Business logos design. It seems these days everyone is a graphic designer and cheap programs are widely accessible.
You can even hire a “designer” for less than $100!
But what are you really getting?
As a graphic artist for over 17 years, I have seen a lessening of standards in the industry and a huge desire for cheap and free services by business owners.
The problem is that you get what you pay for.
If you want cheap, you will come across as cheap. And you will be making mistakes in your logo image. This is going to cost you in the long run. Because a logo is more than just an image on a page. It is the representation of your brand.
A poorly constructed logo is going to confuse your prospects which will hurt your revenue in the long run. This is truly dangerous to you and your business!
Major corporations recognize that their brand is their most important asset. They pay tens of thousands of dollars to high dollar ad agencies. Business logos design is not something to be handled lightly or cheaply. It takes thought, tender loving care, and strategic implementation.
So what are the common mistakes in logo design to avoid?
Here are a few that come to my mind:
1) The symbol in the logo has nothing whatsoever to do with the message the brand is trying to communicate. Sometimes the logo owner will have an esoteric idea that he thinks his prospects should just “get.” This will lead to confusion.
Your goal: instant recognition. I know I have done a good job when a person looks at a logo I’ve designed and says, “Oh, so you do so and so…” and nail it without having to explain a thing! This happened recently involving a sweatshirt design I had made with a logo printed on it. A stranger saw it and immediately understood what that logo represented and what it meant the owner of that brand did as a business.
2) A name that is complicated and full of initials that mean nothing to an outsider. I have seen this one a lot lately. The brand identity, the business name, may mean something to the business owner, but it is a complete mystery to a prospect. This is not good. When naming a business or a product line, great care needs to be taken. Initials, abbreviations, and acronyms very rarely work for the small business. These are usually only successful with corporations that already have a lot of brand recognition. A name that is unclear is only going to confuse your prospects.
Before you go with that name you think is going to represent your brand, be sure to do some research. Ask for feedback. Share the name with trusted colleagues and ask them if they understand what the name is describing. If they don’t understand it, you need to go back to the drawing board!
3) Inferior typography. Okay, I admit it, I am a typography snob. I just can’t help it. In the beginning of my career, I learned what set apart a professional from an amateur design. And it is all about typography.
What is that? It is the art of using fonts to create a picture. But not only that, typography encompasses symbol design such as quote marks. When I see a design that has an inch mark or foot mark rather than a quote mark or bona fide apostrophe (called Smart Quotes in most software programs), I instantly know that the design is amateurish.
This makes your brand look amateur! People today are used to sophisticated brands. If your brand looks less than professional, than the perception will be that YOU are less than professional. If you don’t take your business seriously, no one will take you seriously. The opposite is true, too: If you take your business seriously, you will be taken seriously!
And this will ultimately lead to increased revenues! That’s why having a high quality business logos design is so important.
Want to learn more about how to create a well-constructed business logo design? Take my FREE mini video course today and get your FREE report on how to make your brand sizzle!
DANGER, KEEP OUT! © Photographer: Brett Rabideau | Agency: Dreamstime.com