What is a logo?

What a loaded question!

A logo is more than just a simple text or image we attach to our business. It’s a symbol; a message that says not only what your business is, but who it is.

In this blog, we dig deep into the significance of a logo and why its a necessary part of your brand, no matter how big or small your business may be.

What is a Logo?

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a logo as an “identifying symbol” or “identifying statement”. Think about that for a moment… a symbol and a statement.

That’s a lot to pack into a 2D image or text, yet that’s exactly what businesses do. They package their identity, their brand, and their purpose into a small representation of who they are and what they do.

It’s effective, too. Think about the logos that stick into your mind today:

• McDonald’s golden arches
• Nike’s swoosh
• Starbucks’ two-tailed mermaid
• Apple’s half-eaten… well, Apple

You get the point. They stick with you as a mental image of the brands you’ve come to know. It’s a symbol and a statement that embodies the business.

Why Does My Business Need a Logo?

Big or small, corporate or independent, your business needs a logo. It’s used in multiple aspects of your business, from your print collateral to social media, advertisements, and products.

Your logo plays a key role in marketing and branding, including:

• Business cards
• Uniforms
• Letterhead
• Signage
• Banners
• Promotional materials (shirts, mugs, pens, etc.)
• Website design
• Social media accounts
• Email signatures
• And more…

Simply put, it’s everywhere you are: online, on paper, and in person. It’s a first impression packed into a glance.

When done right, people will remember your logo, and, in turn, your business. But if you design a poor logo, it can make your business appear unprofessional or forgettable.

That’s why quality matters. You achieve this by putting conscious thought into your design. Below you’ll find tips on how to create a logo that your customers will keep top-of-mind.

How to Create a Logo

There are two main options for designing a logo: you can hire someone to create one for you or do it yourself. There are pros and cons to each option and deciding which is right for your business depends upon your budget, skills, and tools.

When you hire a graphic designer, you hire someone who is trained in logo design. He or she will have both the expertise to help you choose a color scheme and design that looks professional.

Depending upon the graphic designer’s level of experience, you can expect to pay less than $300 (on average) for a logo design. This includes mockups, proofs, edits, and your final design.

However, if you’re just starting out with a small business or you already have a keen idea of your logo design in mind, you may choose to create a logo yourself. There are several resources available to help you do this.

If you already have experience in design, all you really need is a design program, such as Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator. But if you aren’t a design guru, you’ll need a little more help.

That’s where logo maker programs come into play. These typically easy-to-use programs are complete with stock graphics and fonts. You don’t need any design expertise. Instead, the program walks you through the design process step-by-step.

What to Consider Before Designing a Logo

Whether you hire someone or plan to tackle your logo design yourself, there are a few dos and don’ts to keep in mind as you hit the drawing board.

1. Aim to Stand Out

Forget what’s trending and what you’ve seen before. Your logo should be unique to your business. Think outside the box.

Start by identifying what makes your business unique from its competition, then expand on that. Drive your special attributes home with a special logo that sets you apart.

Some businesses may use an animal in their logo they feel represents their company’s culture and mission. UC Browser is a great example. They chose a squirrel because it’s fast, smart, and strong.

The animal has a personality, which influences their brand’s voice.

2. Consider How Your Idea Will Look in Black and White

It’s important when designing a logo to make sure it looks good no matter how it’s printed. This includes grayscale formats.

A best practice is to design your logo in black and white first. This will keep you from getting too attached to a color scheme only to realize it won’t work.

You can always add color to a black and white photo, but it’s much harder to fix a color logo when you realize it disappears or doesn’t make sense when converted to a colorless format.

3. Keep It Simple and Scaleable

Simplicity is important in a logo. It should be easy to recognize at a glance. Whether your design is shrunk to fit onto an address label or enlarged to cover a trade show banner, people should be able to read and recognize it.

As you design your logo, take out any excess or unnecessary details. Also, make it a point to test it out in different sizes. This will help you prevent or correct problems before you present your logo to the public.

4. Give It Meaning

All good logos have meaning. That meaning may not be philosophical or life-changing, but it does have to make sense. Before you settle on a logo design, ask yourself what it means to you or your business.

This answer may be as simple as a word or as complex as a narrative. So long as you can explain it, you’re good to go!

Whip Up Your Next Logo Online

If you’ve just discovered the answer to “What is a logo?” and realized you desperately need one of your own, don’t fret! We have the perfect solution. With our online logo maker, you can whip up a custom logo in minutes.

