Think about the logos of the brands you enjoy every day. Chances are you were drawn to recognize some logos before you could even read. Good logo designs establish brand identity and draws customers to your company. The logo you choose will represent what your company does and will sum up your mission statement in one glance. This is definitely not an area you want to neglect or skimp back on. Instead, put a generous amount of energy and time into learning how to create an effective logo for your small business starting with these tips.
Keep it simple
Don't clutter up your message with an intricate or overly flashy design. The best logos tend to be basic shapes or fonts that, even if they are done in color, are recognizable in black and white contrast. When you add a lot of detail, it tends to become confusing. The more complex your logo design is, the more you will also be adding to printing costs when you begin to transfer the logo to business cards and other promotional materials.
Be original
Make your business stand out for what makes it special. Avoid using clip art. Instead, be creative and original. Find what is unique about your business and let that be the focus of creating your logo design.
Think long term, not trendy
When it comes to designing a logo for your small business, it's important to think about a design that will be timeless. Never go with something that is trending at the time because all of your time and money you put into your design will be of no use when the passing trend appears to be outdated in a year or two. Aim for a logo that has the greatest potential to last for some time. A good logo design could last a decade or more before it needs a refresh.
Consider where it will be seen
Your logo may look great in a pen and paper sketch, but consider how it will look when being used in other places. Ideally, your design would be plastered to the side of large trucks and billboards, so be sure to use a high quality image in order to easily expand or minimize it and still look great on a variety of backgrounds.
Color choice
Colors communicate lots about a logo. Bright, bold colors may capture attention, while muted or pastel colors appear soft and welcoming. Choosing the right colors is imperative as the wrong color choice may be a turn-off or confusing for customers if your logo relays the wrong message about your company brand. Be sure to match your logo's color with the message you want to get across.
Don't be afraid to go pro
Some aspects of setting up a small business are worth the investment and creating the best logo to represent your brand is one area that many company owners leave to a professional. Even if you have a good idea for a design, a graphic artist or a marketing design team will have the experience of knowing whether or not your design will be cost effective. They will also be able to offer tips on how to tweak it to capture the most interest when it hits the market. In the long run, the cost to hire a professional typically pays off with a high return to your bottom line.