How to Create a Logo for Your Resume Writing Service in 11 Easy Steps
Posted on March 19, 2018 by Logo Design Tips and Tricks
When it comes to the logo for your resume writing service, you’ll need to go big or go home. Business logos are often the first things potential clients will see, so yours needs to make a statement.
There are lots of details to consider when creating your logo, but happily, we’ve got you covered. We’ve put together a list of 11 steps from conception to completion, that’ll make designing your logo as easy as pie.
Keep reading to find out how.
1. Think of Your Audience First
Before you do a single thing, get out your notepad (digital or paper, whatever floats your boat), and get into the mind of your ideal client.
To define your target market, you’ll need to ask–and answer–questions like:
- Where do they live?
- How much do they earn?
- What do they do each day?
- How do they find stuff out?
- Do they have a certain way of speaking?
- What kind of vocabulary do they use?
Once you have your answers, it’s time to move on.
It’s All About Them (Like It or Not)
The key thing to remember here is, what your clients would want and like is way more important than your own personal preferences.
For example, you might like the cutesy, kawaii-with-lots-of-fuzzy-pandas-and-smiley-popsicles kind of style. But if you’re marketing to professionals in need of a high-end resume writing service, a cute fuzzy logo isn’t going to cut it.
On the other hand, if you’re reaching out to prospects fresh-out-college, then something cool and a little more laid-back might be just what the doctor ordered.
2. Check Out the Competition
Next thing to do is to go online and check out your neighboring resume writing service websites. There, you’ll be able to take a good look at their logos and the kind of customers they appeal to.
What can you learn from your competitors? Is there a certain pattern in the style they use? Are crisp, clean lines all the rage with your client base, or do they prefer something a little softer?
You’ll also want to focus on who of your competition is the most successful. Chances are, their logo is one that sticks in the consumer’s mind. So, take note and learn from their successes. That could be you, one day.
3. Brainstorm with a Pencil
Now you’ve got an idea of who you’re trying to attract and what’s worked so far, you can start to design your logo for your resume writing service.
Again, take out your pad and pencil (it could be an Apple pencil, we don’t mind), and go to town. You want to get every line and curve, every thought and lightbulb idea onto that sheet of paper.
From steps 1 and 2, you’ll probably have a good idea of what you’re aiming for. Now, the only limit is your imagination, so draw everything that comes to mind.
As you move down through our list, it’ll be easier to narrow down which design is the one for you.
4. Keep It Simple
You want your logo to be memorable, and to make it stick you’ll need to keep it simple.
The best logos use minimal colors, symbols, and text, but make the biggest statement. Love them or hate them, brands like McDonald’s, Apple and Starbucks have got it right.
These 3 brands use just 2 colors in their logo, simple shapes, and no text. Well, unless you count Starbucks, whose instantly recognizable typeface is a logo in itself.
The point we’re making is, keep fuss to a minimal. Your logo represents your brilliant, professional and easy-to-use service. Unnecessary clutter will take away from that message and put potential clients off.
5. Keep It Clear
When creating a logo for your resume writing service, you need to send a clear message to your clients about what it is you do. So, think about the exact service you’ll be giving your customers, and tailor your logo accordingly.
The Ultimate Medical Academy, for example, has a clear and comprehensive resume-writing guide. The guide tells readers exactly what their resume should look like.
In the same way, write down a clear description of your service, and what your client should expect from it. Now, incorporate that clear message into your logo.
6. Tell Them Your Name
The full version of your logo should include the name of your resume writing service. You want people to know what you’re called, and for your company name to stick in their mind.
After all, before he was The Artist Formerly Known As Prince, Prince was, well, “Prince.” It was his brand name, catchy and memorable and cool. It was only after he got super-famous he could drop the name without a backward glance.
So, if your resume writing service gets so massively famous that the world will already know who you are, then great. But, for now, use your company name.
7. Go Bold and Stand Out from the Crowd
You could stay conservative and use a sheet of paper as part of your resume writing service logo. It’s safe, recognizable and easy to remember, after all.
But, if you’re itching to think outside the box and be a little more daring, then you can do that, too.
Think Outside the Box…
You can still incorporate paper into your logo, but instead of a pristine sheet, maybe turn it into something else. A crumpled ball of paper, a pretty paper airplane or an origami bird all have something in common: they’re made of paper.
Another tool you can use is that of hidden images. Hidden images show intelligence and creativity, which will definitely strike a chord with many in your target audience.
… Or, Go Nuts
If you’re determined to go even bolder, though, then we tip our hats to you. The 3 brands we mentioned before did just that, and with great success.
Apple used a simple logo that seems predictable, except for one thing: the bite mark in that humble apple is iconic. Take a look at it–you’ll see what we mean.
And McDonalds’ logo is just a take off the first letter of their name, but it makes a huge statement.
Starbucks, though, takes the prize for one of the world’s most successful and obscure logos. Who’d have thought of associating a mermaid with a cup of joe? Not us, but it works.
8. Choose Your Colors Wisely
You’ve fleshed out the bare bones of your logo idea, and your resume writing service is getting its mascot. But before you go full-steam ahead, you need to think about colors.
It’s easy to think, I’ll just pick the colors I like. There’s a little more to it than that. For one thing, it’s very likely that the colors you use in your logo will also be used across your website, in your stationery, and any merchandise you might produce.
Another thing you have to think about though is, where will your logo be displayed? If it’s solely web-based, then the colors you use won’t matter as much.
If your logo will be printed, either in color or black and white, though, the colors you choose will make a difference. Pale shades or fainter colors don’t pick up well in black and white and can be difficult to match even for a color printer.
9. A Picture Speaks a Thousand Words…
Now you’re coming to your final choice of logo image, and it’s going to give your resume writing service wings to fly all over the internet.
So, take another look at the ideas you’ve come up with and make sure you’re choosing the right logo for your business. Does the image say what you want it to? Will people look at it and know what it is you do?
Look at your choice critically and get some outside advice. Trusted friends and family will be able to give you the critiquing you need so you can tweak your logo to perfectly reflect your service.
10. …But Your Typeface Makes All the Difference
You’ve got your image locked down and that is a feat, so give yourself a mighty pat on the back!
The last thing you need to choose is the right typeface that’ll bring your image to life and tell the world who you are.
When choosing your final font, it needs to be:
- Extremely readable
- Easy to scale up and down in size and weight
- Well-balanced with your image
- Fits your business ethos
Your font says a lot about you and will provide many of your customers with the first impression of your business.
11. Make It a Vector SVG Graphic
The final step in the process will get you the most beautiful and user-friendly logo of them all.
Once you’ve got the exact design of your logo down pat, you’ll need to make it digital. The way to do that is to make it a vector graphic.
Vector images are different from traditional JPEGs because you can scale them down or scale them up, all the way to infinity. And you won’t lose a single pixel.
With our premium logo-creation pack, you’ll get full branding with VSG graphics, so you can use your logo on absolutely anything.
The Perfect Logo for Your Resume Writing Service
Your business logo is one of the first things potential customers will see, and it speaks volumes about you and your company.
Make your logo say exactly what you want it to so it’ll appeal to the target market you’re aiming at. Go for substance over style, keep it clear and simple, but don’t think it needs to be boring.
Instead, keep our 11 steps clear in mind, and you’ll soon have the perfect business for your resume writing service.
What are you waiting for? Check out our tutorial on how to create your free logo now.
5 Animated Logo Ideas for YouTube Marketing
Posted on March 19, 2018 by Logo Design Tips and Tricks
When it comes to branding your business, having a solid logo design is one of the most important aspects to focus on. It will serve to both help you stand out from the competition and also draw your audience in.