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Have you ever seen a logo that didn’t look right? Considering all the ways a logo can go wrong, it probably happened.

Some logos completely miss the mark; they have nothing to do with a company’s product or service and confuse customers. Others are too flashy or over the top, making them hard to use for various sizes and surfaces.

Then, there’s the matter of whether or not a company uses vector format logos. This is an essential part of logo creation. A logo can only do so much for you if it’s saved as a PNG file or it’s rasterized.

In fact, this goes for all graphic design as a whole – whenever you can save something as a vector, do it. If you aren’t sure what a vector is, keep reading to find out more about logo vectors and why they’re the best choice for a logo.

What Are Vector Format Logos?

To create something in a vector format is basically the cleanest way to create a digital design. Vectors are made of mathematic equations instead of color pixels. This allows them to scale as large as a billboard and as small as a logo for a business card without compromising quality.

Rasterized images, PNGs, and other file formats, on the other hand, will be pixelated when the sizes change in such dramatic ways. Not only that, but the proportions of a design may change as well. This looks blurry, it’s hard to understand, and it’s outright sloppy.

Thankfully, you can avoid such a situation by always saving your logo as a vectorized logo.

Beware that vectors can be rasterized, but rasterized images cannot become vectors. You always have to start with the latter, then use the former if you happen to need it.

More often than not, though, you can do everything you need with a vector logo. If you’re still not convinced that this is the optimal file format to use, check out the following reasons to make a vector logo.

5 Reasons to Make a Vector Logo

Before you start making excuses as to why you shouldn’t make a vector logo, consider all the reasons this is of benefit to you. Then, look into how to make this happen – which is arguably going to be easier than you think, considering all the vector illustration software programs out there.

Here’s why you should design a logo with such a program.

1. To Have Something Ready for All Your Campaigns

Think about all the various uses of your logo.

One day you’re using it to design company t-shirts, and the next, you need it for a sign or banner of an event you’re sponsoring. You’re also going to need your logo if you ever redesign your website or need new product packaging designs.

Other uses of a logo include business cards, car wraps, and promotional products of all kinds. Even if you’re not planning on using some of these things now, you never know what may happen in the future. It’s always better to be prepared for situations like this than to be playing catch-up.

2. To Put Watermarks on Company Images

Just as you’re going to have to make a logo bigger and smaller for all the uses above, you need a logo to watermark images too.

Think of all the professional company photos you’ve paid for and invested your time in. Don’t you owe it to yourself to make sure these don’t get stolen and reused without your approval? A vector logo can help you prevent such copyright issues.

When you use your logo to watermark a photo, it’s practically impossible for someone else to use it. Think of this as a form of insurance for all the content you’ve worked hard to create.

3. To Save Time

Speaking of working hard, how long does it usually take you to put a marketing campaign together?

Whether it’s digital or print, it surely takes a significant amount of effort to go from idea generation to completion. Having a vector logo ready can speed the process.

Instead of having to make a new version of your logo every time, or finding ways to compensate for pixels and blurriness, you can get the perfect image no matter what the campaign involves.

A vector logo makes it easy to create large uses of your logo one day, then scale it down the next.

4. To Save Money

When you save time, you save money. This is especially true if you aren’t much of a graphic designer, or if you don’t have one on your team. If you didn’t have a vector logo ready, a situation like this would mean you would always need to hire someone in order to make your logo the right size for a certain project.

Considering all the marketing that goes into a business, that’s a lot of back and forth and plenty of transactions to get a clear logo image at the ideal size. Save yourself the trouble, the stress, the time, and the money by making your vector a logo right off the bat.

5. To Express Your Level of Professionalism

The final benefit to consider is your brand as a whole. No one is going to take you seriously if you have an illegible logo on your business card or a sloppy design on your company apparel.

It’s in your best interest to always look sharp, which is exactly what a vectorized logo can help you do. Regardless of the logo design, this is the main thing that will preserve the integrity of the overall aesthetic appeal.

How to Make Your Logo the Right Way

It’s one thing to understand that you need vector format logos, and another to know what goes into making this happen. Thankfully, we’ve made the process easy for you.

With our logo design system, you can make all your logo ideas come to life and save the final result in a vector format. The process is simple and incredibly efficient – all you have to do is get started.

