How to Create & Share Brand Guidelines Online

Brand guidelines ensure everyone who represents your brand - employees, freelancers, agencies, partners - uses your visual identity consistently. A shared, accessible brand guide prevents off-brand designs and saves time answering repetitive questions.

What to Include in Brand Guidelines

Logo Usage

Primary logo and variations (horizontal, stacked, icon-only)
Minimum size requirements
Clear space rules (how much padding around the logo)
Incorrect usage examples (stretching, recoloring, etc.)
File formats available and when to use each (SVG, PNG, EPS)

Color Palette

Primary brand colors with exact values (HEX, RGB, CMYK, Pantone)
Secondary and accent colors
Background color rules
Color combinations to use and avoid
Dark mode variations if applicable

Typography

Primary and secondary typefaces
Font weights and when to use each
Heading hierarchy and sizes
Body text specifications
Web-safe fallback fonts

Imagery and Photography

Photo style guidelines (lighting, mood, composition)
Illustration style if applicable
Icon style and library
Image treatment rules (filters, overlays, cropping)

Voice and Tone

Brand personality traits
Writing style guidelines
Words to use and words to avoid
Example copy for common scenarios

Templates and Assets

Social media post templates
Email signature format
Presentation template
Business card layout
Letterhead design

Design Your Brand Guidelines

Free Tools

Canva - Brand kit templates with organized sections
Google Slides - Easy to collaborate and export as PDF
Notion - Good for living documents that change frequently
Figma - Ideal if your team already uses it for design

Design Tips

Use your own brand guidelines within the document itself
Include plenty of visual examples, not just text rules
Show "do" and "don't" comparisons side by side
Keep it concise - 15-30 pages covers most brands
Number your pages and include a table of contents

How to Share Brand Guidelines

The worst place for brand guidelines is buried in a shared drive folder that nobody opens. Make them accessible:

Export your brand guide as a PDF
Upload to Linkyhost for a permanent shareable link
Pin the link in your team Slack or Teams channel
Include it in onboarding documents for new hires
Send it to every external partner, agency, and freelancer

Why a Hosted Link Works Best

Always current - Update the PDF and the same link serves the new version
No access issues - Anyone with the link can view it, no login required
Works on any device - Designers can reference it on desktop, stakeholders can view on mobile
Easy to bookmark - Team members save one link and always have the latest version

Keeping Guidelines Updated

Brand guidelines are living documents. Review and update them when:

You refresh your visual identity
You add new brand colors or fonts
You expand to new platforms or channels
You notice recurring off-brand usage
You onboard a new agency or partner

Upload the updated PDF to Linkyhost and the link stays the same.

Get Started

Create your brand guidelines, export as a PDF, and share them on Linkyhost for free with a single link.