Why You Need a Logo

Experts urge small business owners to "brand" their businesses with a logo and a set of consistent marketing materials. However, they rarely explain the reasons behind this advice.

1.                To look "bigger" and "established." Home-printed business cards or cards printed with Microsoft clipart scream "small-time vendor" to your potential clients and that is how they will want to compensate you.

2.                To increase your chance of earning venture capital or of selling a business. If you present a well-rounded business package that includes marketing materials and graphics, your business will look more complete.

3.                To attract more clients. Some clients look for a well-defined company, and "look and feel" may be one of their criteria for making a purchasing decision.

4.                To brand yourself. If you are a consultant, you need a logo in order to build an image and a brand that is greater than your individual identity.

5.                To convey that you are reputable. A logo and professionally-printed materials show that you are committed to both your business and to your clients.

6.                To give clients a sense of stability. You may not have been in business "since 1908," but if you have invested in your identity, you are more likely to remain firm and relevant in the eyes of your customers. It goes a long way toward building that all-important "trust."

7.                To be more memorable. Forty percent of people better remember what they see than what they hear or read. So to have graphics associated with your business, and to keep those graphics consistent, makes you more likely to be at the forefront of potential clients' minds when they need your goods or services.

8.                To explain your company name. If your company name contains a little-known word or an acronym, the logo can give visual clues to its meaning.

9.                To endear your company name to your clients. A difficult-to-pronounce or hard-to-remember company name makes it challenging for clients to hire you. When potential clients need your services, they may not recall a tricky name. But if you reinforce the name with interesting, compelling graphics, they are more likely to remember you, pick up the phone, and hire you.

10.            To explain an unusual line of business. If your business is nontraditional or in a hard-to-explain industry, a logo can help to clarify exactly what it is that you do.

11.            To differentiate you from your competition. A well-designed logo can have many subtle meanings and can begin to tell the story of how you do business, including the special practices that make you stand apart from the competition.

12.            To stand out in your field. A well-designed logo and an identity system can put you far above the competition, especially when paired with a strong marketing program.

13.            To comply with expectations. , a logo is expected. In any service industry, having a logo is just a standard.

14.            To show your commitment. Do it for the sense of personal pride .

These benefits will boost your business and your confidence, so consider developing a logo and identity as soon as possible.

But, how do you define your brand? And then design eye-catching materials that will make you stand out?

1. Define Who You Are, What You Do, What Makes You Different, Your Target Audience and Your Business's Personality
2. Design Your Logo and Brand Identity To Communicate Your Brand Definition
3. Develop Your Website and Marketing Communications Collateral
4. Distinguish Your Business from the Crowd
5. Direct Your New Brand So That it Can Reach Its Fullest Potential

If you address all 5 of these steps when you create your Brand Identity and marketing designs, you'll create a professional brand for your business that will make it easy for you to build credibility for your small business. A professional brand identity communicates your company's purpose and promises, increases your memorability and drives sales.

logo should be made up of three pieces of art: the icon, the font, and the color palette.

1) the icon, the picture in the logo. The elements of the icon (picture) will all be symbols that have visual meaning. There are both abstract symbols, like basic shapes and swooshes, and representational symbols, which look like something. For example, an abstract symbol of a circle can be used to symbolize trust or completeness or to highlight another foreground element. A representational symbol of a leaf can be used to represent nature, growth, health, or eco-friendliness. The icon you choose should not only be meaningful but also memorable and unique.

2) The font, or fonts is the text that your business name appears in. Each font has a different personality. There are businesslike fonts, fonts that look educational, fonts that are funny, and others that are clean and modern. Your font also has the added job of being legible, both at large sizes and when your logo is very small. You don't want viewers to struggle to make sense of your business name, so use a highly legible font that makes your name readable at a glance.

3) The color palette. Colors all have different psychological meanings. And each color can have several meanings, depending on context. For example, red is a "hot" color that can also show urgency, signal "stop," and express love and passion. So, depending on the types of messages communicated by the other elements in your logo, your color palette may be interpreted in different ways.

Our logo design process works for small businesses across every industry.

Because we present you with multiple design options at every step, our process is exceptionally hands-on. You'll play an active role in the design process, incorporating your industry expertise and business knowledge, along with your

preferences for colors, symbols and typefaces, into your final design.
The result? A logo that's visibly pleasing, credible and memorable, and uniquely yours.