Creating a consistent brand across all of your interactions both online and off is critical to your success. Key to branding is memorable logo design. This post explains the various file types and uses and the difference between a $5 logo and a $1200+ logo.
The primary method for doing this is the use of a distinctive logo design. Your logo creates an immediate image – that all important first impression – responsible for how someone feels about your brand.
Done well, your logo makes your business
instantly recognizable wherever it appears.
Logo styles vary greatly depending on the niche you operate in and the size of your business. Logos used by Major Corporations and businesses that interact with them are distinctly different than logos that will appeal to marketers, creative types and in specific niches. Logo designers charge a wide range of prices for this reason and others.
Do you need a $50 logo or a $1000+ logo
design package? Read on to find out.
Smashing Magazine has two articles that clearly define what factors are involved in the most effective Logo Designs. Their 10 Common Mistakes in Logo Design is critical reading for any business that goes beyond a Web site. It spells out common mistakes an inexpensive designer is likely to make. More importantly, it explains what is necessary to transition a logo design for other uses – and THIS is where the major differences come in!
What IS a Memorable Logo Design?
Rather than write about the details, I recommend you read the excellent article 12 Essential Rules to Follow When Designing a Logo. It provides excellent background on how to ensure a logo design is memorable and suits your business. Also be sure to read What Makes a Good Logo by David Airey because he adds additional factors not mentioned in the other posts. He wrote:
My good friend Lee Newham taught me about five elements that can be seen in every iconic logo:
- describable
- memorable
- effective without colour
- scalable i.e. works when just an inch in size
- appropriate
The image below from 5 Useful Logo Design Tips (on David’s site in a guest post by Jacob Cass clearly illustrates how it meets the above criterion:
Before you have a logo designed I strongly recommend reading David’s post and the others I am including in the body of this post. Each was carefully chosen to convey specific information you will need to make the best decision FOR YOU. Each person’s needs are different and the purpose of this post is to make it obvious what level of logo design to select for your project.
CMYK, RGB or Both?
Knowing what terminology used in logo design means is critical to making the right decision. RGB refers to colors used online. CMYK refers to colors used in print. So if you want to ever be able to print your logo and also use it online, you must limit colors to those that are available for both. Read more about RGB VS CMYK: Which To Use and Why.
One tip I did not see in those excellent articles I shared recently jumped out at me when I read about the new logo design for the Limeade Studio Graphic Designer blog. He wrote:
I made a firm decision to stick with colors that work in both CMYK and RGB. This really limits brighter greens and blues. Yet, the colors I have chosen are brilliant and bold.
Beyond the design itself there is a major difference in deliverables between logo designers. If all you need is an image to use on your Web site you can consider the lower priced options (but seriously consider finishing this post first to make sure you won’t have regrets if you do). Any business that intends to use their logo for other purposes will have additional requirements that are unlikely to be provided by lower end design companies.
Where Will Your Memorable Logo Be Used?
You may want to use your logo on:
- Printed materials (large format printing, stationary, catalogs, mailings, etc.)
- Advertising (color and most likely black and white too)
- Signs (on your building, at events, billboards, trade show booths, etc.)
- On promotional items (corporate logo pens, business card holders, mousepads, etc.)
This is an important consideration BEFORE you select a designer because these other logo applications require your new logo be provided in different formats. They make color, font choice, and especially scalability more critical. Logo designs often use modified fonts which can be extremely difficult to recreate if you want more materials later.
TYPICAL LOGO DESIGN DIFFERENCES:
Low End Designers:
- May charge as little as $30-$50 with $100 being common although some may charge up to $500+
- Are far less likely to be aware of all the factors brought up in the posts above
- May not do background research on you and your company
- Are less likely to interview you or ask you to fill out an interview document
- May skip creating preliminary sketches
- More likely to “borrow” logo ideas or use stock art
- May only provide images in Rastor (.jpg .gif .png) file formats commonly used in PhotoShop instead of Vector based images (.ai and .eps) created by programs such as Adobe Illustrator
- Less likely to provide images in grayscale or black and white (b&w)
- Consider using inexpensive logo design options ONLY if all you need is a logo for a Web page and a matching Avatar and Favicon or you manage to locate a Logo Designer in this price range that provides what more expensive designers do. If you need logo images for any other purposes be sure they will be provided in the appropriate formats and the design meets those requirements too. Remember that the results of attempting to match your logo later may be less than desirable.
Mid-Range Logo Designers:
-
- Prices range from $1000-$5000
- The number of unique concepts created and the number of revisions strongly affect the price quoted
- Should use an interview process or form to determine what type of logo will fit your business and your preferences
- More likely to research your industry, competitors and audience
- Have a deeper portfolio making it obvious what their design style is
- Should use Industry Standard Logo Design practices including providing both Rastor and Vector file types
- Can create logos that are more unique and memorable
- Will modify the fonts used 90% of the time to make your text distinctive
- Usually provide additional deliverables such as
- style guides (specs for using your logo)
- color codes (RGB CMYK) – see explanation above
- multiple file formats
- b&w along with color & grayscale
High End Logo Designers:
-
-
- Prices range from $5000 to $15,000
- Like all specialties, Logo Designers command higher prices because they are more talented, have more experience, have more extensive portfolios, have won design awards or other recognition, or work with a more upscale clientele
-
Firms and Logo Design Agencies:
-
-
- Prices range from $15,000 up to $250,000 or more
- Normally work with largest Corporations, Fortune 100/500
- Prices they can command are based on experience, industry recognition and current client list
-
Before you hire a logo designer:
-
-
- Know what you need based on the above information
- Review portfolios and ensure their designs match the type and style you desire for your own logo
- Ask specifically what items you will receive in which file types. Vector designs are preferred over only Rastor file types. (If you do not have an in-house graphics department be sure to request additional file types you can open on your PC.) Ask which file types are included and which incur extra charges
- Determine how many concepts and revisions you need. The more of each the higher the cost will be. Too few and you may not be satisfied with the results. Too many and the cost can be higher than necessary. Consider asking if you can pay for a smaller number and then pay extra for additional concepts or revisions. It is only fair that your designer be compensated for any additional work required.
- Read online testimonials or reviews regarding not only their design skills but also how they communicate, their work processes, and whether they complete projects in a timely manner.
- Remember to ask if there will be an additional charge for other file types.
- You will need a matching Avatar (for Social Networking) and Favicon. Ask if they are included or how much additional they will cost.
- Plan to really spend some time and invest thought into answering the questions during the interview process. The more specific your answers the better your results would be. I was very impressed with the 1981 Logo Design Questionnaire for gathering my input on the new logo for GrowMap. By the time I had finished it I had a much sharper idea of what logo designs I preferred and which I did not care for – and more importantly so did he.
- You can get a good idea about what various Logo Designers are charging by reading through some of the comments in How Much Does Logo Design Cost. Get another take on what I have shared above reading How Much is a Great Logo Worth?
-
How to Choose a Logo Designer
Now that you know what to ask you can move on to How to Choose a Logo Designer. When I began researching Logo Design I wrote Freelancer Challenges – Logo Graphic Designers. That post lead to several logo designers providing me with answers to my many questions – especially Joshua Geiger, the designer behind NineteenEightyOne.
Anyone who reads me knows how many questions I have about the what and why. Until I thoroughly understand a subject I can not clearly explain it equally well to those who have no background in the subjects involved, in this case graphics, file types, color codes, scalability and so on. A major reason for consultant dissatisfaction is this disparity of knowledge.
A small business owner who barely uses computers has different questions than a Corporate client with a Graphic Design department. Logo Designers who regularly deal with a certain type of client will not provide the information required by others with different skills. Some already know what scalable (looks good no matter how small or large), vectorized (doesn’t look grainy) or CMYK (type of color codes used for printing) or .ai (Adobe Illustrator file format) refers to and the others don’t.
Optimum Logo Designer Process
Joshua has done something that high end designers do and that all Logo Designers should seriously consider. He has provided his Logo Designer process online for us so we know exactly what to expect when working with him. Notice the detail he provides:
-
-
- how long each step will take
- what the process includes (research, support)
- confirmation that no clipart is used
- exactly what files are included
- how many concepts and revisions are included
- links to the questionnaire and payment method
- contact information
-
What you can not tell by reading his site is the exceptional communication skills Joshua has. While creating the new GrowMap logo I knew exactly where we were in the process, what he needed from me, and what he was providing. This may be a larger area of concern in logo design than you might think.
