What makes a good logo?
If you want to look professional, create trust in your customers and have repeat business, then you need a good logo!
A good logo design could mean the difference between running a successful, popular business and one that just gets by.
What is a logo?
A logo is a visual image of your business, it can give a professional first impression to new visitors, make your company memorable to repeat visitors and make your company look bigger and more focused. It can convey what your business attitudes, goals and target market is. These are all factors which will help your business strive and grow, leading to greater success.
A logo is something that will stay with your company for a very long time, people don’t like change, therefore changing your logo at a later date may not be an option.
A logo can be:
A picture that symbolises what you sell or your service is (e.g. a fish and chip shop may use an image of a simple fish drawing with thin rectangles for chips scattered around it)
A word or company name written in a specific font or colour
An abbreviation of the company name
An abstract image (e.g. a wavy line). This type of logo might start of meaning nothing at all, but as the company becomes more established and well known, it will become more effective.
How do I choose a logo?
Start by brainstorming ideas – shapes, text, colours, images
Look at what your competitors’ logos are like.
Take into consideration what your logo will look like in black and white
Try and keep it simple, keep the number of colours used to a minimum
Think about your target market – do you want to appeal to children, teenagers, adults, other businesses, men, women. Is your target market sports people, aimed at education etc. What kind of colours, shapes and styles will appeal to these people?
Try and stay away from clipart
What is brand identity?
Brand identity helps people associate with you and gives credibility, it makes people think they are buying from or dealing with a professional company. It sets the tone of the company and can be done by having a slogan, good logo, name or design.
Customers may be willing to pay more or buy from a website that has a clear logo and identity, rather than from one that looks like it was put together quickly with very little thought or originality. It helps develop confidence in your company and can encourage visitor loyalty.
Brand identity runs through anything that people will see, this includes business cards, website, letterhead paper, complements slips, invoices, receipts, published adverts, newsletters, leaflets and vouchers right through to the look and feel of the business premises.
It is worth investing money in brand identity right from the start, your business will only get one chance to make a first impression.
