Impress for Success: How to Stand Out from the Competition
Posted on November 26, 2018 by Logo Design Tips and Tricks
Your business needs to pop.
Getting noticed among countless competitors can seem like a daunting task. However, figuring out how to stand out should just be part of your business strategy. It doesn’t matter if you’re selling batteries or baking cupcakes.
Here’s what you need to do.
Update Your Website
A slow, ugly website will kill your business. It doesn’t matter if you’re not planning to sell anything online.
To glean ideas, scope out the competition’s websites. The goal isn’t to copy them but to learn from them. Are they using lots of bold, attention-grabbing colors? Is their site filled with gorgeous pictures?
Visitor management tools can help you determine if your plan is working. After reworking your website, you should see a corresponding spike in traffic.
Be Funny
Everyone, businesses and consumers alike, uses social media. There’s a good chance that your company already has a Facebook, Twitter, etc, account.
But are you putting it to good use? People don’t like rote, run-of-the-mill responses. they want humor. Excitement.
So, if you want to stand out from the crowd, try crafting a witty social media personality. Stay away from offensive humor and don’t deviate from the brand message too much.
Pick an Influencer
We live in the day of the influencer. Every day, regular people who have amassed a following on a social media platform. Finding the right person to promote your business is like finding a gold mine.
There’s a misconception that influencer campaigns are expensive. The reality is that you can spend as much or as little as you want. Instead of throwing all of your money at whoever has the most followers, find someone who appeals to your customer base.
Many people are willing to promote a company in exchange for goods.
New Advertising
Advertising is a constant expense. Your strategy should be flexible. Even if something is working, that doesn’t mean that you can’t be doing better.
Choose a bold advertising plan if standing out is important to you. Humor works for a lot of brands.
Certain brands can also get success by creating trends. Think tuxedo-wearing dogs running around a casino floor. The idea is to create a positive, alluring image that sticks wih people.
New Inventory
If your business relies primarily on selling a product, how’s your inventory? How long has the product been around? To keep people interested you might need to diversify your product line.
If that’s not an option, think of ways that your product can appeal to new consumers. If you’re selling soccer balls, think of ways to market them to retirement homes.
You’ll stand out by default if you discover a potential market that your competitors aren’t going after.
Choose a Logo
Your logo represents your brand’s spirit. If you choose something bland or unremarkable, it’ll be hard to tell your company apart from the competition. People will forget all about you.
A dynamic logo can change everything. Contact us for fresh ideas when you’re ready to get started.
4 Surprising Things to Take Into Consideration When Choosing Your Logo Color Schemes
Posted on November 01, 2018 by Logo Design Tips and Tricks
It only takes 10 seconds for someone to build their first impression from a logo.
They are incredibly important for building a brand. Color is a huge part of this as they create emotional responses, and this can extend to your logo. With that in mind, what exactly do you need to think about when working on your own color scheme?
Read on for 4 things to remember when choosing your logo color schemes.
1. Color Psychology
Each color has a meaning. This meaning is subject to conditioning and an associative connection the observer has with it.
When using a color for business branding, the color will set a tone and meaning. You want to bear this in mind when choosing colors. Here are a few examples:
- Red – passion, energy or aggression. There have been suggestions that it can stimulate appetite. Many restaurants and fast food places use red in their logos. One recognizable red logo is that of Coca Cola.
- Blue – professionalism, serious-mindedness, stability and integrity. Blue also gives off the message of success and authority. Blue is popular in practical industries, such as the logo of Best Sheds.
- Orange – modern thinking and innovation. It also portrays youthfulness, fun and affordability.
2. Color Theory
Another thing to bear in mind is color theory. When choosing colors and schemes, the color wheel gives an opportunity to create something eye-catching.
You can create brighter, lighter, softer and darker colors by mixing white, black and grey with original colors. This will help keep a color scheme cohesive. On the wheel, there are two types of colors to remember:
- Analogous colors are the three colors that sit either side of each other on a 12 part color wheel. For example yellow-green, yellow, and yellow-orange.
- Contemporary colors are two colors which are directly opposite each other. For example, green-red, yellow-green and red-purple. Opposing colors create high levels of contrast and stability.
3. Multiple Colors
It is often better to stick to a single color when creating a logo design. But, if you use multiple colors the right way, these can carry strong messages about your business and brand. Think Google, or eBay. What these multi-colored logos imply is the wide choice of products and services these companies offer.
Think about your company, your products and services, and the message you want to put out. This will help you decide if one or more colors will achieve your unique message the best.
4. Cultural Differences
If your an international company, it’s important to choose your color with care. There are cultural differences in the way colors are interpreted in some countries. For example:
- Yellow is a cheery, positive color in the west, whereas it is associated with death and mourning in Latin America.
- Black is seen as representing mourning and death in the west. In China, it shows masculinity and is a traditional boys color.