IMPORTANT: Choose a Logo Designer Who Communicates Well
Some designers are intensely creative and visual and are not nearly as comfortable or talented at writing, communicating, time management and running a business. If you visit many design sites you’ll notice that some have almost no text on them. Some designers have commented that they would not read long posts or could not understand my previous post on Freelancing Logo Designers. That is unfortunate as they won’t be benefiting from what I relate here.
Clearly, Joshua was an excellent fit for me to work with because he was willing to answer all of my questions and understood that my intention was not only to take GrowMap to the next level with a professionally designed logo; it was also to help my readers know precisely how to select a designer that best fits their needs.
Will Your Logo Be Used Online or Offline?
GrowMap could have gotten by with an inexpensive graphic design because my intentions are 100% firm on being online only. I doubt many other businesses could say the same. Are you positive you will never publish a catalog, sponsor a local event, be featured in a newspaper or magazine (oops – maybe even I was not 100% there), order stationary, buy promotional gifts with your logo on them (got me again), or have any other reason to use a different format.
More importantly, I love the new logo. It even passes all of David Airey’s tests of being describable, memorable, effective without color, scalable, and appropriate. That sounds like another blog post. I wonder how many would be interested in seeing the answers I gave on the questionnaire, the various other concepts and colors, what we chose and how we then developed the logo into the header you see here today? Let me know in the comments if you would like me to post it.
Now that you know that creating a consistent brand across all of your interactions both online and off is critical to your success AND you know what to ask I am certain you will find the perfect logo designer for your needs. I can highly recommend Joshua Geiger’s Nineteen Eighty One Logo Design for your consideration.
I challenge Logo Designers to provide all of this information online and develop your own process. Establish relationships with people outside your niche who are in a position to recommend your services.
If you are also talented at writing, follow David Airey’s lead and provide quality information for the public on what you do. I know of David because of his writing – not his design work – and he has more visibility than most logo designers because of his articles and posts.
What designers who are not writers can do is what Joshua did. He recognized an opportunity to raise awareness of what he does, assist businesses in understanding how to hire a Logo Designer, and have his work featured at GrowMap, a blog whose whole reason for being is to assist businesses to grow. This is a strong potential market for mid-range logo designers.
Although we could, we choose not to charge for offering proven strategies to small businesses. We do this because many of them either can not afford us (especially during the current economic climate) OR even more importantly – they simply do not yet understand the value of what we offer. Because of this we do not have resources to spend; however, we have something that can be far more valuable: time.
Use Social Media to Find Logo Designers
We spend that time answering questions, communicating at Twitter, LinkedIn, Google Plus and elsewhere, and in providing personal recommendations. Joshua knew that and saw the benefits of providing our new logo. He also knew that we always tell the truth and as of this moment although he knows we are very happy with his work he does not know what will be in this post and won’t until he reads it after it is published.
Joshua was guaranteed credit for his work including a valuable link in the footer. (Footer and sidebar links used to appear (until Google threats killed them) on every page of a site so the larger the site the more incoming links you receive and the more valuable they are for search engine rankings.)
He knew we were going to do this post and he would receive at least one link in the post. We knew his work and since we will see it far more than anyone else we would not have gone ahead if we were not certain we would like the results he provided. What we did not know was his process would be so excellent or we would learn so much that we can now share with our readers.
We have learned that small businesses really need more than just a logo. They need a consistent image in many formats from a designer who really understands all we have shared above. There could be inexpensive designers out there who are this qualified and if we come across them we will let you know.
We know that Joshua has these abilities, charges at the lowest end of the mid-range logo designers, and can provide complete graphic support of his logo designs for small businesses – and they are our target audience and who most need such support.
You can see his work in his portfolio (click the arrows to see more) and also where it has been featured:
Showcase Galleries:
Articles & Interviews:
We leave you with a quote from Joshua:
We need to keep your “brand” seamless across all mediums. It is best to have your logo designer create all the collateral materials. Only the designer really knows exactly how everything should look.
If you have a small business consider investing in a Logo Image that gives you the look of a major corporation without having to spend anywhere near what they do. If you do Logo Design, consider focusing at least some of your efforts on small businesses. Also consider raising awareness of your work by trading a custom design to a deserving Non-Profit or high profile blog in exchange for attribution, incoming links, and recommendations.
WHY INVEST IN LOGO DESIGN?:
Is anything in this post unclear? Do you have any questions that were not answered? Are you a Logo Designer with something to add or another viewpoint? Please consider leaving a comment.
If you are a logo designer you are also invited to leave a brief bio and additional links to your portfolio, process, or other relevant information. Comments with additional links in them do usually end up needing moderation; however, I will approve all real comments with relevant links.
LOGO GALLERIES:
-
-
- Logo Moose for Logo Design Inspiration ~ Interview with LogoMoose Creator Dirk Leys explains its purpose.
-
Gail Gardner
This is one of the best post i have read on logo designing and its importance! Thanks for sharing
I really appreciate your hard work on compiling this detailed information about logo requirements for companies. But I think Mid-range logo design is used more than firm and logo design agencies or designers because they are too expensive. I also read your 12 essential points about logos. Its good info when designing a logo. Thanks for sharing.
I think logo’s are really important. as people will not remember the name but they tend to remember the logo. Great info & i agree
Nice article! Hii I am Tom G. I would also like to share a list of memorable logos:
1. Pepsi
Yes, Pepsi is one of the most memorable logos in the world. The new logo design of Pepsi cost $1 million. Pepsi appointed Peter Arnell of the Arnell Associates to design their new Logo. With the launch of the new logo, Pepsi spent millions of dollars in rebranding everything.
The new Pepsi Logo Globe is iconic and looks like a swirl of ‘red, white and blue’ in a sphere like a shape. It is one of the world’s most memorable and recognizable trademarks. Some say that the new design has hidden meaning as it represents magical secrets. Due to the Arnell’s’ 27 page memo that leaked and referred the logo of PepsiCo to the relativity of space with time, magnetic fields, Feng shui, Mona Lisa, the Parthenon many a speculation has been heard about the hidden meaning
2. BMW
There are different versions of the origin and meaning of the BMW Logo. Some say that the BMW logo is a tribute to the brand’s aviation history where the sign represents a propeller in motions where the blue part is a symbol of the sky. BMW originally built aircraft engines during the World War II for the German Military.
Another theory opposes the fact by stating that the blue and white logo is directly borrowed by the colors of the Bavarian flag ( do check it out and come back and check out the BMW logo).
BMW did start as a company that manufactured engines for air crafts however the Treats of Versailles during the end forbade the manufacturing of the engines. After that BMEW moved on to manufacture motorcycle and eventually they were allowed to restart the aviation department.
In an advertisement in 1920’s BMW logo represented the spinning propellers of an aircraft – but only in the ad – not in the Logo. Around the same time of the ad, BMW’s first motor car was launched – therefore the confusion.
After almost a century later people assume to think that the design and colors of BMW Roundel have origins in aviation.
Check out a still from the BMW advertisement in 1920’sthat sparked the controversy surrounding the origin of the logo:
3. Apple:
Apple Logo is one of the most iconic symbols of today’s times. It is connected to the Biblical story of Adam and Eve and the forbidden fruit from the “Tree of Knowledge.”
Check out our story on Evolution of Apple Logo http://animationvisarts.com/evolution-apple-logo-design-learn/
4. FedEx
FedEx – one of the logos that is recognized around the world instantly due to its simplicity and statement of being creative. Look closely – you will spot an arrow between the letter E and X – representing the feeling of looking forward and creative outlook for future growth.
5. Mercedes-Benz
The moment you see the Logo of Mercedes Benz – the feeling that you have for the brand is that it is confident. The tri-star on the logo is a representative of the commanding quality of the brand and its style over all things seas, land and air.
When the logo was first launched the word Mercedes was surrounded by an ellipse. After a while, the new brand logo was introduced in 1909 where the glorious star of three points was introduced. It was designed by Gottlieb Daimler the Technical Director.
