One of the first things discussed before building a company, startup or designing a website is the logo design. When it comes to your small business, online or off, creating a custom, attractive but relevant logo, is non-negotiable.
Some of you might be thinking that it’s not that important, and your business and what you do will speak for itself, aside from any design idiosyncrasies. While that should be true, your logo and branding are actually crucial. It’s a direct visual representation of your business that transcends the physical and evokes emotion.
You feel me already?
Ok great.
Your business name and your logo should be a synergistic combination that will make you stand out in any marketplace. Nail your logo design, and you will take pride in what you do, you’ll feel good about marketing it to the world and getting involved with the more important aspects.
Your business.
The Alchemy of Business
I understand this is a lot and getting a logo designed for your small business (especially if you’re not a creator) can seem overwhelming to say the least. But it doesn’t have to be. I know some of you especially the entrepreneurs, might just want the design part out of the way so you can get into the nitty gritty of what you actually do.
Well, this post is a straightforward and simple guide to help with all of that. You have a small budget? No patience? No clue? Don’t worry, WE got you.
So keep reading.
Whether you’re a small business owner, entrepreneur, crafty maker or illustrator, creating an impactful logo should be your first order of business. Understanding your vision from the start will allow you to clarify how you want your logo to look and feel to others. It’s your image on display after all. So let’s turn those ideas into gold. Shall we?
Now, if we mind our business for a minute––have you asked yourself what your company stands for, represents or the message you ideally want to convey? What makes your business unique?
Other questions, I’ll ask clients to get clear on a visual for their logo design, is…
- What’s your mission?
- What is a common (visual) theme in your industry?
- Are you a serious company, or lighthearted?
If you want to jump into a consultation with me to get more clear on this, you can do so here
What a ‘Good’ Logo Can Do
What does “good” signify when it comes to a logo? Well, believe it or not, there are trends when it comes to design and it does change. So here is where being modern and relevant come in. A modern looking logo (and website) can suggest you’re up-to-date, with your industry. This can instil trust, loyalty and above all competency above your competition.
Next, just like a good film score, but obviously not as intense, are the feelings it provokes. Generally, the underlying overall symbolic message here should be positive and reputable. Most of all, the impact should be memorable.
Think of some logos off the top of your head right now. Whatever logo or brand comes to mind first are the most memorable to you. They stay top of mind because they had an impact on you in some way.
This is what you want.
A strong logo will help you stand out in a competitive and evolving world. The key is to be unique but relevant and gain that competitive edge.
When it comes to Paris, cafes are abound and plentiful. Partisan Café Artisanal is one I’ll never forget. If you haven’t caught it already, the P is a coffee carafe! This is a perfect example of creativity, uniqueness and simplicity beautifully combined. Aside from enjoying my carefully crafted albeit pricey latte, originality kept me coming back.
Branding & Logo Design
Branding and the look of your business starts with your logo design. Here are a few factors to consider when drafting out ideas.
Begin with colours.
Decide on a colour scheme (if any at all) that your company may be related to, speaks more to you, your business and your audience. Create a mood board and consider the psychology factor related to colours.
In fact, there are thousands of prominent logos out there with a basic black and white font/combination that do extremely well. Logo’s with minimalism tend to garner longevity. Simply think about what your business represents or your brands message.
For example, if your shop sells plants or flowers.
You might want to incorporate various green hues or maybe one splash of colour to represent the kind of plants you are selling.
Let’s paint a clearer picture here with Justina Blakeney’s store of heavenly eclectic home decor and designs, The Jungalow.
I’m sure more ideas, feelings and thoughts come to mind, but you get the picture. See what I did there.
Write down around 5 words that describe your brand – convey thoughts and brainstorm. Articulate what you can on paper or better in a Google Doc and it will be easier for it to come to life.
For example:
Nostalgic
Rich
Funny
Curious
Elegant
Keep It Clean
A lot of the time, bloggers will just stick with the logo already designated from their website’s theme header and then design their branding around that.
