I totally get what you mean about how easy it is to mix up a style guide and a brand guide — that breakdown really made it click for me too. The idea that one focuses on visuals while the other captures the bigger picture (like mission and tone) is such a helpful distinction. Curious though — how do you usually make sure your team actually follows the style guide consistently? And do you think smaller businesses really need a full brand guide, or can they get by with just a style guide at first?

I really liked how the Clay article “Why Every Business Needs a Brand Style Guide” breaks down style guide vs brand guide so clearly. The distinction that a style guide is more visual (colors, fonts, logo use) while the brand guide includes mission, tone, values, etc. really resonates. It’s so easy to blur them together in practice, so having a clear guide helps avoid confusion. Thanks for writing it! Anyone unsure about where to start should check it out: