Making your professional business logo doesn’t have to be costly. Did you know that Google, Coca-Cola, and the Microsoft logo redesign in 2012 all cost $0? Twitter and Nike both spent under $40 for their iconic images. As a small business owner, you probably don’t have an inflated marketing budget to hire a fancy design firm. A do-it-yourself logo generator allows you to create your logo for free while tricking people into thinking you spent thousands of dollars. Don’t let your lack of design experience intimidate you, creating your own logo isn’t just a trend, it is the ultimate solution to helping your small business stand up to the big dogs.
Logos 101.
Creating a professional looking logo may seem like a daunting task for a non-art savvy individual. By understanding the purpose of your logo and how it should complement your brand, you will be able to create a logo that can stay with your company for the long haul. First and foremost, you need to understand that your logo should be placed everywhere. This isn’t just a graphic that will appear on your website or storefront, it is the mascot of your business and should be on full display anywhere your name is mentioned. It needs to be scalable and look good whether printed on signage, t-shirts, decals, etc. With all that exposure, you shouldn’t just like your logo; you better really, really love it.
Look for inspiration.
Taking the time to decide on logo characteristics that appeal to you beforehand will help you create a logo that is perfectly suited to your brand. Need inspiration? Look to store shelves lined with products, and pay more attention to the overflowing advertisements on the internet. Take note of what symbols jump out at you, what companies get it right? Look for color combinations that evoke positive emotions and plan whether you want a symbol, initials, or your full company name.
The proof is in the process.
Fortunately, thanks to logo generator websites, you don’t have to draw your own design. You can simply choose one that fits your industry and morph it into your own unique, professional looking logo. While some popular companies created their logo without spending a dime, other big brands spent millions of dollars and took years of planning to create a logo that may or may not have made an impact. Small business owners don’t have that amount of time or resources. Creative department? That would be you, the owner. By using a website that provides you with a hierarchy of graphic symbols; you have the opportunity to create a design that rivals that of your favorite global brands.
Follow the rules.
If you are serious about creating a trusted brand that has loyal, repeat customers, you want to display yourself as a class act no matter how large of an operation you are running. There are endless roads you can take when creating your logo design but stick to these directions so that your business doesn’t lost in the mix.
Don’t overdo it. Too much color, too much clutter, & too much text are distracting and unattractive. They won’t garner you attention, they will detract from your objective. Keep it simple by focusing on one, two, or three colors that fit your brand. Choose a symbol that is relevant to the products or services you offer so that customers can recall what it is that you do time and time again. If you are a massage therapist, a hammer would not be an adequate image, and bold font that appears to be jumping of the page wouldn’t convey relaxation. The design needs to make sense.
A well-done logo will help you attract customers while giving you instant credibility. No one knows your business better than you, so who better to decide what your mascot should look like?
Amber Schmechel is the Public Relations Director at www.LogoGarden.com, a free DIY logo design and website company.