, you can establish a consistent and professional image for your brand.
What should a content style guide include?
Here are the key areas that an effective content style guide should cover:
- Voice and Tone: It refers to how you communicate with others (e.g., friendly, formal) and the variations depending on the audience or occasion.
- Grammar and Mechanics: Rules for grammar, punctuation, and spelling.
- Formatting: Rules for headings, lists, quotes, etc., to make sure everything has a consistent aspect.
- Brand-Specific Language: Any specific language usage or phrases preferred or used by your brand.
- Legal and Compliance: Rules to ensure your content meets legal requirements.
What is the difference between voice and tone in a content style guide?
Consider voice to be your brand personality and tone to be the proper mood of your brand. Contrary to tone, which is context-dependent (e.g., serious in a paper and casual in a social media post), voice stays the same (e.g., the voice employed will always be business-centered).
How do you create a content style guide?
Follow these steps to create your own content style guide:
- Define Your Brand: Describe your brand’s personality and the image you wish your audience to have of you.
- Analyze Existing Content: Evaluate the content that you currently have and what may be effective or ineffective.
- Know Your Audience: Be acquainted with who you’re talking to and what they hope to find.
- Set Clear Guidelines: Define the rules for voice, tone, grammar, formatting, or any other guideline.
- Include Examples: Illustrate the rules clearly.
- Make it Easy to Find: Keep your style guide at hand for everyone.
- Keep it Updated: Language is not static so the guide must be regularly reviewed and revised.
Are there any examples of good content style guides?
Yes. Here are examples of content style guides:
- Mailchimp: Prioritizes conciseness, clarity, and a conversational tone in its writing style.
- Microsoft: Seeks presentation of content suitable for a wide range of people.
- Google: Focuses on plain language, keeping user experience in mind.
The guides mentioned can be used to inspire you when designing your own brand’s content style guide.
Conclusion
A content style guide is an important tool for any brand, group, or person who wants to present a unified and effective online presence. These guidelines cover voice, tone, grammar, and formatting and thus give the content creators the power to produce high-quality work that matches the brand and reaches the audience. These factors ensure a strong brand identity, enhanced communication, and higher levels of audience engagement.
