How to Choose a Logo for My Business
If you’re starting a business, it is very crucial to choose the logo wisely as it tells potential customers what kind of business you have.
Slightly ahead of the brand name, the logo is the most prominent and stable element of marketing and must suit your brand and deliver the right message.
What is a Logo?
A logo is a design symbolizing a company, organization, product, or brand. A good logo shows what a company does and what the brand values.
What is the Purpose of a Logo?
The primary role of a logo is to give your business a unique mark that differentiates you from your competitors. It can quickly grab viewers’ attention and communicate a company’s core values in an interesting way.
There are 5 Common Types of Logos
A letter-mark
A letter-mark is a typography-based logo that’s comprised of a few letters(pronounceable word), usually a company’s initials. The letter-mark is all about simplicity.
A Word Mark
A wordmark, also known as a logotype is a text-based logo that focuses on a business name alone and has no pictures. Word logos are easy to design but that doesn’t mean they are plain or boring. The name, when combined with memorable typography, creates a unique brand identity. A good example is coca-cola or visa.
Abstract Symbol
An abstract mark is a specific type of pictorial logo usually in a form of an abstract geometric which represents a business. Abstract logos are a popular choice of logo design for small businesses to large brands as they express multiple concepts and feelings in a single symbol.
Illustrative Symbol
Illustrative logos are made up of complex design elements, carrying a pictorial presentation of the numerous features and aspects of the brand. They can also be formed with the name of the company.
Combination Marks
Simply put, a combination mark is a union of letters and images.
There are two advantages of using this type of logo:
- Having a graphic element in your logo will help you showcase your company’s personality and values much more effectively while keeping the name front and center ensures instant brand recognition.
- These logotypes can often be split apart, giving you the ability to use the text or the symbol independently if the situation calls for it.
What are the Golden Rules of Logo Design?
Simple
Good logo design doesn’t need to be complicated. Simple logos are the ones people can recognize as soon as they see them. Simplicity is key as it makes a logo design easily versatile and memorable. Try to use as few colors and shapes as possible when you choose your brand logo.
Memorable/ Impactful
Your logo should be memorable enough that someone who has only seen the logo once should still be able to remember it and be able to describe the logo to someone else.
Timeless
Designing a timeless logo is extremely important for the success of your business.
Here are few things to consider in order to come up with a timeless logo for your business:
- Choose a simple shape.
- Do not use complicated graphical elements
- Use as few colors as possible.
A timeless logo is simple enough to not die with any trends, appropriate in the feeling, distinctive enough to commit it to memory, and versatile enough to work for any size or application. Powerful for a brand indeed!
Versatile
When designing your logo, it is important to put into consideration the fact that it will be used on different media and in different variations. Therefore, you need to create a logo design that is versatile, meaning, it must be designed in a way that allows it to fit conveniently anywhere you are looking for customers.
Relevant
Your logo has to be relevant to your audience. This is especially true as far as color is concerned. Colors have a language too, and each evokes different emotional responses. You must therefore consider what your primary target audience wants to see and not what you like. If the logo design is relevant, people will immediately feel a sense of trust and that the company is reliable and authentic.