“Logo designs often use modified fonts which can be extremely difficult to recreate” really true and inspiring line. Thanks for sharing!!
Thank you so much for sharing your information. Very informative. As a designer, I can appreciate your hard work on writing this article. Thank you
Thanks for the wonderful information you have shared and it’s truly helped me a lot . I must say you have shared such a incredible stuff. Love this post. keep it up.
Golam Qauser would love you to read ..How to Remove Background from a Picture Using Photoshop ?
This fair estimation of Logo!!
As you mentioned in above estimation are absolutely depends Nature of design and complexity of the Logo!!
Good read though!!
Keep posting.
Regards,
Adarsh
Very interesting! You can find a low-end designer for pretty cheap who will do a good job but if you are serious about the future of your company you can’t start out with a logo that is second-rate. It simply must be “the one”.
Excellent information!
A logo is an essential component for effective branding. Anyone serious about marketing themselves, or their business, needs a strong logo/brand.
Just be sure to vet your logo designer carefully, and don’t default to going with the lowest price option, for all the reasons the author clearly explains.
Really good article. The more recognizable design the better, whichever design sticks to the people’s minds the most is the most effective. But that is the tricky part. Some takes time to get recognized, and some are just good by design.
I don’t think you can put a price tag on a memorable logo. A good logo will help with both your branding and marketing efforts and help people to remember your company.
Referencing a comment about Apples logo did anyone get a chance to see the tribute logo that a kid in china created. The bite mark in the apple was Steve Jobs face. Worth looking up.
Very informative post. I wont be needing a logo right now, but for my other business idea it would be great to have an elegant logo.
Logos are only important if you want to do branding. So not everybody needs them.
But it’s fascinating to see even young children recognize so many different logos. That is some amazing marketing/branding.
Danny would love you to read ..Remington RM1015P 10-Inch 8 Amp Electric Pole chain Saw
I disagree with “Best Home Gyms”. High quality comes with high price. The price depends on skill level. For example a logo design offering cheap price will of course design you a logo and you may like it too. But try asking two logo designers to design you a logo. One charges you cheap price and other charges you high price. You probably like the logo designed by cheap designer but when you will compare the two, you will feel a HUGE difference between the two logos. The author of the post seems to have in depth knowledge. Very impressive and informative article.
Yes definitely most of the time a logo is the identification of your business.
Logos become identity. Even most of the people keep in mind the log.
Seeing logo recall them about the business.
Something some of you have not mentioned is how your logo can totally change depending upon how it is printed. The finishes and quality of printing will either enhance or ruin your logo and design. Choose a good printer and your logo will be consistent.
Well I feel there are some good points made above and its interesting tohear differing opinions on what makes a logo. We have a similar blog on logo design, graphic design and branding with companies across sussex. Please have a look and leave us any feedback. If you have any!
You can find a low-end designer for pretty cheap who will do a good job but if you are serious about the future of your company you can’t start out with a logo that is second-rate. It simply must be “the one”.
SandraG would love you to read ..Job Application for Mcdonalds – Apply the Smart Way
Brand Logos is the face of any business, without it any business can’t be identified. This is one of the most important thing in promoting your business to the world.
Hi …..I came across your article and got me hooked on to read more because i was unaware of how important a good logo is for marketing.I like the way u gave an illustrative example of the logo it cleared several things in my mind.Your five elements are useful and i have noted them too.Thanks.
A logo is the most important part of your marketing material. The Branding of your company is very important and your logo is the first thing that catches peoples attention. Of course the content is important as well.
I think you may have convinced me to completely re examine my logos. Truly, logos are one of those aspects of a business that is an invaluable asset and simply can not be overlooked. Great article, thanks.
Kat would love you to read ..By- logo design- web design- blog design « DPM Creative Group’s Sketchbook…
Designing a logo perfectly is very important because on hearing about a company’s name its the logo which first flashes across our minds. Its true paying hefty sums doesn’t always deliver the desired result. I agree that professionals knows their work best but its also a good experience to try making one adding some personal touches.
Based upon your article I have scheduled meetings with my clients’ to reinforce the importance of the logo design. Thank you very much for the information
Thanks heaps for the those foundations of logo design. Although some of them are rather simplistic, I’ve actually overlooked them in my previous banners and looking back at them, how they can be utilized in my work to better accentuate it.
Thanks
Katherine
Very good post. All my clients should definitely read this. Great read!
Thanks for sharing such tutorial.
David Brown
[Hi David, Your persistence has paid off and since your site is related to this post I am approving your comment; however, I need to share with you why it was deleted several times before. If you want your comments to be approved by bloggers you need to make them longer and write something that adds to the discussion. Be sure your comment is specific to the post where you’re submitting it. Comments are not just incoming links; they also serve to interest blog readers in what you have to offer. Write something compelling and instead of just a link you can attract traffic to your site from the comments. Also see my post on how to KeywordLuv.]
i think its worth of million with the live example of Nike LOGO.
I found this just when I was planning on designing a new logo. The links to the other articles are very helpful and have convinced me that designing my own logo is indeed very pound foolish. That would probably be worse than getting a cheap “designer.”
Keith would love you to read ..Nov 13- Norman Rockwell Thanksgiving Gallery- Part Two- The Feast
Hi Geof,
You are a tough critic. I’m not sure you didn’t hit all five.
1. It’s describable – 2 capital Ls on a red circle background
2. It’s memorable – I would recognize and remember it
3. It’s effective without colour – would work in b&w
4. It’s scalable i.e. works when just an inch in size – Works even as small asthe Favicon I have open in another tab, looks good on your building, and no reason it wouldn’t work enlarged to any size that I can imagine
5. It’s appropriate – Nothing inappropriate about it
It might not be obvious about labels and it could be a 4 instead of an L but all-in-all it is recognizable wherever you go. I like your about page.
It would be a good idea for you to get active on Twitter and ideally have a blog too if possible.
growmap would love you to read ..Best of GrowMap – Our Most Important Posts All in One Place
Im wandering if you have read up lots of stuff on this, as you seem a real expert thanks again for this i have added you to my favorites. thanks
Hi Jen,
I worked with the logo designer recommended in this post through his entire process – and he has an exceptionally complete process. If it weren’t for his professionalism this post would not exist to benefit so many others.
growmap would love you to read ..Support Small Businesses
Wow! This article is worth for an ebook! i like your logo design guide.
Describable, effective without color, memorable and scalable!
Thank you. It was far more work to compile and there was far more to know than I expected.
growmap would love you to read ..New Free How to Make a Blog eBook
I have recently had some members approach me regarding logo design. I am not a graphic designer, but I refer them to others. There were some here that I was unaware of. I will definately be sharing these.
Thanks a lot for offering this great information
Megan
Logo is the key to branding. If you are a small and/or start up business, it’s important for you to stand out from the bigger companies especially if you want to incorporate your brand on customized promotional products such as shirts, keychains, and mugs.
I’ve seen companies sell logos for 800 dollars and my mouth went wide open. I think that’s just a bit too much for a logo. I mean wow… that much for a little bitty logo? C’mon!
Hi Donald,
How much a logo is worth depends on how you plan to use it and how serious you are. The logo and Avatar used on this blog and across Social Networks has made a HUGE difference.
It is highly visible and recognizable even when it appears in widgets that show many tiny Avatars. I have no doubt that the distinctive coloring and simple design have greatly branded this site.
Paying more to make sure your logo works in everything from print media ranging from huge billboards to tiny ads is worth it. Think of it this way: every time you see golden arches you KNOW there is a McDonalds there. THAT is branding and an excellent example of a logo everyone recognizes.
growmap would love you to read ..San Francisco Marketing Conference Sep 17- 2010
The worth of logo design is depending on how you do it professionally. Designing is not just easy you have to consider the ideas of a company to be able to have an appropriate logo.
When designing logos for my clients I explain to them that their logo is the first insight to their company. The logo that we develop together will be one of the most important design elements for their business. Their company logo will have to portray who they are and standout amongst a group of others. When I first started designing 14 years ago I thought that designing a logo was easy but I my knowledge grew it became harder and harder.