Click here to create your new company logo!

When it comes to representing your business to potential and current clients, few things are more important than your company’s logo.

Your logo is responsible for a huge amount of your company’s branding, including elements like establishing recognition and trust with clients, as well as amping up your company’s financial value in general.

So, does it feel as though your company’s logo has been pulling its weight?

If not, it may have something to do with factors like how long it’s been since the logo was last update, or whether it was professionally designed in the first place.

Your logo could be detracting from your company’s success and relevance in clients’ minds–and if so, a fresh logo change may be just what you need to get back on top!

But how can you tell if your logo is due for a change? Here are 5 of the biggest signs it’s time to freshen that little guy up!

1. Your Logo Looks Out-of-Date

One of the easiest ways to tell you’re in desperate need of a new logo is to look at your current one with a critical eye and decide whether or not it looks…well…old. If your logo was super trendy at the time it was made, it’s likely it hasn’t withstood the test of time. If your logo looks cheesy or tacky on second glance…it’s time for a new logo.

Some logo designs are simple and classic enough that they’re really pretty timeless and aren’t easily subject to poor aging–but, unfortunately, logos like this are pretty few and far between. Your logo should always appear as cutting-edge and customer-based as your services are.

Sometimes, when it comes to logos that feel a little outdated, a simple-but-modern revision is enough to kick your design into gear again. Either way, though, if your logo has started to look old, something’s gotta change!

2. You’ve Evolved…But Your Logo Hasn’t

Businesses change. They become more complex, their missions become different, and the clients they serve evolve. As startups, Apple and Microsoft had no idea what they’d evolve into! But over time, as they did change, their logos changed along with them.

Chances are, if your company has been around for a while, it’s done some significant changing over the course of its existence. If your company is still sporting the same logo from its startup marketing materials, there’s a good chance it’s outgrown its logo.

This is a really important consideration to recognize, since you’ll want to be sure your clients know you’re staying flexible and on top of things, rather than getting lazy and set in out-of-date old ways.

3. Your Logo isn’t Attracting Clients

Your logo’s #1 responsibility is to represent your company and to attract new clients to your services. Current and potential clients should see your logo and immediately be interested in your services and what it is your company is about. If your logo isn’t managing this, it’s definitely time for a new one.

The reason your logo is failing when it comes to attracting new clients could be any number of things–an evolved audience or changed demographic–or just good old fashioned ugly logo design.

Whatever the exact reason may be, if your logo isn’t attracting traffic, it’s time for a change. A really sleek, cutting edge logo may be just what you need to drive the clients to your page! A logo is a small-but-mighty tool. Be sure to take full advantage of its potential power.

4. Your Logo Blends in with the Competition

One of the other main goals of a logo should be to help your company stand out against all other logos in the world, and against the logos of your company’s competition. If your logo is too cookie-cutter or trendy-driven to do that…you might just need a whole new logo!

Just because the services you offer are similar to other similar companies’ services doesn’t mean it’s alright to blend in when it comes to your company’s branding. Other companies offer similar services–but yours are the best, right? Your logo should help prove this.

If it’s not working to set your company apart from the rest, you logo isn’t working! A brand new logo may be the perfect refresh-button your company needs to make your services stand out from others. Plus, a fresh look can work wonders for sparking clients’ interest in your company for the first time or all over again!

5. Your Logo is Just…Well…Bad

Even if your logo is new and different, there’s a chance it’s still…uh…not great. If you have a hunch that your logo isn’t working as well as it should be, it’s probably not.

Good logo design is super hard to accomplish. The principles of good design and other marketing concepts are what ultimately determines the success of your logo. If your logo designer isn’t versed in these things or in the technologies used to make most logos, there’s a good chance your logo isn’t as good as it should be.

Your logo might have a poor color scheme or lack of balance. Maybe it doesn’t agree with the tone of your company, doesn’t look professional or polished enough, or just feels “off” somehow. It might be all-around too-busy or…well, ugly.

If it seems like your logo could benefit from enlisting some more professional logo design services, chances are, you should definitely, absolutely seek these out and nab a new logo as soon as possible!

So…Ready for a Logo Change?

The bottom line is that, if you’ve got a feeling you might maybe possibly be due for a logo change–you probably are.

Whether it’s been a while since your last update, or you’ve just got the feeling it’s time for a logo reset, go for it.

