5 Must-Know Logo Design Tips for Small Business Owners
Great brands need great logos. A logo is what potential customers and clients notice first about a brand. It becomes the face and identity of the business as it grows while distinguishing it from the rest. A logo must convey your brand message as well as the company’s story. Considering the crucial role a logo plays in building and establishing a brand, it is imperative to give logo design due attention. Even if your business has the arsenal of the most skilled professionals working avidly, in the absence of a good logo and subsequently a strong brand identity, you won’t be able to attain the level of success aspire. As you design the logo make sure to consider the following 5 tips. These tips would not only make the design process easier but will also make sure that you can create a magnificent logo for your business.
1. Think Ahead and Think Big
As you begin the design process for your logo, consider that the logo would be here to stay. It should be relevant not just in the near future but also in the next few years. A logo cannot be changed easily. Therefore, it is crucial to keep in mind the vision and business of your business along with the expansion plans. This will ensure that the logo design remains relevant even as the business grows or adapts in the future.
As your logo will be the face of the business, it is important that it stays in sync with the business values as well. It sets a tone for the marketing strategies and therefore must not be restrictive. Being a small business owner, your marketing goals at present must consist of the basics such as email and social media marketing, but as the business grows the marketing needs. Consider a design which is scalable as well as flexible. It must look impressive on the smallest of surfaces such as stickers as well as large surfaces like billboards.
2. Avoid Clichés to Create Unique Logo Design
Some clichés might seem fitting for your logo but remember that they are Clichés for a reason. Most of these designs have been overused and would fail to create an impression in the minds of your viewers. Logo design must be unique so that it reinforces brand recognition and brand identity. In order to create an effective yet distinguished design, focus on what sets the brand apart from the competitors. If you are not able to zero-in on any such substantial points, consider telling your business values and mission but differently. A unique approach towards the business model and goal can prove instrumental in designing an innovative logo.
As you come up with a unique logo design or tagline, make sure to get them trademarked. While it may seem unwarranted at the initial stages it is critical to protecting the brand you are establishing against potential infringement.
3. Implement Negative Space and Type Face Skilfully
Each element such as icon, colours, typeface, logo and negative space play an eloquent role in creating an awesome logo design. Some fonts become the identity of a brand itself. Consider some iconic logos such as Facebook, Microsoft, Google and Coca Cola. Their logos have come to be associated with the brands, making it easier for the masses to recognise them instantly. Unique design can also be created by using the negative space cleverly to convey implicit messages.
For instance, the FedEx logo uses negative space to form an arrow between the letters “E” and “X”.
Similarly, the Amazon logo design has an arrow connecting the “A” and “Z” signifying the promise of the brand of offering all products under the sun right from gardening tools, apparel to tech accessories. The arrow is also shaped in such a way that it resembles a smile conveying another business goal of the brand to provide all customers with a happy shopping experience.
4. Consider Crowdsourcing the Logo
Small businesses are often operating on restricted funds. But marketing elements such as logoi design should not be scrimped upon. A logo will end up as the face of the business and therefore must be exceptional. This does not mean that you have to shell out thousands for creating a logo. Today, there are a number of online graphic design tools online which make this task easier. AI-based tools such as Designhill, business owners with little or no designing background. Another great alternative is crowdsourcing.
With tools such as Designhill, you can also create a contest or job for your logo design where graphic design professionals from around the world post their artwork. Using this feature, you can crowdsource the logo design at a good price and choose from 30 designs submitted in a week based on the brief. Such tools make it easier for small businesses to stay within thier budgets and still obtain the best work.
5. Gather Feedback for Choosing a Savvy Logo
While many business decisions can be instinctive, decisions pertaining to creatives must be based on feedback. A design which may sing for you, might not be appealing to the target audience. Logo designs are subjective and while not everyone will like it, collecting feedback will ensure that you don’t miss anything big.
At times, some logo designs may appear decieving, confusing or vene offensive to some people. Therefore, feedback will help understanding and testing the perception of the logo design by your potential customers. A thorough approach to choosing the perfect logo would be getting a group of people to select from a group of logo designs. Try to include a diverse selection of logo designs for a meticulous selection process.
The bottom line is that a logo must be a true reflection of your brand. It should be synonymous to all the brand values as well as goals. It takes a lot of time and effort in creating an elegant and everlasting logo which can take the brand on a successful path.