ROFLOL Thank you Orlando for putting a grin on my face. If I had a penny for every time someone – even an intelligent someone – told me how “easy” something was when I knew how very complicated it was…
As I tell a dear friend every time he tells me how easy AdWords is…if you think it is easy you definitely don’t know what you’re doing. 😀
.-= growmap´s featured blog ..Best of GrowMap – Our Most Important Posts All in One Place =-.
Great information on designing a logo. I’m considering logo design now that I’m starting to make a bit of money. Have you noticed an increase in conversions or traffic with your new logo?
Also, loved your comment to Sugar…can’t believe you took the time to teach her how to correctly spam!
.-= Camden@Mens Gifts´s featured blog ..Wireless Car Mouse- Zoom the Internet in Style =-.
Hi Camden,
Spam is in the eye of the beholder. I believe supporting small businesses is important to improving our economy. Many bloggers consider your comment spam because you have an ecommerce site and use keywords, but I do not. I believe that links that properly use anchor text improve the results we get using search engine and benefit both searcher and site.
Since I don’t focus on conversions I can not measure whether the logo had any effect on that; however, I do believe it greatly improves the first impression of new visitors and likely leads to a higher opinion of this site.
You may be interested in this information on a gift affiliate program we recommend and the additional gift affiliate program information here.
.-= growmap´s featured blog ..Support Small Businesses =-.
Thank you so much! I just glanced at your recomended posts…my word, there’s enough reading in there to keep me busy for months!
.-= Camden´s featured blog ..Bronze Sundial- Sun and Moon Bronze Sundial =-.
Hi Camden,
We should collaborate. Have you seen our Men’s Gifts blog? I’ll drop you an email.
.-= growmap´s featured blog ..How to Build a Successful Blog Based Business =-.
Everyone says that McDonalds has the perfect logo design, yet they have just changed it in Europe… evidently McDonalds don’t agree with you all. I honestly don’t think the golden arches are effective on screen, off screen yes they look great, but onscreen it’s a fairly 2 dimensional and bland logo.
Maybe that is why they changed it?
growmap would love you to read ..Guest Post with My Blog Guest- for Networking and Exposure
professional logo can greatly enhance your business. Thanks for your post. I’m going to have to do this for my business. 5*
.-= Binary Options System´s featured blog ..4 NEW Limited Time BONUSES STRIKER9 Pro – Personal Coaching from ME! =-.
One should take care while choosing a logo because success and promotion of the business is depends on logo too.you can use the logo for the promotion of the business. A best and effective way to Promote is through promotional items, In which you
add your logo on some products like you add your logo on the Pen and distribute them in the market to make aware to the market about yourself.
so more and more people know about your new business..
McDonalds has always had the most perfect design. With it’s simple shape and stricking yellow arches. McDonalds logo has put us all on the path for the perfect icon.
@Parking – Thanks for mentioning the way of hiring people for logo design. I need a logo and your tip helped me a lot.
.-= Tony@web design´s featured blog ..Can social media be profitable Part 1- Blogs =-.
Great post. You’ve got to love a good logo.
There’s a really interesting article you may be interested in about “hidden messages” in some well-known logos. I have never noticed the arrow in fedex before!
http://www.graphicdesignblog.org/hidden-logos-in-graphic-designing/
.-= Alan @ Green Printing´s featured blog ..Green Printing – Print Green & SAVE! updated Tue Jun 15 2010 3:36 pm CDT =-.
I don’t care about the price of logo. I just look on the quality of the design. I usually hire experts from getafreelancer.com. This method is cheaper than giving project to logo designing companies.
.-= Parking Enforcement´s featured undefined ..Response cached until Wed 23 @ 6:43 GMT (Refreshes in 23.98 Hours) =-.
Hmm as the above the comment is about logonerds, I would say you must check yourself and search it about the logo design companies and then go for which ever company suits you.
Today a good logo worth around 100$ – 200$. I made my logo using a logo design software.
I didn’t read through all of the comments, but I wanted to chime in and talk about a really inexpensive logo design service: http://logonerds.com/ You can get a web ready logo for $27. I don’t personally know anyone who has used them, but I see them advertising all over the place, and at $27, you don’t have much to lose.
Logo design is an internal part of the overall brand building. There comes a time when people recognize you by your logo design. Logo design creation is the ultimate design challenge. Our artistic and competent team of professional logo designers fully understand this and our outstanding collection of logo design and corporate logo designs proves our approach. Get your most affordable graphic logo design for your company today!
.-= Logo Design Services´s featured blog ..Logo Design =-.
While I agree about all the points made in this blog and that of the original sources, would you say that McDonalds logo is effective if it wasn’t already being used by an established global brand… in the digital world, I’m not so sure. Yes the golden arches look great in person but online it looks rather bland and doesnt say anything for me about the product offered. In a digital environment where your logo is often competing with alot of other Logo’s on one screen I think it’s important to be bold and eye catching above all, as well as portraying the product/services offered.
I prefer using a logo design software to create nice logos in minutes than buying.
online business have a different logos, but grew map ur logo is nice
Wow! This is one the best written articles I have read in some months. The comments speak fro themselves. This has generated so much comment because it is interesting and it is meaningful. OF all the successful business I don’t know one who has not had a brilliant logo which in turn became part of their branding promotions.
i have a cell phone accessories website, and it took me a long time to finally come up with a logo, but the wait was worth it
I recently helped a friend start an online business. My main contribution was logo, brochures, printed materials etc.. In the past I ran a graphic design department at a mid size manufacturing company, but had never been that involed in the actual creation of the products. So when I was asked to do this for my friend it was a little dawnting. I was able to get my friend what he needed, and he like the stuff I did. But somethings that we had to revisit were the logo, specifically how the logo looked on a smaller scale. For example, the favicon, video logos and user manual logos. So if I can second anything to this, it would be to try the logo design at all types of size scales to see how its going to look in different formats. Thanks for the article..
We should be careful while selecting a logo for our company. A part of our business success depends on logo too.
Does a strong logo make a difference to how much you can charge or getting the business at all?
Professional logos cost a great deal of money from what we can see in this post. I’m quite comfortable with my self created mediocre logo until I can afford to buy one 😉
.-= Udegbunam Chukwudi@Earn Online Nigeria´s last blog ..Fix Contact Form “Failed to send your message” error =-.
When we had our logo designed we made sure the logo told the viewer what we do without a second glance. Plus, we incorporated our url in the logo. All too often we see companies with logos and ya wonder what they were thinking when the logo was designed, as there is no connection between the logo and business.
.-= Colleen@Kennewick Real Estate´s last blog ..Tri Cities Has Lowest Cost of Living in the State =-.
Great comprehensive article on creating logos. I also want to recommend SourceTec Software’s logo creator. Thanks for the info.
Thank you for sharing Lucy. There will always be room for both do-it-yourself solutions, inexpensive logo designers and exceptionally talented logo designers for those who really want to maximize the effectiveness of their logo.
.-= growmap´s last blog ..Why Marketing is NOT Evil =-.
Honestly, when this much research is required it sometimes ceases to be fun but it IS always beneficial to me and my readers.
.-= growmap´s last blog ..Why Marketing is NOT Evil =-.
Interesting stuff, Distinctive logo design is very helpful for making different identity in the mind of user or visitors. Some brand logo is very famous & most of person they know the brand name because of brand’s famous logo.
This is one of oldest & very famous marketing technique.
Yes it is and it is amazing that so few businesses are using logos to their best advantage. It should be used on every sign, vehicle, business card and other printed materials – everywhere.
Each time it is seen is a reminder of your business. If you want more sales and leads your potential and existing clients need consistent reminders or they will forget about you when they are ready to buy.
When I see the propane truck go by with no company name, logo, Web site address or phone number I just shake my head. If they were sharp those would be on all sides of every vehicle.
If they REALLY wanted to increase business they could even put the $ amount per gallon on their delivery vehicles the way gas stations put the price on a sign. That would generate far more sales during their slower times because people would realize how much less propane costs in the summer and buy then instead of waiting.
Businesses could even put special offers on their vehicles. That might be “mention this sign to get 10% off” or “refer a friend – save on your next order”. Delivery trucks are moving billboards; businesses should be taking advantage of that space and all the eyes that see it.
