A coffee pot rests atop a book titled 'How to Style Your Brand', capturing the essence of creative branding.

Benefits of Embracing Client Style Guides

Hannah Darnell, RN  /  June 10, 2026

Originally Published 09-15-2025

When clients forward a style guide, it helps the writing process and gives insight into the client’s needs.

There’s no uncertainty; it saves time and energy having fewer edits, with a deeper focus on the client’s brand, voice, & tone. 

The writer can refine and polish the final content piece, making it clear and slanted to their unique audience. 

The Ideal Style Guide May Include, Certainly Not Limited to:

  •   Project deadline
  •   Your mission and purpose, goals to educate your targeted audience
  •   Audience demographic (age, gender, population, etc.)
  •   Voice and tone of your brand
  •   Type of Assets (messages, letters, memos, newsletters, articles)
  •   Format type (APA style, Harvard, MLA, Chicago), Header/Footer
  •   Page numbers or subheadings
  •   In-text citations or an additional reference page
  •   Number of subject matter expert interviews
  •   Preferred SEO keywords 
  •   Include hyperlinks
  •   Your budget range
  •   Save as… PDF, GDOC, DOCX
  •   Word count, font style, size, bulleted lists acceptable?
  •   Shared publication rights with or without byline, possible conflicts of interest?

A style guide is also similar to a flow sheet or face sheet that a nurse views in the hospital; it briefs the author on the client’s preferences, and it also provides a solid baseline draft to revise until the client is satisfied.

That’s why I love it when clients email a style guide. 

View my fillable creative brief here and I will respond shortly!