Defining the SEO Logo for your Business
Posted on August 24, 2017 by Logo Design Tips and Tricks
In the increasingly competitive business world, keyword SEO is no longer enough to set your company apart.
Though some companies are better at keyword SEO than others, it takes more to give yourself an edge.
That’s where an SEO logo comes in.
Integrating SEO into logo design is not something every company has caught onto yet. Either they don’t understand how it works or, they think it’s too complicated.
The truth is, with some basic guidance, choosing a logo with SEO built in is easy. And, it’s a great way to drive more visitors to your site.
In this article, we’re breaking down the benefits of having an SEO logo and, we’re sharing the ways to pick one that will market your business.
What is An SEO Logo?
An SEO logo is a logo that has a keyword attached to it.
Search engines can pick up on that keyword and use it as another way to rank your site.
The most common way to add a keyword to an image is through the ALT attribute of an image tag.
This adds text to an image and gives you a chance to associate a keyword with your logo.
When using ALT text with an image for SEO, you want to be careful to pick a keyword or phrase that is short and concise.
Also shy away from using your business name as your ALT text. Search engines are already pretty good at ranking your business if someone searches for your name specifically, so that would be a wasted opportunity.
How to Choose The Right Logo
The whole point of optimizing your logo is for more people to see it. You want to make sure that the logo they’re seeing represents your business accurately.
Because our online attention spans are so short, people often use the mere sight of a company’s logo to decide if they want to go any further on a company’s website.
You want to design a logo with visual elements that will draw a customer in. You also want to answer two important questions about your company: who you are and what you do.
Think about who your target audience is and do some research to determine what style they might like.
You’ll have to make decisions about what colors to use and how to balance text elements with visuals.
Keep that ideal customer in mind as you think through those things. The better job you do of marketing to the right people, the more your business will grow.
Start Designing Your Logo
Having an awesome logo isn’t simply an option anymore; it’s essential.
And, there’s never been a better time to start designing your logo with SEO in mind.
Still an under-the-radar tactic, using an SEO logo can give your business the edge it needs. And, in today’s competitive world, who would say ‘no’ to that?
5 Steps to Create a Camera-Ready Video Production Logo
Posted on July 25, 2017 by Logo Design Tips and Tricks
To say that logos are important is an understatement.
Logos are the primary means for consumers to recognize your brand, and they are what sets your video production company apart from the rest.
They also form the first impression of your brand. Just the shape alone has a powerful impact on how consumers will view your company.
Creating an image that could make or break your video production company may sound daunting, but there are principles that you can follow for success. Read on to learn how to create an unstoppable video production logo.
Keep Your Video Production Logo Simple
Make your logo simple and easy to read, with no complicated fonts and minimal punctuation. The logo for National Audio Visual is a good example: with a simple, easy-to-read font and a focus on the name of the company, the logo leaves little to explain.
Your production company likely isn’t popular enough to merit the strong brand recognition of Nike or Apple, so the title of your company should be incorporated into the logo.
And while we’re on Nike and Apple: these logos are sleek, simple, and timeless. When you’re creating your video production logo, keep these principles in mind.
Focus on Color and Composition
The color of your logo can say a lot about your brand. Don’t neglect the symbolism behind colors: take a look at what type of emotional response each color evokes and go from there.
Similarly, your font selection is crucial. You can choose a font that looks playful or professional, classic or modern, cutesy or serious. Play with different fonts and decide what best represents your brand.
Don’t neglect other design principles like white space, balance, and shape. A well-designed video production logo will balance white space and come in an easy-to-digest shape, like a circle or rectangle.
Also, remember that your logo should be versatile. You should be able to shrink it down, isolate one main component, eliminate color, and eliminate descriptive words, and it will still stand alone.
Be Creative
You don’t have to stick with film reels or cameras: your production company is unique, and your logo should be, too.