.-= growmap´s last blog ..Why Marketing is NOT Evil =-.
I’ve been looking for something like this for a while, great article!
Now I am using this logo maker:
A straightfoward logo maker. Simple, but it really works for me.
Hello Sugar,
I know your comment is spam; however, I am going to leave it in case some of my readers need an easy way to make a simple logo. I do hope that they will take the time to read this post because I guarantee the logos we make for ourselves are not going to be nearly as good as those made by a talented logo designer.
Sometimes we just need something free or inexpensive though so I’ll leave your link. If you’re going to link drop you should at least do it more effectively. The proper way to leave a link is with anchor text like this: logo maker so that your important keyword phrase IS the link.
For those who do not understand why this is important I recommend they read my post about building-traffic.
One other thing: if you’re going to leave links in KeywordLuv enabled blogs like this one, putting the link and the anchor text into the Name field is more likely to get them approved. All commentors and link builders need to understand how to use KeywordLuv.
.-= growmap´s last blog ..Who Can You Benefit by Sharing GrowMap? =-.
good post, i espically like the 5 points you describe, i will definatly take them into account when desiging any logo in the future thanks
this is very nice!
I like the way you laid up every, its ineteresting.
“good without color” is a new idea for me…
thanks for sharing.
Hello Javier,
I can not take the credit for the great tips; only for having researched and compiled them into one comprehensive post.
.-= growmap´s last blog ..Who Can You Benefit by Sharing GrowMap? =-.
That is one of the most comprehensive articles on how to get your business a great logo I have seen in awhile. I have, in the past, tried working with the free logo designers that will trade a logo for a link, and that has been disastrous nine out of ten times, as they don’t really listen to what you want, and one even ripped off a popular logo.
Another huge thing to remember is that you want all of the original files for the logo, especially if you want to use it on other products. If someone creates a small .jpg, you’re not going to be able to transfer that logo to print and other products. You will want the original vector files that can be scaled to any size for any purpose. You will have to pay more, but in the long run, it will be worth it.
.-= Shawn @ Promotional Items´s last blog ..TexOLeather Vinyl Deposit Bag/Organizer =-.
Thank you for taking the time to comment Shawn. I know that companies that sell promotional products regularly work with logo images and know the importance of those other file types.
Most business owners do not understand the lingo that graphic designers use and have only a vague idea of what a vector file is or the difference between file types and why different types are needed depending on where the logo is to appear.
I would like to discuss collaborating with you if you’re interested. You can reach me using the information on the contact tab.
.-= growmap´s last blog ..Merchant Affiliate Management Tips =-.
Logo is basically an identity of your business and no doubt play an important role in the success of your business, so making logo a kind of that it becomes memorable.
I think the most important thing to consider on a logo design is to make it memorable. Just think of small companies without a logo, you can barely remember their names. Even with big companies, it is hard to remember their names, but easy to remember their logos and instantly recognise what they do.
I agree SEOWorks,
That is why I chose the title How Much is a MEMORABLE logo worth. Exceptional logos are pretty rare and unmistakable. Think McDonalds or Nike – both are immediately recognizable worldwide in any context.
I am positive that my new logo and Avatar have made a HUGE difference in raising visibility and increasing the attention given to everything I do online.
The Avatar REALLY stands out wherever it appears and even from any group of many small Avatars as they are often displayed on sites like Twitter or in widgets like MyBlogLog and BlogCatalog.
Names do not fit everywhere but a strongly branded image does. Every business REALLY needs a great logo and matching Avatar and Favicon.
.-= growmap´s last blog ..Keyword Tags, MetaTags, Tags: How Many Are Best? =-.
Thanks heaps for the 5 key foundations of logo design. Although they’re all simple, I’ve actually overlooked them in my previous banners and looking back at them, I can see how I can incorporate those ideas into the banner now. This was a real eye opener.
Thank you Adam,
I am grateful to the logo designers who originally published these tips and graciously allowed me to use the images they had created that illustrate the points so clearly.
Brilliant design IS simple; however, it is definitely not easy and it takes far more time than most ever realize. I hope that many logo designers use this post to help their clients and potential clients to better understand why great logos are more expensive.
Logo design is definitely one time when you get what you pay for!
.-= growmap´s last blog ..Social Media Marketing Monday – SMM Overview =-.
A very interesting subject. It is amazing how often the power of the logo is overlooked. I know many people who set up businesses and the logo is almost an afterthought amongst all the other pressure of getting the business up and running. The logo can really help identify your brand and it deserves more attention than many people give it. I will be recommending my clients to this site for further information.
.-= John @ Cabinet Door Handles´s last blog ..Privacy =-.
Welcome John,
Logos that are distinctive are very important online as is a consistent User Name and presence across all Social Networks, forums and online communities.
Be sure your clients see my post about getting their businesses listed in Online Business Directories.
.-= growmap´s last blog ..MEME: BizLuv in Support of Small Businesses =-.
Very good post – all my clients shoul read it! You can´t imagine how often I have to explain how important the logo is… To design a very good logo needs time, research and good designing skills, I think people who haven´t studied design won´t be able to create a proofessional logo!
Divena
.-= Divena@Design´s last blog ..Eine kurze Auswertung – 10 Tage Rosa.pe und was bisher erreicht wurde. =-.
Welcome Divena,
Even most who are offering logo design services do not clearly understand the points made in this article. If all you need is a header and Avatar it is not that critical but many businesses who need branding are paying for logos that simply are not going to work in all formats.
When you select your keywords you need to be more specific and use a 2-3 word phrase. It would be impossible to rank for the word Design because it applies to so many subjects not related to logo design: interior design, architectural design, design a house, etc.
It would be a major challenge to link just for Logo Design so at least use that or select a related phrase that is even more specific. See my Building Traffic post for more information on how to research and select the best keyword phrases to use as anchor text.
.-= growmap´s last blog ..Search Engine Positions: Easy Free Ways to Track =-.
Great information with nice examples. The image reminds me of McDonalds though 😉
.-= Glycemic Index Chart´s last blog ..Testing Interactive GI Diet Plans =-.
It should; it IS McDonald’s.
Gail Gardner would love you to read ..Join Bloggers Supporting Bloggers NOW
Hi Cash,
Yes, you are correct. Many people want to measure everything and sometimes that is simply not possible. The same is true of Social Media Marketing.
.-= Gail @ Social Media Marketing´s last blog ..Congratulations Murray Newlands Best Blogger Finalist, 2010 Affiliate Summit Pinnacle Awards =-.
Great tip and one that is often neglected. Your logo belongs on EVERYTHING from stationary and business cards to bumper stickers and the signage on your company vehicles.
.-= Gail @ Social Media Marketing´s last blog ..Wedding Boom Predicted for Next 22 Years =-.
Very helpful information. A friend was looking at creating a logo for his company. The company has been around since the 1960’s (he took it over from his father). It never really had a logo or brand identity other than the name. So he met with a graphic artist and after several proposals, they settled on a very unique logo that fit well with the business and looked like it had alway been a part of the company name. I believe logos are important to certain companies for branding. Thank you for the article!
.-= Seth @ best free ipad apps´s last blog ..CommentLuv, KeywordLuv, Top Commentators and Do Follow =-.
Welcome Seth and thank you for your comment. I believe every blog, Web site and business really needs a quality logo. We are thrilled that Joshua agreed to create our logo for this blog and hope our post has connected others who wanted a professionally designed logo with him.
I’m off to check out your latest post and add you to my dofollow Twitter list and KeywordLuv Twitter list. I didn’t add you because I don’t see a Twitter account on your site. If you don’t use Twitter yet I highly recommend it. Our How to Get Started on FriendFeed and Twitter How-To could be helpful.
I encourage you to participate in our BizLuv MEME too.
.-= Gail @ Social Media Marketing´s last blog ..MEME: BizLuv in Support of Small Businesses =-.
The logo must integrates all the company values, with the concepts and dreams behind the company’s brand. It’s a little bit difficult to find a good designer because he needs to understand exactly which are the values of the company.
.-= Catalin@Sport Supercars´s last blog ..Koenigsegg =-.
