How to Design a Logo for Your Business?
This is a guest post written by Raul Harman.
Like any new business, your small business started as just an idea in your mind and all other aspects and procedures formed themselves around that initial spark. Your logo shouldn’t be the exception to this creative strategy since it is essentially a visual representation of your brand’s identity. The essence your logo needs to encapsulate should be reflected in its font, imagery, and colors.
Each detail of its design bears deep meaning which might not be comprehended upon first glance. However, although the procedure of designing a logo might sound complex, if you take it step by step, you can come to the optimal solution for your business.
Be consistent with your story
It is not a secret that customers have an easier time connecting with stories than with numbers or dry facts. This is why your story needs to be intertwined into every aspect of your brand, including the logo. Ask yourself about the message you wish to convey and start your brainstorming from that point. Do you want your brand to be perceived as gentle or strong, traditional or revolutionary? Your logo will be the visual symbol which needs to encompass your ideas, aspirations and your brand identity. Since it will be featured everywhere, starting with your website to your products, it’s better to put some thought into it to make sure it perfectly reflects your brand voice.
Cast an eye on your competition
Checking out your competition doesn’t mean you should steal their ideas but just get a general picture of their logos and what worked for them. A wise business owner would know that keeping an eye on the competition in your niche, especially the big names, also serves as motivation, so you can have something to aspire to. Everyone has a different road but your competition is both your rival and your motivational force. So, for instance, the big brands in your line of work go with monochrome logos, so why not mix things up a bit and add a splash of yellow? If theirs comes across as classic, you can go with modern, just make sure you bring something fresh to the market.
Check your ideas with others
When you come up with a few solutions and turn them into sketches, the best manner to decide is to ask for feedback. All types of comments would be welcome and a negative reaction can also be constructive and helpful. What you can do is to print out business cards with your potential logos perhaps even accept a recommendation or two from the printing house experts and show them to your friends and family. It would be best to opt for those who seem most like your buyer type and ask for their sincere feedback upon which you can then evaluate the situation. Print just a few for starters and then once you are certain that the particular logo is the final choice, you can print more.
Consider different color options
Colors are an essential element of any logo. As mentioned, choosing a color palette that is opposite of your competitions’ could be a neat idea but it doesn’t necessarily mean that you will stand out. Each color sends a specific message, so, for instance, a predominantly red logo would mean that your brand is passionate, while yellow points to gregariousness; Blue gives out a sense of reliability and purple is associated with luxury. Naturally, your brand identity should be clear to you by now so opting for the right colors for your logo would reinforce the message you wish to convey.
Make sure it’s scalable
Posted on a business card or featured on a billboard – your logo needs to be clearly displayed in all formats. For example, if you opted for something intricate, chances are those fine details will not be clearly seen in smaller formats. They might confuse your prospective customers and even omit to convey your brand’s message. On the other hand, you don’t need a logo design which would seem stretched in a big format and which seems illegible. Therefore, when designing a logo, you need to also take into account all the formats it will be incorporated with so you might ask for advice from a more experienced business owner or a team of experts.
In conclusion
The originality of your business idea around which your brand is made is what needs to be transferred to your logo. What you hope to create is a memorable symbol, one which will tell a story clearly and which will be recognized after just a quick glance. Before reaching the final solution, you need to dig deep into the essence of your brand, to understand your place on the market as well as to check your ideas with a few chosen people.
Any feedback that you get can be a useful tool if you know how to accept both a compliment and a criticism. Perhaps your interviewee would think the red color is too aggressive for your logo as a dentist or that bright pink isn’t professional enough for your bookkeeping agency. Naturally, you should have the last word but a wise entrepreneur uses all available means to come to an optimal solution. Now that you went through these guidelines, it’s time to roll up your sleeves and get creative!
Author Bio:
My name is Raul and I am editor in chief at Technivorz blog. I have a lot to say about innovations in all aspects of digital technology and online marketing. Please take a minute to connect with me on Twitter and Facebook.
Have you designed your logo yet?
If not, take these tips into account!