It
is virtually impossible to find a big business without any company logo. It
plays an integral role in your branding strategy by influencing the public's
perception of your business. Therefore, you want it to appear compelling. Otherwise,
it will also translate to your poor marketing campaign and inability to capture
the leads. This article aims to guide small businesses in making a
business logo. Hopefully, this can help you navigate the process with
ease.
A Complete Guide to Making a Business Logo
From
defining the story and identity of your brand to knowing the perfect design for
your business logo, we will cover every step that you need to do to develop a
high-quality business logo that you can use for years.
Why Do You Need a Business Logo?
Before
we even start on the journey of making a business logo, you need to understand
first the reason behind this. Think of your business as trying to woo the
interest of the person you like. If you are using an online dating platform, you
will definitely display your most striking photo to capture their attention.
Your picture will be the first thing people will notice before even checking
more information about you. You want them to see you positively, right? The
same thing can be said with a company logo.
A
company logo is imperative in making that positive first impression. A logo can
deliver heaps of information about your company when appropriately done. It can
inform your target audience about your brand's mission, vision, function,
values, and identity. This will help them understand if you are the best choice
for their business. You want to make sure that your business logo is done right
by knowing the reason behind this. Remember that the branding and marketing
materials you will use will all bear your company logo; this will include your
business cards, websites, social media account, email marketing campaign, etc.
Be sure that you will make things count.
Understand Your Brand Identity
One
reason behind making a business logo is that you want it to communicate the
identity and purpose of your business to your target market. Therefore, you
should understand the personality of your brand first. You need to have a clear
idea of the unique selling proposition of your company. Once that happens, it
will be easier for you to make the right choice to complete the whole picture.
Here are some of the questions that you need to ask yourself to ensure that you
get to the bottom of everything.
- Why Are You Offering Your Business?
- What are the Values and Beliefs that Your
Company Upholds?
- What are the Qualities that Make Your
Business Special?
- How Can you Separate Your Business from
The Competitors?
- Please Describe Your Business in at least Three
Words.
- How do You Want Your Customers to Define
You?
Look for Your Inspiration
This
could be the most challenging part of making a business logo. Fortunately, we
have listed some ways on how you can find inspiration for your company icon.
Brainstorming
For
some people, it could be better to receive some verbal ideas first than to find
a couple of visual representations. If this is your situation, you should
execute a proper brainstorming process with the people involved in this
project. Here's a step-by-step guide to address this process.
·
Follow the Rules- Remind everyone about
the rules of the brainstorming. It is to get all ideas, regardless if they are
good or bad. Note down all the points. Understand that even an idea that sounds
horrible and impossible can encourage conversation, which will help refine the
elements lacking in the logo and transform it into a compelling logo.
·
Put Yourself in the Shoes of Your
Audience- Build a list of keywords that best describe your business and how you
want the people to perceive you. Think like a consumer; imagine the things that
are important to them.
·
Make Sure that Everyone is Involved-
Discussing your logo is perfectly fine, but diversity is where the magic will
happen. Make sure that every member of the department is involved in the design
process. You should also ask your business partners and friends in this
discussion. This will provide you with a different perspective.
Be
sure not to be afraid to think outside of the box since you want your logo to
be different from the standard in the market.
Creating a Mood Board
We've
also discussed before the power of creating a mood board. This could be a
powerful tool for you to find inspiration. Some people will choose to build a
physical mood board by cutting an image on a magazine, newspaper, and other
materials and pinning it on the board. You can also create a digital mood board;
you can collect pins using Pinterest. Make sure that the image you will add
reflects your brand. If you need somewhere to start, check this comprehensive
guide on building a mood
board for construction companies logos.
Monitor Your Rivals
If
you still can't find any inspiration, the logos of your competition could give
you an idea. Make sure that you are already aware of what is out there. Look
for the elements that work best for your business and the things that you must
avoid. While checking your competitors' logos, think of how you can develop a
logo that is entirely different from this. You should also check how to
emphasize the differences in your design logo. This will help you set your
business apart from the competition. For instance, if all your rivals choose
the safe, standard, and more traditional option, perhaps you can be more unique,
and your logo will be more effective and eye-catching by adding fun to it.
Choosing a Design Style When Making a Business Logo
Now
that you have a clear guide on where your company logo is going and have
collected all your inspiration, it is time for you to choose a design that will
suit the nature of your business. Various elements will affect your final
output. You will have to pay attention to your typography, graphics, colors,
and shapes. It is easy to be overwhelmed with all your options. When making a
business logo, the first step is to choose the best aesthetics for your logo.
Here are some of your options.
Classic
Using
a trendy element in your company logo can be fun and exciting. However, trends
will come and go. It will only take a few months before your logo appears
outdated. It is better for you to choose a classic symbol. This allows you to
use this logo for a more extended period and reach a broader set of audience. A
classic logo appears simple and will stick to the standard color palette. There
will be no crazy fonts and graphics. It tells people that you are a trustworthy
and reliable company.
Vintage or Retro
You
may notice that the vintage logo type never goes out of style. It is a good
choice for businesses that remind people about the past. For instance, you
could be offering the organic method of brewing the coffee; then, the retro
logo would work for you. It evokes a sense of romance and provides people with
a feeling of nostalgia. It sends a signal to the customer that you pay respect
to your history and the rules.
Modern Yet Minimalist
Most
companies will usually choose a minimalist and modern style if they want to
send a message to the audience that they are a contemporary and fresh company.
With this style, you will find yourself using simple lines, white spaces, and
sleek logos. This could be an ideal choice for tech companies and businesses
offering modern solutions.
Fun Design
This
could be an excellent choice for a company offering services and products to a
younger audience. The fun style will appear cute and colorful. The
illustrations and the icons will often invoke a positive feeling in the
audience. Look for a friendly logo and choose the color on the warmer spectrum.
This will help you magnify the fun personality of your business.
Handmade Style
Handcrafted
logo design works well with other logo designs, especially the vintage
elements. It can also be combined with fun and minimal design. It also works
the same with an elegant and simple layout. If you can't pick the right
solution for your company, try to mix and match the different styles until you
get the right one for you. Be sure not to make things too complex.
After
reading those other articles, it is time for you to integrate this into your
other marketing materials. Introduce this first to a limited number of people
to understand what works and what doesn't. If you are going through a
rebranding process, the change will have to be gradual. Allow your audience to
be accustomed to this before fully implementing the change.
No comments:
Post a Comment