Brand Standards Guidelines Your Comprehensive Guide to CPAConnect’s Brand Standards CPAConnect Brand Standards Guidelines
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The CPAConnect Brand CPAConnect’s reference guide includes guidelines for logo usage and recommendations for language to describe membership. Adopting the brand standards outlined on the following pages will help us improve our visibility and strengthen our brand. By following these guidelines, each firm will enhance its membership through co-branding and will work to protect the brand of the association.
Contents Approved Branding Applications.................... pg. 3 Representing Your Membership...................... pg. 4 Logo Usage........................................................pg. 5 Brand Tool Kit....................................................pg. 7
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Approved Branding Applications We encourage members to brand their firms with CPAConnect. The CPAConnect logo, alongside your firm’s logo, may appear on: • All of your firm’s letterhead, envelopes and other firm collateral materials. • The homepage of your website, as well as other appropriate pages on your website. Please link the logo back to CPAConnect’s website at https://www.cpaconnect.com. • Employee email signatures. • All client newsletters, brochures, mailers and other publications sent to clients and prospects. • All press releases sent to the media. A description of your firm’s affiliation with CPAConnect should be included in the press release. • All print advertisements. • All banners, signs and other displays at special events, trade shows or other public gatherings in which your firm participates.
CPAConnect Brand Standards Guidelines
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Representing Your Membership The language below should be used to describe your firm’s alliance with CPAConnect. Paragraphs may be omitted if space is limited. [MEMBER FIRM] is an independently owned and operated member firm of CPAConnect, an alliance of CPAmerica, Inc. CPAmerica, an association of independent accounting firms that maintain the highest practice standards, is a member of Crowe Global, providing our firm access to the eighth largest accounting network in the world, with over 200 independent accounting and advisory firms in more than 130 countries. As a client of our firm, you truly receive the best of both worlds: the personal attention and sincere concern of a local firm and the knowledge and resources of an international association. The use of “CPAmerica, Inc.” should be reserved for the first mention of the organization; any reference thereafter should be “CPAmerica.” Use of CPAmerica and Crowe Global logos is not permissible.
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Logo Usage Clear space around logo
The logo is a graphic entity that identifies the organization and must always be represented as shown. No components may be added or removed from the logo.
15x 1x
1x
Logo Properties and Limits The CPAConnect logo should occupy its own space. Always maintain a general “safe� area on all sides of the logo to separate it from other communication elements. The minimum clear space is designated by the dotted line around the CPAConnect logo pictured at right. 15X equals the width of the CPAConnect logo; a minimum clear space should equal 1X.
2.5x
1x
1x
Correct logo treatments
Logo Color Options There are three basic color options for the logo from which to choose: blue and yellow color version using the approved colors; reversed version, in which the entire logo is shown in white against a solid, dark background; and grayscale, when printing in only one color is available.
Artwork Digital files with .eps, .ai or .jpg extensions should be used for printed materials. Those with .gif or .jpg extensions should be used for digital viewing. Electronic files of the CPAConnect logo are available on the members-only website in the Sharing Library, under Your Association Materials, Brand Standards.
CPAConnect Pantone Colors PANTONE (PMS) 282 C 100 M 68 Y 0 K 54 R 0 G 45 B 98 HEX CODE 002D62
PANTONE (PMS) 130 C 0 M 30 Y 100 K 0 R 253 G 184 B 19 HEX CODE FDB813
CPAConnect Brand Standards Guidelines
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Logo Usage Recommended Logo Usage »» The CPAConnect logo may stand alone or be used with the words “Member of” above the logo on your firm’s marketing materials.
Recommended Logo Treatments Member of
»» “Member of” should be written in the font used by your firm on marketing materials, and should maintain the general safe area above the logo.
Incorrect Logo Usage
Member of
Use only the approved CPAConnect logo. »» Never reproduce the logo in non-approved colors. »» Never change the color of logo elements, even if they are approved colors. »» Never stretch or distort the logo’s proportions. »» Never alter the horizontal orientation of the logo.
Incorrect Logo Treatments
»» Never surround the logo with a shape, such as a box. »» Never place the logo on textures or backgrounds that may impair legibility.
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Brand Toolkit Please reference the CPAConnect website to access this brand standards guidelines under “Alliance Resources.�
Contact Us If you have any questions or comments regarding these brand standards, please contact CPAConnect at (352) 727-4070 or at marketing@cpamerica.org. Your efforts in following these guidelines are appreciated.
CPAConnect Brand Standards Guidelines
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www.cpaconnect.com • (352)727-4070