People love video because it’s the easiest form of media to consume. Therefore, you should always incorporate YouTube into your marketing strategy. When it comes to logos, videos are a great way to take things a step further.
Having an animated logo can make your brand that much more memorable in the eyes of your consumers. But, there are things you need to keep in mind when it comes to YouTube marketing.
Let’s take a look at animation ideas to help you stand out.
1. Add Glow
Adding a glow effect to your logo is a simple way to make it more eye-catching to your viewers. You have a lot of room for customization, as well.
You could make your logo’s glow gradually brighter over time, or you could maintain a certain level of the effect until you transition into the rest of your video.
Regardless of how you incorporate it, a glow effect is a quick fix for logos that need a little more character to them.
If you find yourself with concepts for a new logo, you can use our logo maker software to get your ideas out.
2. Animated Written Text
Written text animation is a great animated logo solution for your business’s name or slogan.
The premise is simple: rather than having the text fade onscreen, each letter could be individually animated so that it looks someone is writing it out by hand.
In a society full of people with short attention spans, using animated text is a solid way to hold your viewers’ interest.
3. Incorporate Your Business Theme
This is one of the most important animated logo ideas to keep in mind due to the endless amount of possibilities it has.
For instance, let’s assume that your company is associated with sporting goods. You could incorporate sports themes into your logo animation, either with text or with the logo itself.
How you implement this is up to you, and the only limit is your creativity.
4. Sync Your Logo with Your Intro Music
Your business doesn’t have to be in the music industry to make use of this. Most animated logos have a jingle or song that plays when they first appear onscreen.
Having your logo pulse in time with the music (such as with bass or a kick drum) can add an extra layer to the animation that consumers are sure to appreciate.
5. Hide and Reveal
A logo that is both simple and intriguing, such as the one you’ll find on https://www.brokedick.com, can be a powerful asset.
But, you can still take a simple logo a step further. Like glow effects, hide and reveal animation is easy to implement and can apply to any type of business.
Having a logo start out small and inconspicuous before bringing in the rest of the text and image is a much more engaging way to present your brand than bringing the whole logo in at once.
Take Your Time with Your Animated Logo
Since you will likely reuse this animation over and over, it’s important to get it right the first time. This will allow you to get the most out of your time (and budget) that you put into working on it.
Regardless of the industry, logos are one of the many ways you can stand out from competitors in your industry. To learn more about their importance for your business, check out our blog.
How to Design Your Own Logo for a Tshirt
Posted on March 15, 2018 by Logo Design Tips and Tricks
Did you know that you can design your own awesome tshirt logo?
Logo design is a great way to promote your brand. With a cool, unique tshirt logo, you can become a walking advertisement for your own business. To promote the brand even more, give shirts to your customers and employees.
If the logo becomes popular enough, you can even start selling the tshirts in an online store, creating a whole new revenue stream!
But first, you need to make the logo. Wondering how to get started? We’re here to help – in this guide, we’ll walk you through how to design your own tshirt logo. Keep reading for our top tshirt logo design tips.
1. Seek Inspiration
Before you can design the logo for your tshirts, you’ll need to get inspired. Logo design is an artistic, creative process, so tap into your inner artist before you get to work.
You can research online, exploring different company logos on sites like Yizzam. Figure out what designs appeal to you, then compare them to see what they all have in common. This will help you decide what kind of design is perfect for you.
You can also just keep an eye out for a great tshirt logo in your day to day life. People wear branded shirts all the time. Which ones catch your eye?
The logos that stick in your mind the most are the ones you should draw inspiration from. After a while, you’ll probably see that the different logos you like have many things in common.
2. Learn About Logos
It’s also a good idea to learn about the history and concept of logos. What makes an effective logo?
The best ones tend to be unique, visual, memorable, and not too complicated. Your logo also has to look good on a t-shirt. What will make people want to wear a logo on their clothing?
3. Follow a Process
The creative process can look different for everyone. However, if you’re not sure what steps to follow, it can be good to have a roadmap.