A good logo is very important and major corporations will pay a million dollars plus for their design. It is, in essence, a simple graphical representation of the ethos or meaning of your company or website, and for that reason, you should take care in crafting a suitable logo.
.-= tempo dulu´s last blog ..Rabies in rats and other madness =-.
This is an amazing article and I am very fortunate to have stumbled upon it. This is a great resource for all sorts of creative projects, but especially for designing logos. It’s great to see that I am not the only one that struggles to communicate the idea that designing a logo takes a lot of effort on both the designer and client. Most people think that a logo can be whipped up in Word in under 5 minutes. That just doesn’t work, though it explains why so many logos are underdeveloped. Thank you for this post. Rock on and much love from Chicago!
Welcome Otto,
As we both realize you get what you pay for – and experience and talent cost far more than what anyone can accomplish with a computer program. I see this same challenge in other disciplines from pay per click management to local search listings to SEO.
Anyone can throw some keywords into AdWords and write a quick ad but to really get results goes far beyond what most people getting paid for that service and even those working in agencies can accomplish.
My philosophy is that those who choose to excel must collaborate with only the most exceptional specialists. They will then be able to take their businesses to the top 2% while other companies struggle to survive.
I encourage you to take advantage of our KeywordLuv plugin when commenting here so that each comment becomes a valuable backlink to your Chicago Wedding photographer site.
To use it simply add @ Your Keywords after your name in the name field. For example you might use any of these:
Otto Rascon @ Chicago Photographer
Otto Rascon @ Chicago Wedding Photographer
Otto Rascon @ Chicago Photography
Otto Rascon @ Chicago Wedding Photographer
Read my post about Building Traffic to your Web site for more details on why this is important and how to track your results.
I also encourage you to participate in our BizLuv MEME as a fast way to get many backlinks for your business and anyone else you recommend.
.-= Gail @ Social Media Marketing´s last blog ..Wedding Boom Predicted for Next 22 Years =-.
What a comprehensive post on the importance of getting yourself a customized Logo that stands out for itself and helps you in creating a brand image!
Bookmarking you right away and will read this again when I hire a professional logo designer next month when we revamp TechChunks.com.
.-= TechChunks@Technology Tips and Tricks´s last blog ..Best “Technology” posts in Year 2009 =-.
i think logo is very important thing for any organization since after sometime people will recognize them from their logo and work. keep it up
A note about logos: simpler is better. They end up on tshirts, letterhead, pins, etc. Not just your website, where all that detail shows.
Hello Paris,
You are correct. Simple and distinctive are musts when you intend to use a design on very smalFavicons and very large billboards and everything in between.
.-= Gail @ Social Media Marketing´s last blog ..MEME: BizLuv in Support of Small Businesses =-.
Lovely post i must say, I showed that you have a great interest in business. I loved it too. I am looking for logo design but now after reading this post i don’t think i have to look for other information. Thanks for sharing lovely well written
One of the more outstanding ideas someone has come up with – really in my eyes, very useful information for my business because creating logo is not easy as it seems you should know everything about logo design before creating it.
Something is a little trusted, and it is a pity
Wow, thanks for the well thought out description when considering logo design. I carefully read the entire post.
I spent $5000 for a logo design a few years ago. It was good work, however I missed a few questions upfront that came back to bite. I needed the archival disk with additional formats. I also needed changes after initial approval. Both of these cost me extra.
In the end, i got a great logo design. You would expect as much for the price.
.-= Brian@Margarita Maker´s last blog ..A margarita maker is the perfect tool for your kitchen =-.
Really helpful content for new comers in Web Promotion industies. We are fastest growing Bidding Directory – Put your bid and get promoted you site quickly. Easiest and Cheapest way to promote your website acreoss the globe
I didn’t know some people spend thousands on logos. For a small website I would definitely opt for the low end or even do it yourself because the advantage of a better logo won’t make up for the cost unless you are a very large business who can afford to dish out a lot of money for a logo.
If you only need one for your Avatar and Web site you can use an inexpensive one. Businesses that also use print media and offline advertising should invest the money to get a professional package so that they present a consistent brand across all they do.
.-= Gail @ Social Media Marketing´s last blog ..BizLuv MEME: How to Support Your Fav Businesses =-.
Logo designs play an important role in the marketing strategies of a business.Logo design in today’s world is totally under rated. People do not understand how important a good logo is and how valuable it is to their business.
Interesting record it is necessary to put at itself a reference
For a website a wonderful logo is must.and i think wonderful points given and i will keep use of it actually I have been delaying creating one.
it is the thing which makes the difference.it is the identity of your organization.which makes you different from others.it is very essential for the organization.
Yes Monika, it can make a huge difference. I find that my new logo really pops out from all the others. It makes it really easy for someone who has been here before to remember to come back. They may not really remember much about this blog; however, they may have a good feeling connected with the logo that will make them more likely to click on it and come back here.
.-= Gail @ Social Media Marketing´s last blog ..Search Engine Positions: Easy Free Ways to Track =-.
Some really great points, especially about the process. As more and more sites fill the web, I think branding will become more important, especially if you plan to do any off web advertising.
.-= Charles@Henderson Real Estate´s last blog ..Time Running Out for the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit =-.
Hi Charles,
Thank you. Many logo designers don’t realize that business and blog owners do not necessarily know the technical differences between file types or the difference between CMYK and RGB. Even those that do may not be able to explain it where they can understand. That is why I researched and wrote this post.
A distinctive logo really makes a difference. There is so much noise on Social Media sites that a bright image catches the eye of both new readers and any following you develop. That is why we love the logo Joshua created for us. It really jumps out on any site.
.-= Internet Strategist @GrowMap´s last blog ..Best of GrowMap: Our Pillar Foundation Content =-.
wow, so cool, you could make a short booklet out of this post. So many useful logo designing tips, exactly what i was looking for, how to get a professional logo 🙂 Thanks a lot!
Thank you James. Maybe I should turn it into an ebook and offer it as a download. Whenever someone like me who has been in computers for over three decades has so many questions I know that all those who are not will too.
.-= Gail @ Social Media Marketing´s last blog ..Search Engine Positions: Easy Free Ways to Track =-.
For a website a wonderful logo is must. wonderful points given .i will keep use of it.
Hello Saurabh,
It is up to Web designers to share this kind of information with their clients. When I recommend Derek do a WordPress installation for a business they have the option of having a graphic designer develop their logo or having Derek do what he can.
Derek is very talented and has done well with our blog designs but a business should seriously consider having a specialist design their logo. While what Derek designed for our Golf Store and blog is effective it wouldn’t really work for a company logo.
.-= Gail @ Social Media Marketing´s last blog ..MEME: BizLuv in Support of Small Businesses =-.
A logo is the face of an organization.How you recognize a business even when you are busy with your work is a simple example of this.Logo provides identity to your organization.The points above are exhaustive and provide valuable information.Good work indeed 🙂
Thank you.
.-= Gail @ Social Media Marketing´s last blog ..WordPress How To Clean Up Title Permalink URLs =-.
To make a brand its really important t o design a fantastic logo. i will go for the smashing magazine and check the mistakes in logo design.
Great post – I agree that a good, memorable logo is well worth the investment. Of course, many internet marketers can’t spend thousands of dollars on a logo, especially when they first start out, so I’m glad you outlined a variety of options here.
Also, thanks for the help getting the BW logo on FriendFeed and StumbleUpon Photoblog!
Lee
.-= Lee, Blogger’s Workshop´s last blog ..How to Write an Affiliate Review =-.
Hi Lee,
I really like your new logo. Ask Derek how to make it shareable. Right now it is too large for StumbleUpon and that could also be why I can’t share it at FriendFeed. If you look at my logo here, his at Derek Semmler dot com or the one at NoBogies you’ll see that only part of each header is shared.
If you have accounts at FriendFeed or StumbleUpon you can share the images to see what I mean. If you don’t I strongly encourage you to use them. You can add your feed at FriendFeed and gain many new readers and nothing drives traffic as well as StumbleUpon.
.-= Internet Strategist @GrowMap´s last blog ..How to Optimize Your PPC Advertising to Benefit YOU =-.
What a great post.. well planned and full of helpful information.