It is important to research a color’s international use. This way you can relate to all your customers around the globe.
The Importance of Logo Color Schemes
As you can see, there are a few things to think about when you choosing logo color schemes. You need to pick a color that evokes the emotions you are after, looks appealing and doesn’t have any unfortunate connotations.
Now you know how to use color, check out these 9 tips to take your logo design to the next level.
Designing a Personal Logo: How to Make Your Logo Unique
Posted on October 18, 2018 by Logo Design Tips and Tricks
Are you looking to design a logo for your personal business? Not sure where to start, or how to go about designing a personal logo that’s unique and awesome? Well, no need to fear, we’re here to help!
In this article, we’ll be covering the ins-and-outs of logo design, including tips and tricks on how to differentiate your business through the power of design. After reading, you’ll have the knowledge needed to create a unique logo that will wow customers and help boost your business!
So, What is a Logo Exactly?
A logo is basically a visual symbol that helps connects customers with your business by making it familiar and appealing. A logo sets your business apart from other businesses and gives your business an identity that audiences can identify with and latch onto. When truly great, a logo can build a personal and emotional connection with audiences, so that they’re driven to try out your business or continue to engage with it.
Here are the 3 most common logos types you should know:
- Illustrative logos (illustrate what you do)
- Graphic logos (symbol that links to your brand)
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Font-based logo (such as Fed Ex, Google, or Coca Cola)
Every type of logo has its pros and cons, so it’s best to explore every option and see which one ultimately works best for your business.
What’s Included in a Logo?
Logos consist of three important elements: a logotype, a brandmark, and a tagline. Here’s a breakdown of these three things:
Logotype
The logotype is the name of your business. It’s the typographic treatment of your business, which helps customers quickly identify your business. It’s also commonly referred to as a wordmark.
Brandmark
This is the visual element that provides visual recognition of your brand. It usually encompasses smaller elements like your logo’s coloring and overall aesthetic design. The arrow in the Amazon logo is an example of a brandmark.
Tagline
Last but certainly not least is the tagline, the text that accompanies the other two elements. An effective tagline serves the following functions:
- It grabs the attention of customers
- It specifies your brand’s message
- It makes your brand more memorable
- It creates a need for a customer
- It captures a certain desired brand feeling
When writing your tagline, focus on making it short, honest, and easy to remember. It should also capture the right tone of voice for your audience.
How Should I Approach Making a Personal Logo?
Before you jump into the visual design of your logo, it’s best to take a step back and do some research to determine which direction you should take it in. Here are some important tasks to do and questions to answer prior to making your personal logo:
Decide How You Want to be Seen
The first step in designing a logo is determining how you want people to perceive your personal brand. Do you want them to see you as relaxed and casual or more elegant and elevated? Write down some keywords you’d use to describe your brand and then try to capture those words in your visual design.
Think About Your Audience & Competitors
A logo is a form of communication, so it’s important you know who you’re ultimately trying to talk to.
Think about your target audience, who they are and what they like, and other places they shop, to inform how you should be talking to them. Create a profile of your typical audience member and make them as real as possible so you can find ways of communicating with them that come across as organic.
It’s also incredibly important to know what your competitors are doing, and how they’re talking to your potential customers. What do they do well, and what does their logo say about them and their brand?
Think about the ways in which you’re different from your competitors, and how that impacts how you talk to your customer. How can you visually differentiate yourself from competitors without alienating yourself from customers?
By answering this question, you can create a personal logo that sets your brand apart while still winning over customers.
Designing a Personal Logo
Now that you know what goes into a logo, let’s jump into everything you should know about the design process. Here are some tips and best practices for designing a unique personal logo:
Focus on What Makes You Different
The main focus of your logo at first should be creating one that is visually distinct from your competitors. In order to do this, think about all the things that make you unique or different from your competitors, and how you can incorporate those things into the design.
Also, consider any existing imagery or visuals you may have that you can leverage for your logo.
Beyond imagery, look into different font options that can make your logo stand out. Don’t focus on making it too loud or expressive, but rather try to make it reflect the tone and voice of your business. It should be unique enough, however, so that you’re not accused of copying competitors.
Make it Clean & Clear
The best logos are simple and clean. So, do your best to avoid making your logo complicated or elaborate, and don’t try to cram in too many design elements to make it stand out. Overloading your logo will only make it visually unappealing and distract customers from what you can offer them.
Another best practice is to make your logo as symmetrical as possible. Use familiar shapes and sizes for your logo to avoid making it seem off-balance. Another good rule of thumb is to only use two colors in your logo, as any more will make it seem cluttered.
Design Tips for Logos
Are you not familiar with the design process? Need help starting your logo design? Well, the good news is that there are great online tools that make it easy for you to create a logo for your business.
