Corebook° is a powerful, user-friendly platform designed to help businesses create and manage their brand guidelines. This innovative tool offers an intuitive, drag-and-drop interface for building visually appealing, interactive, and easily shareable brand guidelines. Corebook° streamlines the process of establishing and maintaining a consistent brand identity across various channels and touchpoints, ensuring that your brand's message, visuals, and tone remain cohesive throughout all marketing efforts.
Brand guidelines are crucial for businesses of all sizes and industries, as they serve as a roadmap for maintaining a consistent brand identity. They outline the key elements of your brand, such as typography, color schemes, imagery, logo usage, and tone of voice, ensuring that these components are used consistently across all communication materials. This consistency helps to build brand recognition, trust, and credibility with your target audience.
By establishing clear brand guidelines, you create a unified brand experience for your customers, which can lead to increased customer loyalty and long-term business success. Furthermore, having a solid set of brand guidelines in place makes it easier to onboard new team members or external partners, ensuring that everyone involved in your marketing efforts understands your brand's core values and how to represent them effectively.
Corebook° offers a 14-day free trial for users who want to explore the platform and its features before committing to a subscription. This document will guide you through the "Try now" onboarding process, which involves a few simple steps to get started.
Step 1: Visit the Corebook° website
Navigate to the Corebook° website using your preferred web browser. Once there, you will find information about the platform's features and benefits.
Step 2: Click on "Try now"
Find the "Try now" button at the top right of the Corebook° webpage. Clicking this button will initiate the onboarding process.
Step 3: Complete the onboarding survey
During the onboarding process, you will be prompted to provide the following information:
Name of the project
Your role: Select "Brand Owner" if you own the brand and want to build brand guidelines for it, or "Brand Creator" if you are a designer creating brand guidelines for your clients.
Your initial brand guideline structure: Choose from default templates for sections like "Overview", "Brand story", "Logo", "Colors", "Typography", "Photography", and "Audio Branding". You can modify or expand these sections later.
Upload your logo: Personalize the first default guideline template by uploading your logo. This step is optional and can be skipped or changed later.
Step 4: Register for a trial account
Provide your email address to complete your profile registration. You will need to agree to the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy before proceeding. After completing the registration process, you will receive an automatic email asking you to create a password for your account. This will allow you to return to the platform later and continue working on your project.
Once you've completed the onboarding process, a default project will be created for you to explore and test the platform. The brand guideline structure will be generated based on the choices you made during the onboarding survey.
b. Learning the platform
The platform's default project structure offers an intuitive overview of its functionalities and features, making it easy for users to understand and utilize Corebook°.
1. Default Project Structure
Upon accessing Corebook°, you'll find a web page with a structured menu on the left. This menu consists of Sections and Pages, where Sections serve as organizational elements that group related Pages. For example, the default structure might include:
"Brand Overview" as a section, featuring pages such as "Hey there" and "About the brand"
"Visual Style Guide" as a section, encompassing pages like "Logo", "Colors", "Typography", and "Photography"
"Sonic Guidelines" as a section, containing pages such as "Music" and "Audio logo"
Users can conveniently add, delete, or edit Sections and Pages directly from the menu. Furthermore, the menu's appearance can be customized through the Menu settings.
2. Main Content and Project Pages
The center of the page displays the main content. Each page includes pre-populated default content. For example, the "Hey there" section features a Heading module and a leading text module, followed by several manifesto images and a Call-to-Action (CTA) module at the bottom. A Next section button at the very bottom enables seamless navigation to the next page.
3. Technical Menu
Located in the top right corner, the technical menu offers options such as:
"Preview" and "Edit" toggle: Switch between Preview mode (public view) and Edit mode (additional buttons and editing icons)
Undo button: Revert recent changes
Project "Settings" button: Access the main settings of the project
Notification icon: View system and collaborator notifications
Profile icon: Access the profile menu
4. Project Settings
The Project settings consist of nine sections and a Trial timer displaying the remaining days of the 14-day free trial. During the trial period, users can access all functionalities, except for adding their own domain to the project.
