Your brand’s logo is the sort of thing that can have a bigger effect on your business than you first think. The wrong logo can make your brand come off as unprofessional, assuming anyone notices you at all. A good logo will create instant recognition within the minds of your target audience.
There are many resources you can take advantage of. But you have to know how to use it. These tips will help you craft the perfect logo for your brand.
Is it Unique?
It’s almost impossible to create something truly unique, but with any logo proposition you should check it against other logos. Make sure you have confirmed that your logo isn’t accidentally infringing on other trademarks, or this could obliterate your business before it even gets started.
If you are not breaking any trademarks, you should still ensure that it’s not too similar to someone else’s. The last thing you want is to make people think that you are a new logo design for a competitor. Once you have it I recommend that you protect it with a trademark. I believe the cost is like $325, I even found someone online to file it for $50.
The Psychology of Colour
Colour is what catches the eye. Significant studies have been conducted into the value of colour and the effect it has on the human mind. It’s a fact that certain colours lead to certain reactions. For a start, you may discover that red creates aggression.
Take for example a call to action. Studies have shown that bright orange is the best colour for encouraging people to click, whereas red comes in second. When you design your logo, design it with multiple colours.
Keep it Simple
Time and time again, new businesses create logos that are incredibly complex. They do this because they want to stand out from the competition, but you can easily stand out for all the wrong reasons.
The general rule of thumb for a logo is that it should be memorable enough so someone could easily draw it onto a piece of paper when prompted. Look at all the major brands of today and you will see that even the most novice artist could draw their logos.
This is no coincidence. Simplicity sells because it’s what people remember. Most people will only look at the logo for less than a second when they see it before continuing on their way.
Think Format
When designing your logo, you are likely designing them on a blank screen or on a piece of paper. Just because something looks good on a white background doesn’t mean it’s going to look good everywhere. During the design process, see what your logo looks like in different formats and make sure to use only a logo generator or tool that produces a responsive logo.
Imagine what it’s going to like on an iPad carrying case, or on the side of a building, or on your website. Does it still look as good as it should?
Give it Time
Your first logo idea will not be the one you finally go with. You may want to get your business off the ground now by using free tools or with an online logo generator, but it’s worth spending a little more time coming up with the best logo. It’s extraordinarily difficult to go through a rebrand.
Take some extra time now to put down a few ideas and it will pay dividends later. Map out everything as this will save you and your designer a lot of time.
Public Testing
You can never be sure how the general public is going to respond. Assuming you already have the image of your perfect customer in mind, you need to approach a test group and show them various logo designs. Put it to them and see what feedback they give you.
It’s unnecessary to settle on any of your designs. If your focus group doesn’t like any of your designs, return to the drawing board and try again. There’s no reason why you absolutely have to go with any of your designs.
Hire a Designer
Finally, unless you have first-hand knowledge of the principles of logo design you should hire a professional designer. It’s tempting to skimp on spending when you initially start your business, but a logo is an investment in your future. Opt for a low level of investment and you are always going to get low level results. I personally have used 99Designs, Freelancer and Up-work to design aspects of my site in the past. All have come back with good results.
Source: Forbes