If you are using an online logo designer, just make sure to keep the following logo design principles in mind as you use it:
- Simplicity
- Versatility
- Timelessness
- Memorability
By keeping these design principles in mind, you can create a truly great logo!
Final Thoughts on Designing a Personal Logo
Designing a personal logo isn’t easy. A lot of time, energy, and effort goes into it. By following the tips and tricks in this article, however, you can approach the design process in the best way possible and create a truly amazing logo for your business.
Ready to take a stab at your logo? Get started with our free online logo maker!
9 Valuable Tips to Take Your Initial Logo Design to the Next Level
Posted on October 10, 2018 by Logo Design Tips and Tricks
Coming up with a new logo for your company can be fun. it can also be challenging. You need to take time and consider the best way to design your logo. Whether you are trying to come up with a new logo or are trying to improve your initial logo design, you need to do some research.
Your logo is you. It should be able to stand up and represent you and your company for a long as you are in business, and beyond. Designing the perfect logo is possible.
Your vision of your company is expressed through your logo. You want the customer to see it, as well. When it becomes recognizable, people associate it with your company and product. It’s the purpose of having one.
Here are a few important tips to get you started.
Perfecting Your Initial Logo Design
Your logo is more than something that looks nice. It has to represent you and your brand. It’s important to get it right so people recognize it. When they see it, they’ll see you.
1. Use Color
The colors you choose are important. Color plays an important role in our everyday lives. We all have associations to certain colors. Incorporate colors into your logo that represent your company.
Colors can represent fire, heat, fresh, sunshine, and health, but they can have negative connotations, as well. Don’t pick a color simply because you like it. Find one that works for your product.
If you have uniforms or your product is a particular color or has a distinctive color in its label or packaging, work that into your logo fora better brand association. It helps to tie everything all together and make it all one package.
2. Keep it Simple
Don’t overcomplicate things. A logo with too much of anything will be quickly discarded. People have the attention span of a gnat. Keep the logo simple and easily recognizable.
Simple lines, one or two colors, and empty space work well. If people have to work to figure it all out, they won’t. It needs to get the message across and be memorable. Too much fuss turns people off.
3. Incorporate Your Product
Find creative and fun ways to get your product in the logo. With a simple outline or symbol, it becomes associated to you and your company. Don’t make it too complicated.
A barber might use scissors, a landscaper may use a lawnmower, and a baker could use a pie. It just needs to a simple, recognizable image that people easily see and understand.
4. Be Original
It’s important to find out what is trending and avoid it. You want to be original as your product. Chances are you have a lot of competition, so your logo is the first thing to set you apart from the rest.
Try to avoid using a certain shape or design that is regularly used. You want to stand out amongst your competitors. It’s always tempting to jump on the bandwagon of what seems to be successful, but you’ll be happier to make your own success.
5. Make it Relatable
A simple image, symbol, or word makes a strong clear message. Your potential customers like something familiar. It’s very comforting. It’s very important that the images, fonts, and colors all relate to your brand.
Work with what you have. Don’t pick an image or design you like and try to build your product around it. The design must come from the product. People like familiar and recognizable.
6. Use Humor
Using humor can work for any product or service. It doesn’t need to be ‘roll on the floor’ funny, but humor takes the sting out of being sold something. It’s particularly effective if you are selling something that isn’t always immediately associated with humor.
Dentists, lawyers, and plumbers have had great success by taking a swipe at their own professions by using humor. It tells your clients you understand their pain. It’s comforting and helps people relax. It’s also very memorable.
7. Test It
Don’t just jump on the first one you like. Design a few and test them. Ask for advice on them from people you trust. You can also do a random test with a focus group.
Take a few that you really like and sit on them for a while. Asking for advice is a good way to weed out the ones that are less effective. Don’t lock yourself into something you may end up hating later.
8. Font Matters
Take some time to test a few fonts for your logo, if you are using them. Some fonts have a stronger line, some give off a softer feel and some can just be too complicated to read.
Talk to a graphic designer for the best advice for what font will work best for your brand. You need to understand the impact it will have. It can work in favor just as easily as work against you.
9. Consider All Platforms
Your logo is going to travel. You want to have a design that will work on your website, your social media platforms, your stationery and business cards, on your vehicle, your uniform, and whatever else you plan on using it on.
It needs to be readable and recognizable on all platforms, in all sizes, and not lose anything in translation. Something that looks fantastic on your van might become a blue blob when shrunken down for your website.
Go-Go A Logo
If your initial logo design just isn’t cutting it anymore, hopefully, we have got you started to a new one. You want your customers and potential customers to recognize it and keep coming back to it.
You should enjoy designing your logo and you should also understand the importance it plays in your overall marketing. It’s meant to be the face of the product, you want to get it right.
Why not try out a few logos to see what is available. It’s easy to do online and there are hundreds of options. Once you have a design in mind, please continue here to make your free logo.