Consider a process that goes something like this:
- Research: look at what’s out there, and what your competitors are doing. Decide how you want your logo to fit in or stand out. Look at modern logo trends, and balance that with the need for a logo to be timeless (or get updated).
- Concept: sketch or design a few logos based on your ideas.
- Reflect: spend a few days away from the project and see how you feel about it. When you come back, the right direction to go will often be clear.
- Feedback: present the logo to a small focus group and get some feedback. Make changes accordingly until you come to a final draft.
4. Know Your Audience
While you’re researching and designing, you’ll need to keep your audience in mind. Who do you want to reach with this logo? Who do you want to wear your tshirts? Who do you want to notice them?
Your logo will communicate something, but different audiences often read messages in different ways. It’s a good idea to include your target audience members in the group you get feedback from. That way, you can tell if your logo is really conveying the message that you want it to.
5. Save Your Work
As you work to design your logo, you’ll probably work through a number of different sketches and design ideas along the way.
Make sure to save your work, rather than throwing away the sketches you decide not to go with. These can be helpful later if you decide to do a redesign based on feedback from your focus group. If you decide to make another logo later, your sketches can also be helpful.
6. Try a Mood Board
If you get stuck, get creative with a mood board or vision board.
Logos are all about tying different elements together: color, shape, text, and so on. With a mood board, you can experiment with different elements, and envision how they might work together in a tshirt logo.
7. Don’t Get Too Trendy
There will always be fads in logo design. However, you need to balance the desire for trendiness with the need for the logo to be evergreen.
Of course, if you intend to release a new tshirt design every few months, you may want to go with a trendy logo. But if you want this logo to last for years to come, choose a design that will remain relevant, rather than a trend that will soon be forgotten.
8. Change Your Design Medium
If you’re hitting a brick wall on ideas, you might just need to try designing with a different medium.
If you’ve been trying to come up with a design on a computer, try switching to pen and paper for a few days instead – or vice versa. Sometimes, this kind of change is all you’ll need to spark creativity and come up with the perfect design.
Don’t worry about your skill level here, either. Your paper-and-pen sketches don’t need to be great: this is just a way to spark ideas. You can always clean up the image with a computer later.
9. Consider Fonts
Words aren’t necessary for logos, but they’re a great way to create an attention-grabbing tshirt. If you decide to incorporate words into your logo, though, you’ll need to take font into consideration.
Different fonts work for different purposes. A sans-serif font looks more modern, while a serif font can look old-fashioned. Hard-to-read fonts aren’t ideal for tshirts, since the goal is to allow people to read the text quickly.
10. Consider Color
Will you be printing your logo on tshirts of a specific color? If so, that will affect the colors you should choose for your logo. A black logo becomes hard to see on a navy-blue shirt, for example.
Get Your Tshirt Logo Printed!
Once you’ve decided on the perfect logo design, getting the shirts printed is the only thing you have left to do.
This is the fun part – you can choose the perfect shirt colors and styles to display your logo.
However, creating the logo can be fun as well, when you use an online logo maker. Start designing your logo with our logo maker today!
A Logo Designer’s Guide to Logo Development
Posted on March 14, 2018 by Logo Design Tips and Tricks
Every business needs a logo. Sometimes a business is just starting out and building out their marketing collateral. Other times, the business is rebranding and looking for a fresh take.
No matter who your client is or how old the company, the logo development process is fairly consistent. There’s always some competitor research involved. There are brand-related questions you’ll ask every client.
That said, there are some tricks that speed the process along and leave your clients happier in the long run.
So let’s dig deep into some areas of logo development and see if we can help to streamline your process.
Start Logo Development with Competitor Research
Before you draw your first sketch, you must research your client’s competitors. It won’t matter how great your design is if it resembles an existing logo.
This isn’t just a question of avoiding confusion, though that matters. A new logo that resembles an existing, better-established logo just works as a marketing tool for another business. You don’t help your client by advertising for someone else.