I am now able to tell my Logo designer EXACTLY what I want for my next project..
Second time Ive found exactly what I want on this blog after googling for the info.
Regards,
Jamie D
.-= Jamie Dunne´s last blog ..Marathon List Building Call – Jeff Dedrick and Liz Tomey =-.
Thank you Jamie. It is good to have my extensive research and comprehensive a posts appreciated and to know that they are getting well indexed. Perhaps you want to scan the categories in the right sidebar and see what else is here and consider subscribing to our RSS or Subscribing via email</a.
.-= Internet Strategist @GrowMap´s last blog ..How to Optimize Your PPC Advertising to Benefit YOU =-.
Hi David,
thanks for the mention. 🙂 I haven’t logged in for a bit…been busy!
Cheers
Lee
Welcome Lee,
I included you because of David’s mention. Your points combined with David’s excellent image bring those points home clearly even for those of us who are graphically-challenged.
When he provided your Twitter account I added it to the post. Some who read it may be interested in contacting either you or David for your services. This provides a way for them to do that.
.-= Internet Strategist @GrowMap´s last blog ..Success IS a Numbers Game =-.
i think it points out the professionalism and the company first view
Hello Al,
Yes, it does and that is why I regularly recommend that every site have a logo and that the logo and an Avatar that is consistent across all of Cyberspace. Every day I visit blogs and even store and business sites that still have no logo at all. Even a poorly designed one is better than none.
.-= Internet Strategist @GrowMap´s last blog ..Local Search Directory Taps the Power of Television =-.
I’ve red Airey and Smashing mag’s do’s and dont’s before. Very useful tips indeed. While I am not in the business of making logos or designing, I appreciate a good logo and design because I look up to artist who can create very cool designs. 😀
.-= UPrinting´s last blog ..Door Hanger Printing Tips for Political Campaigns =-.
Welcome UPrinting,
All my regular readers know I am severely graphics-challenged and primarily a wordsmith; however, like you, I appreciate great design and talented artists. Having read David Airey’s posts over the years I knew what to research and the results (our new logo here) really speak for themselves.
When your clients order business cards or stationary have you ever considered offering them business card holders or pens? There is a minimum order but they can even get matching logo business card cases.
I work with the owner of Executive Gift Shoppe and his affiliate program would be an excellent fit for your business.
.-= Internet Strategist @GrowMap´s last blog ..How to Add Your Free Business Listing to infoUSA =-.
yes, a good logo is important but it doesn’t mean that every small company needs to blow a fortune on it. i have used logotournament.com several times and been very happy with the results.
Welcome Tim,
Hopefully this post will assist every business – whether they decide to go with a $50 logo or a $1000+ logo package – to select only what they need and receive the most value for their money.
I also hope it will give logo designers ideas on how to communicate well and encourage them to design their own business process.
.-= Internet Strategist @GrowMap´s last blog ..How to Create and Install Favicons =-.
You have good logo, i like the sign up.
Hello Buat,
Thank you. We are extremely pleased with the logo, the process we went through to have it designed, and how well our logo designer communicated. Should anyone wish to contact him he now has a credit at the foot of the page to make it easy to click through to his site.
.-= Internet Strategist @GrowMap´s last blog ..How to Add Your Free Business Listing to infoUSA =-.
i think it points out the professionalism and the company first view
Hello SEO,
It really made a difference here and is far more important for businesses.
.-= Internet Strategist @GrowMap´s last blog ..DMOZ Now Largely a Waste of Time =-.
Great article, people shouldn’t underestimate the power of a good logo. I’ve been running through some designs for a current project, but it’s not as easy as it seems to come up with one.
Hello Ste,
Thank you. There are so many great sites that are ready to step up their game with either a professionally designed logo, a better design, or both. Many do still judge sites on how they look and not pulling it all together can hold you back.
.-= Internet Strategist @GrowMap´s last blog ..How to Add Your Business to Merchant Circle =-.
That’s some really in depth information on logo design. I think anyone who reads your post carefully will know exactly what he needs and what to ask of his logo designers. A very well researched and written piece.
Hi Jack,
Thank you. As often happens I did not realize how complicated logo design was until I started researching it. I am glad you added your link here so any readers of this post can visit you to read additional information about branding and logo design plus viral marketing and video production.
.-= Internet Strategist @GrowMap´s last blog ..How to Add Your Free Business Listing to infoUSA =-.
hey growmap,
I thought this post would do well.
You rank # 2 on google for “memorable logo” and #3 for “how to design a memorable logo”. Content is KING! I’ll be interested if you keep track of and let us know how much traffic this post gets. Something tells me that your link to Joshua and (your recommendation) could turn into a “golden link” for him. 🙂
~ Steve, the impressed trade show guru
.-= Steve@trade show guru´s last blog ..Spam My Blog – Win a Free Link =-.
Hi Steve,
Although it may be somewhat too long even for me it has all the details in it that blog and business owners need to know about the difference between a $50 logo and professional logo design.
I don’t blame businesses for wanting to save money where they can; however, sometimes going cheap gets really expensive. I hope this post helps each person make the best decision.
I suspect one of the reasons it ranks is that someone I don’t know named cassiboff shared it at StumbleUpon (SU). SU can be really powerful for driving traffic – at least it was in the old days when I was a power user there (before eBay bought them and then sold them back to the founders).
If anyone uses StumbleUpon they’ll find that reviews can push your content up in the ratings. Anyone interested in doing a good turn for GrowMap can review this post there. Feel free to Stumble or review anything else.
I created a new account there and will write about how to use StumbleUpon once I find out what has changed. I already know that the one thing I really liked there has been removed. Perhaps the founders will restore it.
.-= Internet Strategist @GrowMap´s last blog ..How to Create and Install Favicons =-.
In my quest for more clients I’ve registered on Elance, and it’s HELL for true designers there. All these people bid $50 for a logo, and the people looking for the logo are only willing to pay $50 – and they end up getting what they payed for. Sure, I’ve made a little money there, but it’s hardly worth the time spent bidding and time spent on the project.
Hello Porec,
One of the major reasons for this post is to help blog and business owners understand the difference between a $50 logo from a contest site or job bidding site and working with a professional designer.
Your time would be better spent developing a reputation in a particular niche. For example, if you have designed several logos for apartments or resorts put up a site for “apartment logos” or “resort logos” and become active in forums or Social Networks where the owners of those types of businesses find answers to their Web site related challenges.
Find a power blogger in that niche that needs a logo and offer to design their logo in exchange for a link with your choice of anchor text in the footer and a post explaining that you know that industry and specialize in creating logos that look great on their Web site, in Social Networking sites, on the huge signs outside their businesses and on their stationary.
Instead of being just another logo designer work to become “the” logo designer to Apartment building owners, Resort owners, or any other niche you’re interested in. Many management types are very competitive. If the businesses they compete with get a logo they rest of them will run out and get one too.
.-= Internet Strategist @GrowMap´s last blog ..How to Create and Install Favicons =-.
Thanks again for featuring my blog posts here, and also for taking the time to find Lee’s LinkedIn profile URL. Much appreciated.
.-= David Airey´s last blog ..Compelling comments and ulterior motives =-.
Welcome to GrowMap David,
We have interacted elsewhere but not here. Your articles were important to my understanding and add so much to this post, especially those five points and the image that clearly illustrates what they mean.
Lee was something of a challenge to locate online. His LinkedIn profile seemed to be the best choice of what I found.
.-= Internet Strategist @GrowMap´s last blog ..Freelancer Challenges – Logo Graphic Designers =-.
Lee’s in a top design position in an English firm, so doesn’t really have his own website. You can find him on Twitter, though (a new profile that’s more geared towards a small side project of his).
.-= David Airey´s last blog ..Henri Ehrhart logo design process =-.
Thank you David. I added Les’s Twitter link to the post.
.-= Internet Strategist @GrowMap´s last blog ..How to Add Your Free Business Listing to infoUSA =-.
@GrowMap – Well, thanks so much for the great words and write-up! This is a very good source for people who might need a logo but don’t know much about the process. You have given out so much great information! The more people know about what a logo really is and what it is supposed to do, the better.