Symbols for video production can be helpful for your clients to identify what you do, but they’re not essential, and what’s worse, they can easily devolve into cliche.
If you think another image better represents your brand, use it. You can always specify that it is a “video production company” underneath the logo.
If your company’s name includes an animal, a concept, or a color, for example, it should be incorporated, but you can do this creatively. Play with the letters in your title as well as the words to come up with something that will make you stand apart from the competition.
Be True to Your Brand
What does your brand stand for? What type of consumer are you trying to attract? Your video production logo should tie back into your production company’s mission, and its unique purpose.
Brainstorm ideas about what your company values the most, and what type of message you are trying to send with your logo. What is your target audience? Would they like to see a cute and playful logo or a more professional one?
What does your video production logo look like? Could it use an upgrade? Start creating your new logo today with our online logo maker.
Why Building a Logo is Essential For Your Freelance Web Design Business
Posted on July 07, 2017 by Logo Design Tips and Tricks
Are you a freelance web designer who’s ready to get serious about their business?
Then building a logo should be at the top of your to-do list.
You might be thinking:
“Do I really need a logo?”
“A logo is a waste of time/money.”
“I’ll get a logo once my business is more established.”
Stop right there.
No matter what phase of business you’re in, creating a logo is essential. It’s the first step in turning yourself into a recognizable brand that people will remember – and buy services from.
If you’re not convinced, look at how much the most successful businesses invest in their logos.
In 2000, oil firm BP spent over $175m introducing their new logo.
Would they have bothered if logos weren’t that important?
No. If you’re ready to learn exactly why you need a great logo ASAP, you’re in the right place.
Get ready to discover the power of the logo.
What does a logo do?
A logo might seem small and insignificant, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Your logo serves a variety of purposes, from making your business more memorable to advertising your skills.
Read on to find out what a good logo will do for you.
Helps clients remember you
Have you ever visited a restaurant with really unique decor?
Chances are it stuck in your mind.
The same concept applies to business logos.
A unique, memorable image helps clients to remember your brand and recognize you instantly. Maybe a client first notices your logo in a print ad. When they visit your website for the first time, they’ll remember who you are much more easily than if you didn’t have a logo.
This creates a feeling of familiarity and helps build trust, which is essential when you’re a new brand.
Gives an idea of what you do
Your logo should express who you are.
Maybe you specialize in web design for artists? Your logo could be a paintbrush overlapping a cursor. Or perhaps you mainly design websites for tradespeople? Your logo might combine a hammer with a computer monitor.
Whatever you decide on, your logo should give people a pretty clear idea of who you are and what you do.
It doesn’t have to be as obvious as the examples above.
If one of your brand values is simplicity, your logo could be very minimalist to reflect that. Just make sure your logo is unique to your business.
If you’re building a logo that looks like it could work for any web design business, it’s probably not quite right.
Makes your business look more professional
A business without a logo just doesn’t look professional.
A professional-looking logo goes a long way toward building trust and establishing yourself as a legitimate freelancer. This is especially important when starting out, so don’t wait until you’re turning a profit to start building a logo.
Why is a logo so important for freelance web designers?
While building a logo is important for every small business, it’s even more significant when you’re a freelance web designer.
Why?
Because your logo is the first example your customers will see of your design abilities.
If your logo looks sleek, professional and attractive, potential clients will be impressed. If it’s poorly-designed or doesn’t exist at all, nobody will be convinced that you’re up to the task of designing their site.
Who wants a web designer that can’t even design their own logo?
When designing your logo, you should consider the following questions:
- Does this reflect the type of web design I’m capable of?
- Would I be happy to use this logo on a client’s site?
- Does this logo look good online and in print?
- Is this a logo that will make people go, ‘Wow, that’s what I want, too’?
- Is there anything about this logo that could put clients off hiring me?
If the answers to these questions mean that you need a drastic redesign, don’t worry.
It’s better to take some time getting it right than lose clients because of a poor logo design.
