Building a Brand to Last, How To, Lifestyle Entrepreneur, Small Business 0 comments Brand Elements, Define your LifeStyle Entrepreneurship, Small Business Advice

5 Easy to Follow Steps and Tips When Creating and Implementing Your Logo

Billy

March 30, 2023

Read Time: 9 Minutes

Introduction

Your logo is like the shining beacon of your brand that stands out in a sea of competitors. It’s similar to how everyone knows the iconic checkmark of Nike or the classic logo of Coca-Cola. Your logo should be just as memorable, like the Bat-symbol in Gotham City, representing your commitment to excellence. If you follow these helpful tips and steps when creating your logo, you can connect with your customers’ hearts and show them that you’re their ultimate superhero. Like Batman, your brand can be the champion they need in their lives.

This blog will help you create YOUR BRAND LOGO

Ready to create your very own brand logo? Our blog is here to help! We’ll guide you through the process step-by-step and share some helpful tips to make sure your logo is timeless, practical, and versatile. Let’s get started!

Table of Contents
- What is a Logo?
- Why is a Logo Important for your Brand
  - 5 Reasons Why a Logo is Essential for your Busineses
- Four Main Types of Logos to Consider
  - Wordmark Logos
    
    Monogram Logos
    
    Combination logos
    
    Symbol Logos
  - Your Logo is the Foundation of Your Brand Narrative
    
    Beyoncé or Apple, which one will your brand be?
- The 5 Steps in Creating your Logo
  - Step 1: Inspiration Seeking
  - Step 2: What’s your Brand Identity
  - Step 3: Choose your Logo Design Style
  - Step 4: Craft Your Logo
  - Step 5: Test your New Logo
- Consider these 5 tips Before Implementing your Logo
  - Ensure Usability
  - Be Original
  - Design for Appeal
  - Application is Key
  - Seek Design Help
- Key Takeaways
- Summary
- Works Cited/Resources

What is a Logo?

Have you ever wondered what a logo really is? Basically, it can take the form of a word or words, an image, or a blend of both, and it has two important roles. Firstly, it lets everyone know the name of your company. Secondly, it creates a visual representation of your business. Some logos are so memorable that they become easily recognizable and instantly associated with a particular brand.

Why is a Logo Important for your Brand?

Your logo is more than just a design; it’s a powerful tool that can make a great first impression and help you stand out from competitors. Think of it as your brand’s ID card, giving you a unique image and making you memorable. As your logo becomes more recognizable, your customers will come to rely on it, making it an essential element of your brand identity. So, don’t hesitate to invest in designing a logo that truly wows your audience and inspires brand loyalty. Remember, as Paul Rand said, “A logo doesn’t sell (directly), it identifies.”

Creating an effective brand image requires two things: appeal and making a lasting impression. Your logo is like a branding stamp (think of the cattle brand on a cow) – it symbolizes that your company always provides top-notch products or services. Consumers trust in brands and want to be assured that excellence is maintained. Therefore a logo represents this brand’s promise, with the logo being the seal of approval and letting people know that you stand by your promises.

5 Reasons Why a Logo is Essential for your Busineses

It Grabs Attention
It Makes a Strong First Impression
It’s the Foundation of Your Brand Identity
It Separates you From Your Competition
It’s your Brands Stamp of Approval

Four Main Types of Logos to Consider

There is a wide range of logotypes one could consider. In order to simplify the decision-making process, I am providing four choices that are particularly suited to the needs of small business owners. These four logotypes will serve as a beneficial starting point to help you locate the most suitable logotype for your business.

1: Wordmark logos

A well-recognized type of logo is the logotype, or what is commonly known as a wordmark. They feature just the name of the business and no symbols or monograms, with the choice of using an existing or custom typeface. It is suggested that this type of logo performs optimally for any business if the name is concise and distinctive, with no slogan.

Image sourced from looka.com/
2: Monogram logos

A monogram is most often utilized as a logo, representing one to three letters and standing for a company’s initials or first letter. In the instances of widely recognized companies, their wordmark is omitted and instead replaced with their abbreviation (e.g. P&G for Procter and Gamble, VW for Volkswagen, or LV for Louis Vuitton). Nevertheless, most new organizations would benefit in generating brand reputation by displaying the business name alongside or underneath the monogram.

Image sourced from looka.com/
3: Combination logos
4: Symbol logos

Your Logo is the Foundation of Your Brand Narrative

Undeniably, Marty Neumeier hit the nail on the head when he said that a logo is a mere representation of a brand, and not the brand itself. Therefore, determining the type of brand you intend to portray is critical before designing a logo. Through my personal experience, I have discovered that all brands can be classified into two categories – the Beyonce or Apple brand. By categorizing your brand into these two segments, you can identify which of the four main types of logos you should consider for your business. So, make the right choice and create a logo that perfectly reflects your brand – for it’s your brand that matters the most!