Settings sections include:
General settings (e.g., project name, logo, favicon, asset storage source, public visibility status)
Colors: Customize appearance by setting default colors for various elements
Fonts: Set up default font settings, upload custom fonts, and manage font styles
URL & Domain: Set up public URL and custom domain (not available during the free trial plan)
Manage Editor Team: Invite new editors and change project ownership
Manage Viewers: Grant specific users access to locked pages
Upgrade and Billing: View pricing plan, upgrade project, and manage billing information
Cookie Consent: Customize the Cookie consent banner for public users
Delete: Permanently delete the project (requires profile password)
Settings Section Detailed Overview:
Project Settings - In this section, you can:
Change the project's name
Add a meta title for public appearances
Set a meta description for sharing previews
Upload or change the project's main logo
Upload a favicon and share image
Adjust the project's public visibility status by choosing "Visible," "Password-protected," or "Hidden"
Select an asset storage source: "Corebook°," "Google Drive," or "Dropbox"
Show or hide the login icon from the public view
Choose to hide "Locked" pages from the public view
Colors - Here, you can define the project's appearance by setting default colors for:
Menu background
Menu active items
Menu inactive items
Main project background
Play button for audio modules
Icon color for Text Card modules
Tabs for Text Card modules
Attachment icons
Attachment backgrounds
Highlights
Highlight texts
Fonts - In this section, you can:
Set up default font settings, including font type, spacing, weight, height, text size, and text colors
Customize predefined text styles, such as Menu, Body, Heading 1, and Heading 2, or add new styles
Upload custom fonts in .woff, .woff2, .ttf, or .otf formats
Manage uploaded fonts, and delete or rename them as needed
Add Google Fonts using the search function
Embed Typekit fonts using the provided instructions and code
URL & Domain - In this section, you can:
Set up your public URL by choosing a name (formatted as https://my.Corebook°.io/[your-name])
Set up a custom domain (instructions are provided, but this feature is not available during the free trial)
Manage Editor Team - This section allows you to:
Invite new editors to your project by entering their email addresses (editors will be notified via email and prompted to create a Corebook° account if they don't already have one)
Set different levels of access for editors: Owner (full control), Admin (most controls, except removing the Owner or changing project ownership), and Editor (limited to editorial features and restricted from Project Settings access)
Transfer project ownership by entering the new owner's email address (the new owner will be notified via email and prompted to create a Corebook° account, if necessary, and accept the ownership transfer)
Manage Viewers - Here, you can:
Grant specific users access to locked pages by creating viewer accounts
Specify which pages each viewer can access
Create access links without a user, allowing anyone with the password to view locked content
Upgrade and Billing - This section displays:
An overview of the pricing plan and a button to upgrade your project
A link to a detailed pricing page
Billing information, including name, billing address, VAT country, and tax registration number
A link to manage your billing, cancel your subscription, or download past invoices (available only for paid users)
Cookie Consent - In this section, you can:
Customize the cookie consent banner, which asks for permission from public users to use tracking cookies on the public brand guidelines page
Edit the body text, URL for the Cookie Policy, and names for the Accept, Reject, and Settings buttons
Delete Project
In this section, you have the option to delete your project. To proceed with the deletion, you will be required to enter your profile password. Once the project is deleted, all associated data and content will be permanently removed from the platform.
c. Completing the registration process
To ensure a seamless experience on Corebook° and gain full access to the platform's features, users need to complete the registration process.
After completing the onboarding process, you'll be prompted to provide your email address. Make sure to use a valid email address, as this will be used for profile registration and communication.
Upon providing your email address, you will receive an automatic email from Corebook°. This email will contain a link to set your password for your Corebook° account. Click on the link and follow the instructions to create a strong and secure password.
Once you've set your password, you'll be able to log in to your Corebook° account using your email address and the password you've just created.
As a new user, you'll have access to a 14-day free trial, during which you can explore the platform's features and functionalities without limitations (except for adding your own domain to the project).
After the trial period, you can choose to upgrade your account to a paid plan to continue enjoying Corebook°'s features and benefits.
Completing the registration process is a crucial step to accessing and making the most of Corebook°'s features.
Building and Layout Content Pages in Corebook°
a. Adding layout modules
In Corebook°, adding layout modules is essential for creating your brand guidelines. Layout modules help structure your content and make it visually appealing. Follow these steps to add layout modules to your brand guideline pages:
Navigate to the page where you want to add a layout module.
Click the "Edit" mode toggle in the top right corner to switch to editing mode.
Scroll down to the bottom of the page where you'll find the "Add module" button.
Click on the "Add module" button, which will open an overlay popup screen displaying the available modules.
Browse through the module types categorized into four groups: Basic, Images, Media, and Other.
Select the module you want to add by clicking on it. The module will be added to your page automatically.
You can further customize the layout modules by adjusting their settings, such as column count, column width, padding, and background color or image. Additionally, you can hide modules from the public preview, move them to different positions on the page or other pages, duplicate them, or delete them as needed. With Corebook°'s easy-to-use interface and diverse module options, you can create an engaging and informative brand guideline tailored to your needs.
b. Working with Columns
In Corebook°, working with columns allows you to create visually appealing layouts for your brand guidelines. By modifying column widths and adding or removing columns, you can customize the appearance of your content. Here is a step-by-step guide to working with columns:
Navigate to the page where you want to adjust columns.
Click the "Edit" mode toggle in the top right corner to switch to editing mode.
Click on the module that contains the columns you want to modify.
i. Modifying Column Widths:
Click the "Grid settings" button in the top right corner of the module.
