Your logo is the heart of your brand, the personality of your business, a visual representation of your values and beliefs. That’s a lot to live up to, isn’t it? Well, that’s why you need to put some serious thought into what your logo design will look like.
Research other business’ logos and look for inspiration in unlikely places; maybe the architecture of an old building or a piece of abstract art in the local museum. You’d be surprised at what might influence you, amazed at what could spark an idea.
And that’s where it all begins: with an idea. Once you have that vision, it’s time to bring it to life. Here are 3 ways to help you turn your idea into the perfect logo for your business.
Design a Logo Yourself
Save time and money and do it yourself. As a small business, there never seems to be enough of either, right? Plunking down big bucks for a professional logo design just isn’t in the cards for some business owners. That’s where do-it-yourself online logo makers come in.
Most online logo makers will let you start building your logo online for free through an easy-to-use design interface. From start to finish, it’s only a few steps. You’ll add each element of your logo one step at a time (image, fonts, colors) allowing you to work at your own pace, revise as you see fit and eventually end up with a logo that you love (for which you’ll now be minimally charged). Fast, easy, inexpensive. That’s what you can expect from an online logo maker.
Hire a Logo Designer
A 2011 study on Judgement and Decision Making found that customers make a potential decision about a business they’re seeing for the first time within a third of a second. As a small business, chances are that first encounter is with your logo.
A professional logo designer will work with you to create a memorable, attention-grabbing look you love while utilizing their experience and education around style, fonts, colors, etc. They’ll seek to understand your business, your target audience, your competition and the personality you want your business to exude before they even start designing.
In the end, you will walk away with a truly custom, one-of-a-kind logo design created to look great at any size, on any medium and guaranteed to set you apart from the competition.
Crowdsource Your Logo
Crowdsourcing your logo design is a great option for business owners who aren’t sure what kind of design they want, but want to see multiple options.
Crowdsourcing is a cost-effective, fast and easy way for small businesses to draw from a community of designers who in turn will supply them with dozens of design options. When you find the one you love, that’s the one you’ll buy.
But crowdsourcing is not just for small businesses. A 2015 study on the State of Crowdsourcing found that 85% of the 2014 Best Global Brands (brands that include companies like Apple, General Electric and Coca-Cola) had used crowdsourcing in the last ten years.
That’s not to say that crowdsourcing comes without pitfalls. Because designers only get paid if their logo is chosen, they may take shortcuts, rework a previous logo or directly submit work that is entirely off brand when it comes to your business. While crowdsourcing can work, it’s important to understand the potential risks.
Your logo is one of the most important pieces of both your brand and the marketing of your business. However you choose to land on the perfect design, by doing your research and honestly thinking about what it is you want your logo to represent, you’re sure to find a look you’ll love for years to come. Design a logo online today with our Logo Maker app!