Beyoncé or Apple, which one will your brand be?

To create the perfect logo for your business, you must first choose between two brand types: Beyoncé or Apple. Beyoncé is a persona brand that represents an individual as the brand identity, while Apple is a symbol brand that represents an organization with a united symbol. The Wordmark & Monogram logos work best for Beyoncé type brands, while Combination & Symbol logos work best for Apple type brands. Beyoncé type brands are perfect for highlighting an individual as an industry professional and leader, while Apple type brands are ideal for rallying a whole range of people together. However, creating a humanized identity for a symbol brand requires a lot of work because you need to define a humanized approach for the brand, whereas the persona brand can have a persona identity because they have one already established. By choosing your brand type, you can determine what logo style best suits your brand.

Persona = Beyoncé
- - The Wordmark & Monogram logos are best represented for this brand.
    - Pro – Industry Leader (Already humanized brand because it’s based on a person)
    - Con – Ideal for one person, not a company

Symbol/Corporate = Apple
- - The Combination & Symbol logos are best represented for this brand.
    - Pro – A symbol for everyone to get behind
    - Con – A symbol doesn’t have a natural humanized identity. You will need to create one.

The 5 Steps in Creating your Logo

There is a wide range of logo types one could consider. In order to simplify the decision-making process, I am providing four choices that are particularly suited to the needs of small business owners. These four logo types will serve as a beneficial starting point to help you locate the most suitable logo type for your business.

Step 1: Inspiration Seeking

The first step is documenting logos that inspire you. You can do this in 3 ways;

1: Industry Research > Click here to learn more
- Look at Industry examples to determine the techniques being used
- 2: Competitor Research > Click here to learn more
  - Look at your local competition to seek inspiration
3: Online Research
- Google & Pinterest are your friends.
  - Try searching terms like “Best / Inspirational Logos.”

3.1.3-billyajames-howtochooseacolor-graph_Step 2

Step 2: What’s your Brand Identity

Write down on a piece of paper the answers below.

1: Is your Brand a Beyoncé or Apple? Select One
2: What is your Brand Base Color? > Click here to learn more
- - Colors can evoke an emotional Reaction & Connection. The one Brand Base Color will become your logo color.
3: What’s your Brand Personality?> Click here to learn more
- Whether you take the Beyonce or Apple route, both need defined personality traits and characteristics to embody your brand. This can reflect the logo designs.
- Document these traits through the Brand Archetype and the Emotional Descriptors (3 adjective words).

Step 3: Choose your Logo Design Style

Once you have gathered all the necessary information about your competitor’s activities and established the expectations of your industry, you can use your Brand Identity to narrow down the style of logo design that is perfect for your brand.

Choose one route that your brand should take

1: Wordmark
2: Monogram
3: Combination
4: Symbol

Step 4: Craft Your Logo

Creating your logo may be the most challenging aspect of the task. But if you have the know-how and the necessary software, the process will be a breeze! Just use the research you did before to build an awesome logo. If you’re a small business owner, seek professional design assistance.

Regarding platforms you can use, keep in mind: the cheaper the service, the less unique and original the design may be. So shop around and see what works best for you!

Step 5: Test your New Logo

Once you have got your logo ready to go, why not try it out on some stationery or merchandise? It’s cheap to print business cards, and you could grab some iron-on transfers and see how your logo looks on a t-shirt!

1: Iron-on < Example
2: Printing Services < Example

Try it out with your friends and family, and have some fun! Ensure you get it right the first time since your logo will become the foundation of your brand story.

Consider these 5 tips Before Implementing your Logo

Before you put your logo out there, take a moment to consider these 5 tips. They’ll help you make sure your logo is effective and that it resonates with your audience. Once you’ve done that, you’ll be good to go!

1: Ensure Usability

When designing a logo, it’s essential to consider how and where it will be used. Your logo may be used on websites, stationery, merchandise, and other contexts. Therefore, you need to plan for both present and future usage requirements before finalizing the design. Color is also a critical consideration, as it can impact costs when printing on different mediums such as clothing or stationery. To save on printing costs, it’s advisable to have a black and white logo variation, especially for charities or small businesses.

For example, I created several logo variants for my client Magnacares, ensuring that the logo can work across all platforms and scenarios without losing its identity. When using any logo, prioritize the color version first, but ultimately the medium and placement of the logo will decide which variant fits best. The chosen logo should stand out the most against the contrast area. Suppose you have artwork that clashes with your brand colors. In that case, it’s best to use the white or black variant that contrasts the best, making it noticeable and visible. It’s important for people to see the content and know that it’s coming from your brand, promoting brand recognition.