@Steve – Hi! I’m glad you like the new GrowMap logo! If I can help you out with anything, please feel free to shoot me an email from the contact page of my site. 🙂
Thanks again, and great post!
Hello Joshua,
Even though I have chatted with other logo designers in the past and had read several excellent posts on the subject, until I decided to research it thoroughly I still did not have a clear idea what was really involved, what Vector graphics were and what file types were used for which purposes.
I am certain the main question most business owners will have is why pay $1000 when so many create logos for $50 so that was my focus. I wanted each reader to be able to select precisely the level of logo design necessary for their purposes.
All of the input on the new logo has been positive so far and I really feel it has made a HUGE difference both here and wherever my Avatar appears. It even looks great as a Favicon. With all the time I spend online, no one looks at it as much as I do so it has a positive effect on me every day.
Thank you for recognizing this opportunity. I am certain it will turn out to be an excellent investment of your time.
.-= Internet Strategist @GrowMap´s last blog ..Freelancer Challenges – Logo Graphic Designers =-.
Wow. I’d have to say this is the definitive post about everything you every wanted to know about getting a logo (if you have half a day to read it 🙂 )! And Joshua did a great job on your logo.
I’m a little slow, but can you say if this was a barter exchange (the logo for this post) or if you paid something for it (and how much), and how much would Joshua normally charge to create a logo like this. I really like your logo! ~ Steve, the logo-less trade show guru
.-= Steve@trade show guru´s last blog ..Does Blogging Regularity Matter? =-.
Hi Steve,
Since you’re one of my regular readers you know that when I research something I like to do a comprehensive job of it. Although I would prefer my posts not be quite this long it is a complicated subject I have seen explained completely anywhere else.
I have often recommended that those with skills need to collaborate with individuals and businesses that are in a position to recommend them and send them clients. Instead of focusing on making a living, I spend almost all of my time assisting those who do not have the money to hire consultants, driving traffic to deserving content, and identifying and recommending specialists.
Joshua offered to design a logo for GrowMap in exchange for credit in the footer (still coming – I rely on Derek for that type of work) which will provide him with a dofollow incoming link from every page in this blog. He also knew there would be at least one link in a post about logo design and that I would be a better position to send specific work his way.
Since I liked his first concept and was in no big rush his normal rate for designing a logo like mine would be $750. Two design ideas would have been $1000 and rates go up depending on how many more designs someone requests him to develop.
I sent comments on many logos with links to them in response to his questionnaire and gave him some general ideas what the logo might contain. His idea went beyond what I suggested and if someone had described it or told me the colors I would not have thought I would like it.
Seeing it in multiple color variations though I really did like it – especially the final version – so for me that one idea was all I needed.
.-= Internet Strategist @GrowMap´s last blog ..How to Create and Install Favicons =-.
Thanks for the effort you have taken to put together all the information that is required for Logo Design.When we identify a brand with its logo thats the success of the graphic designer. Lots of people today design logo but do not put in that detailing which requires.But again its depends upon the kind of money you want to spend on it.Moreover it should be as such that every stationary on which logo is required to be printed,should be aligned with it and appears pleasing to eyes also.
Hello Dimtri,
Logo designers like Joshua provide complete logo services including designing stationary and any other office supplies and advertising pieces a company uses. That is why I emphasize that a business must consider all of their logo design needs when they select a designer.
Most of the inexpensive logo design companies provide an image in one or more particular formats but not a complete design package.
.-= Internet Strategist @GrowMap´s last blog ..DMOZ Now Largely a Waste of Time =-.
This is great and very detailed advice. One thing I noticed when I was trying to come up with a new logo for my business was that the designer had a really hard time understanding that the logo has to look good in all situations – online, in print, on a shirt, on a large banner or as a tiny icon. I went through very many proofs before finally deciding on a logo. It really is that important.
BTW, you should know that KeywordLuv doesn’t work after editing a comment. I had to go back and edit a typo and it caused the entire Name field to be linked instead of just the part after the @ symbol. -Jack
Hello Jack,
There are many people who have rudimentary skills but lack expertise and have not thoroughly researched best practices in their field. Your comments point out exactly the difference between many of the inexpensive logo designers and logo design contests and professional logo designers.
If someone just can not afford the best they can use the information in this post to make sure they select a logo that will work for all uses. I hope it also serves to help designers increase their skills and learn to communicate better with their clients.
I am really glad to see another business owner commenting in this blog. I have been able to reach bloggers much more easily than small businesses and am always seeking ways to reach them. Do you recall how you found me?
I am one of half a dozen writers participating in the Merchant Circle Guest Blogger Series and I hope that will bring many more business owners here.
Thank you for letting me know about the issue with editing comments. I edit mine all the time and have not run into that issue but I have seen other comments where the link had that problem. The plugins for CommentLuv, KeywordLuv and editing come from separate developers so I don’t know if we can fix that on our end or not. I’ll ask Derek.
I have noticed that sometimes editing a comment causes WordPress to add nofollow to it; however, there is another plugin that removed nofollow so I believe they’re all fine. This blog has been DoFollow Certified and they did not find any nofollow links in my comments. I’ve asked Derek to add the Certified logo. I also manually remove nofollow if I come across any while editing.
.-= Internet Strategist @GrowMap´s last blog ..How to Create and Install Favicons =-.
My logo was basically done with “off the shelf” components, basically is a stock image of a wedge of cheese, in a “Ghostbusters” style “No Cheese Zone” motif.
Originally, we were using the “Ministry Of Sound” logo from the UK, but gradually phased out their icon (it had a black background but very similar) to the new one in use today (its also my Gravatar).
Hi Matt,
How elaborate, unique, or professional a logo needs to be depends greatly on what your business is. I suspect many people expect DJs to be less formal and a little “out there” even when they do weddings for a living. 🙂
Businesses that deal with Corporations or operate in industries that are old-fashioned or serious and judge images sternly will need a more traditional style of logo.
Every business, blog, and industry is different. One example I used of a very distinctive image that works for another blogger but wouldn’t work for me is the logo used at http://www.johncow.com/.
I don’t know if Jason Katzenback’s personality is accurately represented by his image but it certainly is memorable and conveys a very specific type of attitude.
.-= Internet Strategist @GrowMap´s last blog ..How to Add Your Business to Merchant Circle =-.
Designing a logo or getting a logo designed is an art in itself, how much detailing goes into designing a logo ask the people who deign it. Its very important to have a logo which suits your business,because a logo becomes the identity of your company.The description given above has described the process in a very informative manner, any one who wants to get a logo design and dont know where to begin gets his answer here.Some of the very famous logo i like is that of ferrari as it simply tells people that one who drive ferrari are unique, then coke also has a very strong recognition of its logo,Intel’s is simple yet powerful.
Hello Amy,
Many don’t realize that dozens of hours can go into creating one special graphic image. The two graphic guys who worked on a custom logo for my very first Web site put about 60 hours into it!
Logos are like blogs. Most people only see the finished product and have no idea how much effort, experience, skill, and time went into getting to what they see. That is why I wrote this post about logo design.
I wanted businesses to better understand the process and how to evaluate logo designers. Until you appreciate the expertise behind superior results it is not easy to justify the higher cost to obtain it.
.-= Internet Strategist @GrowMap´s last blog ..How to Create and Install Favicons =-.
Great points on logo. I have been delaying creating one but perhaps now is as good time as any! Thanks for sharing the insights
.-= Alex@Make Money Blogging´s last blog ..Make Money Blogging Blueprint =-.
Hi Alex,
There is never a better time than now. Learning about logo design turned into an enormous project with a very long post to match. My hope is that it will be of great benefit to anyone who needs a logo designer or intends to create their own and also to encourage designers to work with small businesses.
Judging by your subscriber numbers not having a logo doesn’t seem to have held you back but having one could certainly make your blog stand out better. I am looking forward to having Derek make mine more shareable so I can better brand my posts at FriendFeed and elsewhere.
Any blogger with a following can really benefit by using their logo or Avatar to brand what gets shared on sites like FriendFeed. Regular posts are easy to overlook but those with your logo on them are sure to be easily seen.
.-= Internet Strategist @GrowMap´s last blog ..How to Create and Install Favicons =-.