How can you make your brand guidelines accessible to external partners and vendors?

2 Make your document accessible and shareable

Your brand guidelines should be available in a format that is easy to access, download, and share. You can use online platforms, such as Google Docs, Dropbox, or Canva, to create and store your document. These platforms allow you to share your document with your external partners and vendors via a link or an email invitation. You can also set permissions and restrictions to control who can view, edit, or comment on your document. Alternatively, you can create a PDF file of your document and attach it to your emails or contracts with your external partners and vendors.

4 Provide feedback and support

Your brand guidelines should be a helpful and supportive tool for your external partners and vendors. You should provide them with feedback and support to ensure that they follow your brand guidelines and meet your brand standards. You can use online tools, such as Google Forms, SurveyMonkey, or Slack, to collect and share feedback on their work. You can also use email, phone, or video calls to communicate with them and answer their questions or concerns. You should also appreciate and acknowledge their efforts and contributions to your brand.

5 Educate and inspire your external partners and vendors

Your brand guidelines should not only instruct but also inspire your external partners and vendors. You should educate them about your brand story, vision, mission, and goals. You should also showcase your brand personality, values, and voice. You can use stories, testimonials, or case studies to demonstrate how your brand makes a difference in the lives of your customers and the world. You can also use examples of best practices, creative ideas, or innovative solutions to motivate your external partners and vendors to create and deliver high-quality and consistent brand experiences.

6 Monitor and measure your brand performance

Your brand guidelines should help you achieve your brand objectives and outcomes. You should monitor and measure how your external partners and vendors use your brand assets and communicate your brand message. You can use online tools, such as Google Analytics, Facebook Insights, or Mailchimp, to track and analyze your brand performance across different channels and platforms. You can also use surveys, polls, or interviews to gather feedback from your customers and stakeholders on your brand perception and reputation. You should use the data and insights to evaluate and improve your brand guidelines and strategy.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?