How should you go about building a logo?
So, you’re convinced that you need a logo for your freelance web design business… but how do you build it?
Here are some tips to help the design process run smoothly.
Keep it simple
A logo should not be busy or overwhelming.
It’s a quick visual cue to remind people of your business – not a work of art. You should stick to simple shapes, a limited color palette, and not too much text. Remember that the more you add to your logo, the more mental effort it will take for clients to recognize it.
Before introducing a new element, ask yourself if it really needs to be included.
Very often, the answer will be no.
Experiment with designs
It’s rare to hit on the perfect design first time, so try a few different ideas for comparison.
You might try the same design in different colors, arrange elements in alternative formations, or stick with the same base colors for several different designs. Look at the logos side by side, and give a score to each.
If possible, get input from others too, then tally up the final scores to help you decide which logo is best.
Make it timeless
You want your web design business to last for a long time, right?
Then your logo needs to be timeless.
Avoid any gimmicks or design choices that you think will quickly go out of date.
Stick to designs that have been popular for a long time – think bold colors and simple shapes, and look to long-established companies for inspiration.
Don’t get stuck with a logo that looks amazing for a year, then becomes hopelessly dated.
Building a logo is one of the most important things to do if you want your web design business to be successful. Show companies why you’re the perfect person to design their website with a logo that reflects your skills.
There’s no time like the present, so get the ball rolling by sketching out some logo ideas right now.
5 Tips for Creating a Video Marketing Logo
Posted on June 15, 2017 by Logo Design Tips and Tricks
If you own a video marketing company, then you have to communicate to your customers as quickly and efficiently as possible that you’re in touch with their target market, have industry expertise, and can think on your feet outside of the box.
In short, you have to do a lot in a very short amount of time.
If your video marketing logo isn’t strong, looks like everyone else’s, or simply doesn’t exist, you are not going to be able to build your brand.
You’re also telling customers that you don’t know too much about marketing.
So, what can you do to create a logo that draws customers in and helps you seal the deal?
Read on for five of the best tips.
1. Communicate Your Service Variety
The good news is that a video marketing logo offers you much more “real estate” than you might initially think.
Depending on your target market, you likely offer lots of different video marketing services. You need to ensure that potential clients know that.
For example, if you offer whiteboard drawing video services, think about how you can include that in your logo.
You can list your main services in a circle of text around your logo image or firm name. Or, you could create a television screen and list your “services” as credits.
2. Strike A Creative/Professional Balance
This can be tough at first. You want to communicate that you’re the “creative type,” but sometimes the companies and clients you’ll cater to decidedly are not.
As a result, it’s important to focus primarily on just one image. Don’t clutter your logo design, even if you’re filling it with adorable cartoon drawings. Instead, pick the best one and make it work within your name.
3. Make Sure It Works Anywhere
Today, about half of all social videos are watched on YouTube. Since you’re a video marketing company, we know you’re going to upload a promotional video on YouTube.
You’re also going to have social media pages, blogs, photos, Instagram videos…the list goes on.
Can your logo fit the thumbnail image or smaller size requirements and still look good? Make sure it can.
4. Use Color Wisely
Remember that different colors can evoke different emotions. For a video marketing firm, we suggest going with blues or greens.
Both have an authoritative effect, but they don’t read as threatening. They say you can provide solutions.
5. Don’t Forget About Font
Finally, we suggest that you have a unique font created for your company. That way, you’ll stick in clients’ memories a lot better than the 1500 other companies that have also used Helvetica.
Plus, it just furthers the message that you provide solutions no one else does!
You’re Ready To Create A Stellar Video Marketing Logo
Thanks to these 5 tips, you’re ready to create a logo for your video marketing services that’s truly a cut above the rest.
Since you’re the creative type, narrow the many ideas we know you’ve already come up with down by using our online logo maker tool to test them out.
Be sure to keep up with our blog for more industry insights and branding tips!