If a picture is worth 1,000 words, your small business logo must be worth at least 5,000, right?
Ok, maybe that’s a bit dramatic . . . But there is certainly truth to the idea behind it.
Think about it: not only does a logo tell us who a company is and what they do, but it also creates familiarity and recognition crucial to a small business standing out and being remembered by its customers.
A well-designed logo can help your business look:
– Professional
– Unique
– Recognizable
– Trustworthy
Your customer is more willing to invest money in a small business that looks put together and professional. Having a beautiful custom logo is a great way to do that. But with all the advice, templates, semi-custom brands, and ideas out there, it can feel overwhelming to put together a small business logo that truly works.
So if you’re ready for a new logo design, let’s get back to basics and go through some essential do’s and don’ts to make sure your small business logo is the best it can be.
Logo Design Do’s:
1. Do make your logo RELEVANT to your business: any imagery must be relevant to what your business provides to your clients.
2. Do keep your logo SIMPLE: Aim for a clean design that is still unique and easy to recognize. Only include the most important information about your business and leave out the rest.
3. Do make it READABLE! This is a big one. Your audience must be able to read your logo. So skip the super skinny fonts, itty bitty phrases, or complicated images that will look muddled when your audience tries to read it.
4. Do make your logo VERSATILE: you must be able to use your logo in a variety of places, both online and in print. It helps to create several versions of your logo to fit in different-sized spaces and on top of different colored backgrounds.
5. Do keep your logo CONSISTENT with your brand: your logo must match all the other visual pieces of your business. The colors, fonts, style, and imagery of your logo should blend well with your website and marketing materials.
Logo Design Don’ts:
1. Don’t make your logo GENERIC: if your logo blends in, your business will struggle to stand out. Aim for simplicity without sacrificing a style that is uniquely you.
2. Don’t be CONFUSING: creativity is great, but will a glance at your logo raise more questions than answers? Your logo design should match your business and its products and services.
3. Don’t follow TRENDS blindly: trends come and go, but great design should be timeless. Your logo should have an enduring appeal that doesn’t look outdated in a few years.
4. Don’t COPY your competitors: having a logo or brand similar to theirs means your business will blend into a “sea of same.” Dig into what makes you and your business special, then make sure your logo and brand reflect that.
5. Don’t forget your AUDIENCE: when someone sees your logo and brand, they will have an immediate emotional response to it. Consider who your ideal customer is, and make sure your logo appeals to them and what they want.
Hopefully, this advice helps you design or redesign a small business logo that really, truly works.
And be so proud of yourself for pursuing your dream of running your own business! It’s not easy, but you CAN do this. Because your dream is too big to let go of. Too special to abandon. And worth all the hard work you put into it every single day.
Let that confidence carry you toward the successful business you have always dreamed of!
And if you need help with your small business logo, I’d be honored to help bring it to life with beauty and style. Fill out an inquiry form or book a free call today!
