Everyone can come up with a logo of your name or business. Perhaps use fancy type fonts and an icon. However, does it represent your vision and mission? Does it represent who you really are or what the business stands for? If it doesn’t, then it is just a name and logo. Furthermore, does it complement your marketing strategy? It is of utmost importance that your logo sets the tone and carries your voice, personality and message. A well-thought-out logo will also be a crucial part of your advertising and marketing strategy. Whatever you put forth will be speaking for you and/or your business.
First I recommend drafting your mission and vision statements, if you haven’t yet. This will definitely provide direction and clarity. You can search the internet for lengthy explanations and examples of what these are. Briefly speaking, the mission defines your business, objectives, customers and how to get there, while the vision details the business future and where it aspires to go. This will help you plan ahead to make sure your logo and brand will continue to serve properly as the business grows.
Next, choose a name, if you haven’t yet, that potential customers can identify with and that also best describes you or the business. You may also want to keep this in mind when choosing the font style and colors. Sometimes letters can be manipulated so that they become the icon of the logo, or an individual icon is added to represent the line of business. Sometimes it is advisable to add a slogan that will provide more clarity of a message that represents your mission, especially when it is not clear on the name. Please do a thorough research that it is not already in used by another business or copyrighted.
If this becomes overwhelming, confusing or you simply don’t have the time, I suggest hiring an experienced graphic designer. He or she should provide you with various options to choose from. Once you receive the first drafts, show them to your friends, colleagues and potential customers to give you their opinions, before you make your final decision. You logo will become the most important part of your image and the way the public and potential customers will perceive you. Make sure it speaks clearly, presents itself very professional and projects quality. This is your brand—you must make an impactful first impression!
