What do big brands like McDonald’s, Apple, and Nike have in common? They all have recognizable logos. No matter what kind of business you own, branding logos are necessary to make a memorable first impression with potential customers. The shape alone of a logo has been found to have a powerful impact on consumers.
Although many companies opt to work with a marketing or design firm to create their logo, it’s possible for someone with little or no graphic design experience to develop an effective logo. Here are some tips to keep in mind.
Know Your Brand and Customers
Before you even start thinking about logo designs, you need to understand what defines your brand. Some companies spend weeks—or even months—researching their customer profiles and creating a strong brand identity.
One thing you should include in this process is researching your competition. The last thing you want is a logo that looks like another company’s design. Reviewing other logos, however, can definitely help you pinpoint what you like best about them.
Less Is More
When it comes to effective visual design, it’s best to keep your number of colors and other elements to a minimum. A study found that the most memorable logos were often the simplest ones.
So, when creating potential logo designs, use one or two colors and one clear font that is easy to read. This will keep your logo clean and recognizable when you size it up and down for marketing collateral, signage, your social media channels, and anywhere else it will appear.
Consider Color Meanings
Certain colors are associated with specific emotions and actions. For example, the color red is often viewed as a powerful hue that calls to mind action or passion.
Why should this matter? Well, if you’re a dentist or a spa owner you probably want your logo to have a relaxing tone and not an exciting one. Earth tones and pastels would work better for these types of businesses, while a health club may opt for a more energetic and brighter color.
Using Logo Design Software
When you’re ready to begin creating logo designs, you have a few do-it-yourself options. If you’re well versed in graphic design software, you can use illustration or photo editing software such as Illustrator or Photoshop to craft the logo.
If you’re not that technically inclined, a free online logo maker will have you designing logos like a pro in no time. Some of these feature templates that you can customize by changing the graphical element, logo, and color.
No matter what you settle on for a logo, test to make sure it looks good in black and white and in various sizes.
Branding Logos Are Easier to Create Than You Think
With a little bit of research and planning, creating branding logos that define businesses are easier than you think. The process may save you some money as well. However, if you don’t have the time to make your own logo or you want the insight of someone not personally involved with your company, hiring an outside designer may be the way to go.
Check out our other posts to learn additional marketing tips for promoting your business!
Thanks for sharing this piece of information. The role of a logo in business is amazing. Most business people find it difficult to make a catchy logo. As you said it has to imprint in the mind of the consumers.