In the settings panel that appears on the right side of the screen, look for the "Columns" section.
Choose a predefined column width layout from the available options. Depending on the column count, you can choose one of the columns to be slightly longer in width than the others.
ii. Adding or Removing Columns:
In the "Grid settings" panel, locate the section that allows you to choose the number of columns.
Select the desired number of columns (1, 2, 3, or 4) from the available options. The module will automatically update to display the chosen number of columns.
c. Customizing Module Content
Corebook° offers a wide range of customization options for module content, allowing you to create engaging and informative brand guidelines. Follow this step-by-step guide to customize the content of your modules:
Navigate to the page where you want to customize the module content.
Click the "Edit" mode toggle in the top right corner to switch to editing mode.
Click on the module that you want to customize.
Editing Text Content:
For text modules, click on the text within the module to activate the inline text editor.
Edit the content as desired. You can format your text using the available formatting options, such as bold, italic, underline, alignment, and more.
Once you've finished editing the text, click anywhere outside the text box to save your changes automatically.
Editing Image Content:
For image modules, click on the image within the module to open the image editor.
In the image editor, you can change the existing image by clicking the "Change" button and uploading a new image or selecting one from your existing assets.
The new image will automatically replace the old one and save your changes.
You can also attach downloadable files to images or link URLs, add a hover image on top, or delete the image module from the grid.
Editing Other Module Types:
For other module types, such as audio, video, or buttons, click on the module to open its specific settings panel.
Modify the settings as needed, including changing the source files, adjusting the appearance, or updating the action associated with the module (e.g., linking a button to another page or website).
Your changes will be saved automatically as you make adjustments.
d. Rearranging and deleting modules:
To rearrange layout modules, follow these steps:
Click on the "Grid settings" button in the top corner of the module you want to move.
Choose the 'Cut' option from the settings menu. This action will remove the module from its current position and store it temporarily in your clipboard.
Navigate to the desired position within the page or go to another page where you want to place the module.
Click on the 'Paste module' button where you want to insert the module. This will directly insert the module from your clipboard to the new position.
Duplicating Modules:
If you want to create a copy of a module, follow these steps:
Click on the "Grid settings" button in the top corner of the module you want to duplicate.
Choose the 'Duplicate' option from the settings menu. This action will create an exact copy of the module and store it temporarily in your clipboard.
Navigate to the desired position within the page or go to another page where you want to place the duplicated module.
Click on the 'Paste module' button where you want to insert the duplicated module. This will directly insert the duplicated module from your clipboard to the new position.
Deleting Modules:
If you need to remove a module from your content page, you can easily delete it using the editor interface. To delete a module, follow these steps:
Click on the "Grid settings" button in the top corner of the module you want to delete.
Choose the 'Delete' option from the settings menu. This action will permanently remove the module from your content page, allowing you to maintain a clean and organized presentation as you build your brand guidelines.
Module Types and Features
In this guide, we will provide a comprehensive overview of the module types and features available in Corebook°, which will help you create engaging and visually appealing brand guidelines.
Basic Group Modules:
Heading: The Heading module allows you to add titles or headlines to your content. You can customize the font size, style, color, and alignment as per your brand guidelines.
Text: The Text module lets you add paragraphs, lists, or any other text content to your page. You can format the text using various font styles, sizes, and colors to match your brand's identity.
Text & Image: The Text & Image module combines text and images in a single layout, which is perfect for showcasing your brand's visual elements alongside relevant information.
Colors: The Colors module enables you to display a palette of colors used in your brand identity. You can add color swatches along with their corresponding names or HEX/RGB values.
Empty Grid: The Empty Grid module provides a blank canvas for you to add other modules or elements to your layout. This module is useful when you want to create custom arrangements of content on your page.
Text Cards: The Text Cards module is a text paragraph slider that showcases text content as slideable cards. You can customize the appearance and layout of each card.
Gallery Grid and Carousel Modules:
Gallery Grid: The Gallery Grid module allows you to showcase a collection of images or visual assets in a grid format. You can customize the number of columns, spacing, and other layout options.
Carousel: The Carousel module enables you to display multiple images or visual assets in a sliding gallery format. Users can navigate through the carousel by clicking on the navigation arrows or using the thumbnail navigation.
Media Group Modules:
Audio: The Audio module lets you add audio files or sound clips to your brand guidelines. You can upload audio files directly. To embed audio from other resources, use the Embed module.
Micro Video: The Micro Video module allows you to add short video clips to your content. You can upload videos directly.
Embed: The Embed module provides a way to insert content from external sources, such as social media posts, videos, or other interactive elements, directly into your brand guidelines.
Other Group Modules:
Download: The Download module enables you to add downloadable files, such as PDFs or ZIP files, to your brand guidelines. Users can download these files directly from your content page.
