skills/proposal-team/assets/my-brand-guidelines.md

# My Brand Guidelines

## Instructions

Update this file with YOUR company's brand voice, messaging, and visual standards. This ensures all proposals maintain consistent branding.

**Update Frequency:** Annually or when branding changes

---

## Company Identity

### Company Name
[YOUR COMPANY NAME]

### Tagline
[YOUR TAGLINE - e.g., "Transforming how businesses work"]

### Elevator Pitch (2-3 sentences)
[YOUR ELEVATOR PITCH - What you do, for whom, and what makes you different]

---

## Brand Voice

### Tone Characteristics
_Check all that apply and add specifics:_

- [ ] **Professional** - [How formal? Examples?]
- [ ] **Approachable** - [How casual is acceptable?]
- [ ] **Authoritative** - [Expert positioning?]
- [ ] **Innovative** - [How do you talk about innovation?]
- [ ] **Collaborative** - [Partnership language?]
- [ ] **Results-focused** - [How do you emphasize outcomes?]

### Voice Do's
- [DO: Example of preferred language/approach]
- [DO: Example of preferred language/approach]
- [DO: Example of preferred language/approach]

### Voice Don'ts
- [DON'T: Example of language/approaches to avoid]
- [DON'T: Example of language/approaches to avoid]
- [DON'T: Example of language/approaches to avoid]

---

## Key Messaging

### Primary Value Proposition
[YOUR PRIMARY VALUE PROPOSITION - The main benefit you deliver]

### Supporting Messages
1. [SUPPORTING MESSAGE 1 - e.g., "Speed to value"]
2. [SUPPORTING MESSAGE 2 - e.g., "Outcome-aligned pricing"]
3. [SUPPORTING MESSAGE 3 - e.g., "Low-risk approach"]

### Differentiators (What Sets You Apart)
1. [DIFFERENTIATOR 1 - What makes you unique]
2. [DIFFERENTIATOR 2 - What competitors can't match]
3. [DIFFERENTIATOR 3 - Your special sauce]

---

## Terminology Standards

### Preferred Terms
_Use these terms consistently:_

| Instead of... | Use... |
|---------------|--------|
| [Generic term] | [Your preferred term] |
| [Generic term] | [Your preferred term] |
| [Generic term] | [Your preferred term] |

### Terms to Avoid
- [TERM TO AVOID] - [Why / What to use instead]
- [TERM TO AVOID] - [Why / What to use instead]

### Industry-Specific Terminology
- [TERM]: [Definition / How you use it]
- [TERM]: [Definition / How you use it]

---

## Visual Standards

### Colors (for digital proposals)

**Primary Color:**
- Name: [COLOR NAME]
- Hex: #[XXXXXX]
- Use: [Where to use - headers, accents, etc.]

**Secondary Color:**
- Name: [COLOR NAME]
- Hex: #[XXXXXX]
- Use: [Where to use]

**Accent Color:**
- Name: [COLOR NAME]
- Hex: #[XXXXXX]
- Use: [Where to use]

### Typography Preferences

**Headers:** [FONT NAME] - [Weight/Style]
**Body Text:** [FONT NAME] - [Size preference]
**Emphasis:** [Bold/Italic preferences]

### Logo Usage
- [INSTRUCTIONS: Where/how to include logo]
- [RESTRICTIONS: Where NOT to use logo]

---

## Proposal-Specific Guidelines

### Executive Summary Style
[HOW SHOULD EXEC SUMMARIES READ? Length, tone, key elements]

### How to Present Pricing
[YOUR PRICING PRESENTATION PREFERENCES - Lead with value? Show ROI first? etc.]

### Case Study Format
[HOW DO YOU PREFER CASE STUDIES STRUCTURED?]

### Call-to-Action Style
[HOW DO YOU END PROPOSALS? Urgency level, next steps language]

---

## Compliance Requirements

### Legal Disclaimers Required
```
[ANY STANDARD DISCLAIMERS THAT MUST APPEAR IN PROPOSALS]
```

### Confidentiality Statement
```
[YOUR STANDARD CONFIDENTIALITY LANGUAGE]
```

### Terms Reference
[HOW DO YOU REFERENCE TERMS & CONDITIONS?]

---

## Examples

### Good Proposal Language
> "[EXAMPLE OF WELL-WRITTEN PROPOSAL TEXT THAT EXEMPLIFIES YOUR VOICE]"

### Language to Avoid
> "[EXAMPLE OF POORLY-WRITTEN TEXT TO AVOID]"

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## Contact for Brand Questions

**Brand Owner:** [NAME]
**Email:** [EMAIL]
**Last Updated:** [DATE]

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*Keep this file updated as your brand evolves. Consistent branding builds trust and recognition.*