Why the New Year May Mean Time for a New Logo

Many company owners think that creating a company logo is the easy part. From many angles, this really is one of the easier aspects to online business. However, a logo should not be taken lightly. A logo defines everything your company stands for whether it be the quality of you product, great customer service, personality, or all of the above. For this reason, creating a logo that will last actually takes quite a bit of thought. Whether you’re a new company starting a small business and looking for a logo or an older company looking to change its logo, the process is definitely one to be taken seriously. The best logos are recognizable and memorable right at first glance. Some great logos include Starbucks, Volkswago, Microsoft, and Pepsi.

Ironically enough, all of these logos were changed at one time or another. While re-branding can be a slippery slope, it is sometimes the key to the success of a business. If your company is not well-known, you still have plenty of time to grow your logo. Some major companies, such as Pepsi, even changed their logo after they were successful; proving that even a major brand has room for improvement.

Consider a few of the following tips to creating the best logo possible:

5 Tips and Tricks to Creating a Perfect Company Logo

1. Target Audience – If you create a product for little girls, it wouldn’t make sense to design a logo around a fast looking car. It is important to make sure that your logo corresponds with those you think will buy your product or services. In other words, personal opinion needs to take a back seat.

 2. Competition – Make sure your logo doesn’t resemble your competition in any way, shape, or form. Part of a company logo is defining you as a company, so make sure you’re completely unique. You don’t want consumers to look at your logo quickly and think it’s something else. In essence, this defeats the whole purpose of a logo.

3.Company Name – Most agree that putting your company name on the logo is a great idea because it gives you extra exposure. This is especially important for newer companies because people need the name of the company in order to find out more information. Unfortunately, if your company has a very long name this may be more different. Nonetheless, some companies (such as Harley-Davidson Motor Company) have made it work.

4. Current Logo – If you have a current logo, you may not want to change it entirely. Re-branding can be risky, so it’s a good idea to simply update a current logo. Make sure it is appropriate for 2012 (some company logos were clearly created in the 70’s), and go from there.

5. Opinions – Consider asking your current customers and clients what they think of a few logo options. There are the people who know your company, and a fresh perspective would likely do the logo-creation process some good. This will also help your customers feel special and involved.

When creating a logo, you want to think simple. There are lots of design experts out there who specialize in company logos, so consider enlisting their help if you aren’t comfortable creating a logo yourself. Revamping your company logo would be a great start to create a memorable brand for the New Year. And who knows, maybe you’ll be the next Yahoo! If that happens, then go ahead and plan for that all inclusive holidays you have been dreaming so much of :).

Photo Credit: techtree.com