There’s also a legal issue at play. Many businesses trademark their logo. Give your client a logo that looks like someone else’s and you create a potential legal problem.
No one will thank you for opening up that can of worms.
Of course, you can’t possibly research every logo in existence. There’s just too many of them. The best you can offer is a good faith effort at not recreating a competitor’s logo.
Make Sure You Understand Your Client’s Brand
You can’t design an effective logo if you don’t get what your client’s brand is about. That doesn’t mean you must read their mission statement, but it does warrant a conversation. Make sure you ask a few key questions, such as:
- What are your brand values?
- How do you communicate those values to customers?
- Do customers perceive your brand that way you intend?
The answers to those questions will inform almost all of your design choices. A company that aims for a light, cheery brand isn’t well-served by a heavy font or dark colors. A business with a reputation for cool professionalism is best served by capitalizing on that reputation.
Simplicity
There is no greater friend in logo development than simplicity. There are a few important reasons for that.
Remembering simple things is easier than remembering complex things. For example, almost everyone knows that 2 + 2 = 4. On the other hand, how many people remember the Quadratic Equation from their high school math classes?
It’s more complicated and that makes it harder to remember.
Think of any images you create as symbolic. You’re trying to evoke an idea, rather than paint a scene.
You can see a great example of simplicity at work in a logo over at The Marine Battery. The anchor image is incredibly simple, but it evokes the idea of the sea.
Play Around with Several Ideas
Another key element of good logo development is not getting hung up on your first idea. Coming first doesn’t make an idea good or even viable. On the whole, first ideas are either vague or overly ambitious.
The brain is pretty lazy when you get right down to it. If it can work less in reaching a goal, it will.
Say your new client is a self-employed bricklayer. Your brain probably jumped straight to a picture of a brick or brick wall.
What about a freelance writer? Your brain probably conjured an image of a keyboard or a pen.
The problem is that you almost certainly share most of the same cultural and social touchstones as your competitors. That means their brains also went straight to some variant of those images.
Think of your first few ideas as cobweb clearing exercises. They let you deal with the obvious and the derivative. Once you get through those, you can start the real creative work.
Color
There is always the temptation to avoid color in logo development, but don’t go there too fast. Color is a primary reason around 85% of customers choose a product.
Again, the goal here is simplicity. Limit your palette to a few colors. If the business already uses specific colors for it’s marketing collateral, most of the decision is made for you. Consistency in branding more or less requires you stick with those colors.
If the business is new or hasn’t settled on a color scheme, reference their answers about what their brand represents. Choose colors that dovetail with their intentions.
If all else fails, look at broader industry trends. Is there consistency in color choices? If so, start with those colors.
The client can always ask for different colors if they aren’t happy.
It Must Scale
You can’t predict where a client will use a logo these days. For now, it might just go on their business cards and letterhead. It could turn up almost anywhere down the road, such as:
- The client’s website
- Social media accounts
- Product packaging
- Billboards
- Television ads
- Brochures
That means the logo must scale and still look good. The less complicated the image is, the better it scales. So there’s another argument for simplicity.
The real trick here is making sure you give the client the logo image in a scalable file type, like Scalable Vector Graphics. That lets them use it at any size without any grainy pixelation.
Parting Thoughts
Good logo development is about striking a balance between conflicting forces.
You must balance creativity against the practical reality of existing logos. You must balance your own view of a brand against the company’s stated brand values.
You should strive for simplicity, even when your imagination takes you toward complexity. Developing multiple ideas is more difficult, but first ideas are often stale.
Using color requires some restraint because it’s easy to go overboard. Yet, it also helps drive sales when done well.
The one straightforward part is that you should always use a file format that lets the image scale. It simplifies your clients’ lives in the long run.
Looking for another way to streamline your logo development process? Instead of building logos from scratch on your own computer, try out our free logo maker.