Spacing: The Spacing module allows you to insert customizable spaces or gaps between your content elements, ensuring a clean and organized layout.
Snippet: The Snippet module lets you add preformatted code snippets or other technical information to your brand guidelines, which is particularly useful for a developer or technical documentation.
Do's and Don'ts: The Do's and Don'ts module helps you provide clear guidelines on the correct and incorrect usage of your brand elements, ensuring consistency across all touchpoints.
Button: The Button module allows you to add customizable call-to-action (CTA) buttons to your content, directing users to specific pages, resources, or actions.
Grid Modules:
Grid modules are micro modules that are designed to be inserted into the Empty Grid module. They provide a flexible way to arrange and organize your content in a grid-like structure. You can add various types of content, such as text, images, videos, or other modules, to each grid cell, creating visually engaging and responsive layouts. You can modify the number of columns, adjust column widths, and add or remove columns as needed.
Implementing and Maintaining Brand Guidelines
In this guide, we will discuss the process of implementing and maintaining brand guidelines using Corebook°, ensuring that your brand identity remains consistent and up-to-date.
a. Sharing Guidelines with Stakeholders:
Once you have completed your brand guidelines, it is essential to share them with all relevant stakeholders. These may include internal team members, external partners, vendors, or clients. To share your guidelines with stakeholders, follow these steps:
Ensure your project is set to "Visible" or "Password Protected" in the project settings.
Copy the public URL of your brand guidelines from the "URL & Domain" section in the project settings.
Share the URL with stakeholders via email or other communication channels.
For added security and control, you can create viewer accounts for specific individuals, granting them access to locked pages of your brand guidelines. To do this, navigate to the "Manage viewers" section in the project settings and follow the prompts to add viewers.
b. Updating Guidelines as Needed:
As your brand evolves, it's crucial to keep your brand guidelines up-to-date. Regularly updating your guidelines ensures that all stakeholders are aware of the latest branding elements and requirements. To update your guidelines, follow these steps:
Log in to your Corebook° account and navigate to the project you wish to update.
Access the "Edit" mode by clicking on the "Preview" and "Edit" toggle in the top right corner of the page.
Make the necessary changes to your content, such as updating text, images, colors, or adding new sections or pages.
Rearrange, delete, or add new layout modules as needed to accommodate new content or updates.
Customize module content to reflect the latest brand elements and messaging.
Save your changes by clicking outside of the module or navigating to a different section or page.
Once you have made the necessary updates, notify relevant stakeholders of the changes to ensure they are using the most recent version of your brand guidelines.
In conclusion, implementing and maintaining your brand guidelines in Corebook° is a streamlined process that ensures brand consistency across all touchpoints. By sharing your guidelines with stakeholders and regularly updating them, you can keep your brand identity strong and aligned with your organization's goals and objectives.
Conclusion
In this guide, we have explored the process of creating, implementing, and maintaining brand guidelines using Corebook°, a powerful platform designed specifically for this purpose. Now, let's discuss the benefits of using Corebook° and summarize its key features and capabilities.
Benefits of Using Corebook° for Creating Brand Guidelines
Streamlined Workflow: Corebook° offers an intuitive interface and user-friendly tools that simplify the process of creating comprehensive brand guidelines.
Customization: With a wide range of layout modules and customization options, Corebook° enables users to create unique brand guidelines that truly reflect their brand identity.
Collaboration: Corebook°'s editor team management feature allows multiple users to work on a project simultaneously, fostering collaboration and ensuring everyone is on the same page.
Security and Control: Corebook° provides various visibility settings and viewer account management options, giving users control over who can access their brand guidelines.
Consistent Branding: By using Corebook° to create and maintain brand guidelines, organizations can ensure consistent branding across all touchpoints, ultimately strengthening their brand identity.
Summary of Key Features and Capabilities
Onboarding Process: Corebook°'s "Try now" feature allows users to experience the platform's full functionality during a 14-day trial period.
Layout Modules: Corebook° offers a variety of modules that cater to different content types, allowing users to create a tailored and engaging brand guideline experience.
Customizable Module Content: Users can easily customize module content to align with their brand's unique identity.
Rearranging and Deleting Modules: Corebook° enables users to rearrange or delete modules with ease, allowing for a flexible and adaptive content creation process.
Sharing and Updating Guidelines: Corebook° facilitates sharing brand guidelines with stakeholders, as well as updating them as needed to keep the brand identity current and relevant.
Settings and Features: Corebook° provides a range of settings and features that allow users to customize their project's appearance, manage editor teams and viewers, and control visibility.
In conclusion, Corebook° is a comprehensive and versatile platform for creating, implementing, and maintaining brand guidelines. Its user-friendly interface, customization options, and collaborative features make it an invaluable tool for organizations looking to strengthen their brand identity and ensure consistency across all touchpoints.
