Logos are more prominent than ever, so of course you want yours to stand out from the pack. However, you have to keep in mind that your logo is the visual representation of your business, so you don’t want to stray too far from your roots. Have no idea where to start? Follow these seven guidelines to make sure your logo stands out from the rest… in a good way.
An image is not just a design. It is a crafted personality profile of an individual, institution, product or service. – Click to Tweet
1. Keep it Simple. Not only will a complicated logo be hard to reproduce, but you will be missing the mark when it comes to engaging with your audience (a 3D image might look amazing on the computer screen, but not so much on business cards and banners). It’s also crucial to keep in mind that you should not make it too boring either. This is why it’s best to leave it to the professionals!
(There is some depth to this logo, but we still managed to create it so that it would go great on all marketing materials!)
2. Be Ready for Change. Your logo should be able to adapt to various industries and markets, so make sure it is flexible. For example, you should make sure your logo looks appealing both as a stand-alone image and with copy.
3. Pay Attention to Your Colors. You need to be extremely careful when you choose your logo’s colors. For example, you should pick colors that correlate with your target audience’s demographics (age, culture, gender, etc). A good rule of thumb is to stick with two or three different colors; anymore is pushing it.
(We decided on a couple different shades of blue.)
4. Your Name CAN Be Your Logo. Don’t let anyone else tell you differently. Fonts come in all shapes and sizes, so you might be surprised how strong your name will appear without a graphic in its place.
5. Fight the Temptation to Imitate. Even if you think Starbucks’ logo is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen, step out of the box! Imitating is just lazy, and who knows… someone else could be green with envy over your own, unique logo.
6. Is it Memorable? This should go without saying. An easy test to see if it is memorable is by showing a mockup of your logo to a friend or family member. Have them draw it out to the best of their abilities a week later. If they totally miss the mark, you might want to come up with a new design.
7. Stuck on Two Fabulous Logos? Leave it to your fans! If you somehow end up with two very good looking logos, make a contest out of it. Not only will this be a fun marketing move, but your fans will feel invested in your company.
Good luck and remember to have fun with the process!
Are you in the market for a new logo? Check out Fingerprint Marketing’s portfolio for some inspiration. Don’t forget to connect with us on Facebook as well!