If you’ve determined that your logo is, in fact, a no-go, start your revamp with us! Check out our awesome online logo maker and other services to amp your logo up so it’s as awesome as everything else about your company.

Take a walk around the city and let your eyes wander over the various brands and logos you see. The most effective logos are instantly recognizable. They are appealing, stand out from their competitors and invoke an immediate memory of the product they represent.

Maybe, if it’s really good, they make you want to buy a product right now.

Your logo needs to do that, too. The most effective logos deliver an image of your brand that people identify without hesitation. It’s instant and effective, a reminder that you do business in this town.

When people see your logo, they know who you are and what you do. And that is exactly what you want!

Effective Logos and Branding

If you want your business to thrive, you market it. To market well, an effective logo is a must.

The logo is a part of the total brand you’re building. It is your image. Consider what you want your brand to be before you even start.

You don’t want just any logo, you want an effective one! But, how do you design a logo that makes an instant impact? Well, you follow some basic rules.

Use the 5 Elements of Effective Logo Design

There are 5 elements that an effective logo must include. We’re not just making this up – it’s a well known a marketing strategy. The best and most famous logo designers swear by them and you should, too.

Keep Your Logo Simple

A simple logo is so much more attractive. It’s clean and designed to flow within the space it lives. You’re going for minimal text, well-chosen colors, and clean lines.

You want it to be recognizable, even if your customer only has seconds to glance at it.

Remember that your logo is printed on a variety of business products. Fine details get lost in smaller images, so just don’t include them. In this case, less really is more.

Like the look of an image that has too much detail? No problem! See if you can make the image more basic by blending the details together.

For example, a tree with many thin branches may be too busy to use as your logo. What might it look like if the branches were filled in and more solid? It’s nearly the same image with the same qualities but has a more clean, simplistic look.

Make The Design Memorable

What images come to mind when you think of certain words like coffee or french fries? Keep that in mind while designing your logo. Try to identify what it is that makes that brand’s logo memorable to you.

Those logos generally include simplicity and bold lines. They are memorable because they are easy to picture in our mind without even seeing them!

When you design an effective logo, it needs to be memorable. A customer sees your logo and they remember your product. It’s that simple.

Give it Timeless Qualities

Will your logo stand the test of time? Is it modern enough to appeal to a younger crowd, but equally appealing to the older generations? How will it hold up in the future?

These are the questions you need to ask in order to have a timelessly effective logo. The big factor to consider about timelessness is this: It costs money to redesign your logo. Not just a graphic designer, but to reprint on all of your marketing materials and products.

Redesigning can be done, but it’s not a simple or cheap task. It’s much better to get your logo right the first time. All you need to do is invest some thought and these 5 elements of effective logo design.

Be Certain It’s Versatile

Think about the size, shape, and color of your logo. Can you print it on a variety of products and materials? What about in gray-scale? Will you be able to blow it up large enough for a billboard or shrink it down for letterhead?

What about using your image on the web? You’ll need to think about your website theme and brand colors.

Versatility means you can use your logo anywhere you need it! Design your logo to be scalable and printable on a variety of materials. You may even consider having a few versions made to transfer between products.

Keep It Appropriate

Align your logo with your overall business brand by keeping it appropriate. This design element is not only about being professional but remembering your audience. Know what is appropriate to the people you are trying to reach.

Your logo will speak to a certain audience, so do some research about what they like and don’t like. Try to identify trends that are appealing within age groups, genders, and even interest groups. The best logo will reach more than one audience but won’t put off others.

Are you providing professional services to business owners? Hot colors and emojis won’t represent your business very well. It may even make you seem unprofessional.

Are you trying to reach children and their parents? Use colors and fonts that are childlike and fun.

Remember that your logo also reflects your organization’s core values and business practices. An effective logo can show strength, loyalty, effort, good ethics and more.

One Last Word of Advice

Be original. Don’t feel like you need to follow the crowd or model your logo after someone else’s image. Trends are good but they come and go. Effective logos are the ones that stand out from the crowd.

Make sure your logo reflects you, your business and your longterm goals. It should be one of a kind, and not just for trademark reasons. Design it to stand on its own, just like your business does.

Ready to Design an Effective Logo?

If you want to design an effective logo, our Logo Maker program is the only tool you’ll ever need. Learn more about how to use Logo Maker with our tutorial.

Now you can put your brand to work! Get started on your new logo, now.