Why You Need a Logo
A logo is an image, text, or a combination of both that defines your business. A logo, along with your products/services and values creates your brand. It represents the identity of your brand and grabs the attention of potential customers/clients. Your logo will be what’s printed on all of your brand materials. It is the image that will be engraved into the minds of all current and future customers/clients— so it needs to be good.
The Basics of a Good Logo
Reflects Your Brand Identity
When coming up with a logo for your business, you should think about what your brand (the company, products/services, and values) represents. What products are you selling or services are you providing? Why did you start your business in the first place? What are your core values and what else can you offer to your customers/clients in addition to your products/services?
Answers to these questions should give you some ideas for your design. Moreover, there are websites that offer AI tools to create creative, distinctive logos, such as LOGO.com, which will assist your business in standing out and growing. Also, try to put yourself in the shoes of your target audience. What image are they likely to visualize when thinking about the product or service you’re offering? Or maybe you want to go with a metaphorical or abstract design. Just be sure that your audience will be able to connect the logo and your brand together.
Choosing the Best Type of Logo design:
Did you know that there are seven different types of logos and that each one communicates something different?
- Abstract marks aren’t really representative of anything— except your brand! This is a unique design that can easily be associated with your company. Maybe you can’t condense your brand down into one single image. An abstract logo may work best.
- Combination marks are literally a combination of words/letters and pictures (recognizable or abstract) or a mascot.
- Emblem logos are usually used by schools and organizations. They’re words or letters inside of a symbol or icon.
- Lettermarks, you can think of as acronyms, initials, or even monograms. They are the letters that represent a company’s name, usually a longer name that can be difficult to remember.
- Mascot logos feature illustrated characters as the face of their brand. This is popular among brands whose target audience is families or children.
- Pictorial marks are a single, recognizable image used to define a brand. If you can narrow down your brand into an entire image (that won’t be confused with another brand), then this type might work for you.
- Wordmarksfocus on the name of a company. This type works best if you have a simple, but distinct brand name.
Color & Typography
Colors have certain psychology behind them. Warm colors (red, orange, and yellow) typically reflect energy and excitement, while cool colors (green, blue, and purple) are typically more calming. Neutral colors (brown, black, gray, and white) can represent minimalist, classic, and clean.
Typography is the style of letters and words. There are certain fonts that give off classic and chic vibes, and then there are fonts that give a more relaxed and hand-written type of feel. The typography of your logo (if used) should compliment the color scheme of your logo design and the overall feel of your brand.
Branding Your Business
Merchandise
Depending on the type of business you’re running, there’s a number of things that you can put your logo on. Every business should have business cards that bear the logo. You can even have other things like shirts, stickers, envelopes, packaging, rubber stamps, mugs, and pens with your logo on them. Any functional place where you deem appropriate for your logo, have it on there!
Displaying to the Public
If your business has a physical location (even if it’s just a warehouse for shipping products), it’s a good idea to have your logo displayed somewhere on and inside the building. Your logo should also be displayed on your company car if you have one. Even if you don’t have a company car, companies like Flex Fleet allow you to rent their trucks and vans and place a removable sticker with your company’s logo on it during the time you’re renting from them.