Powered by Creative MarketYour logo is your brand’s visual identity. Try to always reach for a sharp modern appeal. A few characteristics that can classify a logo as modern is keeping it minimal and basic, choosing simple and sometimes thinner elements and/or with the combination of typography.
When living in London, I would frequent STIR COFFFE Brixton, a cute independent coffee shop for my daily pick me up. Their logo is another fav. It’s simple, catchy and describes exactly what they serve; coffee, drinks and food while staying true to the Brixton hipster vibe.
Ideas & Inspiration
After you’ve gathered a bit of intel on your brands messaging and identity it’s time to curate some ideas to help inspire the design of your logo.
Hubs to explore…
Behance
Dribble
Etsy
Creative Market
Powered by Creative MarketCurate a portfolio
Gather all your ideas and examples and create a Google Doc. Place all your ideas, colours and design examples, so that when it comes to the design you are more than ready.
Hiring a Graphic Designer and How To Reach Out To One
Choosing a designer is choosing an artist that speaks to you. I am a firm believer that when it comes to your logo, you should hire a professional. Where will your logo appear now or in the future? Eventually, you’ll want it to transcend into other types of media like business cards, social media profiles, merchandise, invoices, who knows.
There are several reasons why designing your own logo from the start has its advantages and we’ll get to that later, but for now selecting a graphic designer to create your logo might be the better route.
Here are some favourable benefits to hiring a professional.
Benefits of Hiring a Designer For Your Logo
- Custom is unique
- A profesional look
- Time-effective
- Can include various files important for other media
- Keep on board for future edits or files
- A great introduction to outsourcing
Find someone who speaks to you, relates with you, is friendly, can communicate details and already designs what you have in mind. Just to clarify, not all designers are pricey, not all are good and not all will be the same. But, to make sure you select the right one (the first time), keep in mind the following ways to go about hiring one at any budget.
Your Budget
Decide what your budget is from the beginning. The fees to hiring a graphic designer can vary dramatically, but to begin, its best you know what your limit is. For example $50 or $200 etc.
Once you have decided what you are willing to spend it’s time to find a designer who falls into that price range.
Scouting and Selecting a Designer
Be selective. Now that you’ve accumulated a portfolio of ideas, it will be much easier to communicate with your designer.
Design Markets
Creative Market
Dribble
Behance
After scouring some of your favourite websites, it’s time to go back to those designs and see who the designer is.
Reach out to the creator/artist of the designs you love. Send them an email or message on the platform and let them know what you want and looking for. After giving them a clear idea of want you need ask them how much?
Don’t forget there is always room to negotiate.
Tip: If a designer you like quotes you an amount that is extensively out of your budget, keep looking. There are so many out there, you are bound to find one you click with and that fits your budget.
Share your Google Doc with them. Chances are, they can just as easily recreate it from a template or custom make similar you had in mind.
Freelancer Sites
Hit up places like Upwork or Fiverr. They are both trusted and effective platforms to find good freelancers for your budget. If you’re looking for something straightforward, user-friendly and visual, Fiverr might be a good place to start.
Upwork
- Create a job description
- Browse the countless freelancers and invite them to your job. This way they can apply to something or you can hire someone if selected
- People will begin sending in their proposals and while it might seem overwhelming, it’s up to you to reach out to the designers that speak to you
- Get clear on their terms and how they work as a designer
Fiverr
- Create your account.
- Browse all the logos and designers
- Select a few you like
- Send them a message and see if they are available
- Let them know if this is something custom or using a template and share your Google Doc
- Find out what is included in the gig; files, edits and so on
- Then hire
That’s it.
Make Your Business Stand Out! Get a beautiful customized logo today with Fiverr.com!If you want to jump into a consultation with me to get more clear on this, you can do so here
Design Your Own Logo
If your budget is really slim, creating your own logo is an excellent way to get a visual on what you want your brand to look like.
The key is finding a super simple and easy to use website that enables you to create bold and attractive looking logos.
With just a few click you can create an amazing logo that can be edited and used right away.
For something a little more sophisticated, Placeit is the best for online logo creation.
Check out Placeit here.
We’d love to hear about any tips or design advice you may have or your experience when creating your logo.
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