Example of the logo variants I created for my client
2: Be Original

Before using your logo, search for it on Google Images to see how unique
it is. Make sure your logo stands out and has a distinct look that
represents your brand. Avoid creating a logo that looks similar to your
competitors’ logos as it can lead to legal issues and confuse customers.
It’s important to avoid promoting the wrong organization as it can harm
your business’s success.
3: Design for Appeal
4: Application is Key

Applying your logo to various marketing materials should be varied in accordance to the platform; such as whether it be for your website or business card. It is essential that the version of your logo used is one reflecting your brand in a clear and legible manner, helping it stand out from the other elements of your marketing.

Below are some application examples of what not to use and what to use for Magnacares.

Website Example: The white landscape logo works the best in this situation as it’s large, readable and identifiable. The portrait one is so small that it is almost impossible to identify. The white logo stands out the most on this background colour.

Social Media Example: The white portrait logo works the best in this situation as it’s large, readable and identifiable. The color landscape is unreadable as it blends into the artwork. The white landscape one is so small that it is almost impossible to identify.
5: Seek Design Help

Securing a logo through professional design is better than selecting one of many online services that provide cheap design services. While the cost may be initially attractive, the quality and personal attention may need to meet expectations. Smaller freelance graphic designers or local print shops are better options, as they can provide higher-quality logos without the exorbitant costs associated with larger agencies or design facilities. Moreover, forming a relationship with a small business can offer additional savings when consolidating logos, stationery, and business card design. Joining all brand identification elements together in one place also allows for conveying a consistent, professional identity.

Key Takeaways

There are Four Main Types of Logos to Consider: Combination, Symbol, Wordmark, & Monogram Logos.
To create the perfect logo for your business, you need to choose which of the two brand types represents your business: Beyoncé or Apple.
- Beyoncé is a persona brand style.
  - This brand represents an individual as the brand identity, while
- Apple is a symbol of brand style.
  - This type of brand represents an organization with a united symbol.
Wordmark & Monogram logos work best for Beyoncé type brands, while Combination & Symbol logos work best for Apple type brands.
Consider your present and future logo usage requirements before selecting the final design.
It is important to have logo variations that work in white and black to ensure the logo works across all platforms and scenarios.
Check the originality of your logo before utilizing it, to avoid any legal issues and to ensure it represents your brand identity.
Consider the demographic you are targeting when designing the logo.
Smaller freelance graphic designers or local print shops are better options for designing high-quality logos without exorbitant costs.

Summary

This blog provides guidance to those looking to craft an effective logo. The most challenging logos to design are those which are visually appealing yet objectively appropriate for the industry in which it operates and therefore need a specialist who can help you create them. Every brand has distinct characteristics – it should evoke particular emotions, have a distinct personality and be representative of the brand’s values. This can all be consolidated into one symbol – a logo – that tells the brand’s narrative for others to get behind.

I hope this blog helps you on creating your brands foundations for succesful future.

Works Cited/ Resources

Antonia Gesch (2022). How to design a logo: the ultimate guide. 99designs.ca/
David Airey, Nick Carson (2022) .How to design a logo: 15 pro tips. creativebloq.com/
Cassandra (2022). How to Design a Logo for Beginners (With a Free Worksheet!). Looka.com/
Brandfolder (2013). 5 Tips to Choosing The Right Logo. brandfolder.com/
ExtralMile (/). Five factors to consider during logo design. extramilecommunications.com/
Free Logo Service (2018). 8 Logo Design Mistakes to Avoid at All Costs. freelogoservices.com/
Harry davies (2020). 5 Golden Rules for Designing a Successful Logo. domestika.org
Kate (2022). Different Types of Logos: Which One is Right for Your Business?. looka.com/
Katy French ( /). 10 Common Logo Design Mistakes (and How to Fix Them. columnfivemedia.com/
Kristen Vitale (2021). What Makes a Good Logo? 7 Designers Respond. creativemarket.com/
Jonathan Munk (/). 5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Creating Your Logo. articles.bplans.com
Oliver (2019). 2 Common Logo Mistakes (and How to Fix Them). looka.com/
Rachel Begg (2022). How to Design a Logo [Step-by-Step Guide]. blog.hubspot.com/
Tailor Brands (/). 10 Logo Design Mistakes and How to Avoid Them. tailorbrands.com/
Wix (2021). How to Make a Good Logo: The Dos and Don’ts. wix.com/