No exceptions: all entrepreneurs need attention.
There are many things you can do to get attention. But start by asking, attention to what? What will people see and instantly recognize as being your business? It’s all about your logo, the first-and-always visual ambassador of your brand. In that sense, it’s the foundation and future of your entire business. What makes a great logo, a great ambassador? Here are five keys to ensure that your logo will match the “look and feel” of your business.
1. Simplicity is your friend.
Day in and day out, you constantly see incredible amounts of visuals and colors. But just because something sticks out visually, doesn’t mean you’ll remember it or feel good about it. Clean design is key. Graphics professionals spend years in training to consistently translate ideas into clean design: the right shape, size and proportions without distracting bells and whistles. “Civilians” like us can get professional-looking results by using a make-it-yourself website like LogoGarden.com. Often these sites are free, so you can experiment and get a finished, clean-design logo quickly with no risk.
2. Your color is the means, not the end.
You’ve heard, “less is more.” Well, take it to heart! Color is a powerful part of your logo, but like any good thing, don’t overdo it! Stick with one or two colors, not a jumble of rainbow hues. Keep it simple because simple is usually more memorable. Your finished logo will stick in people’s minds more readily. And that’s what you want, right?
3. If you want followers, stay loyal to your own logo.
Once you’ve settled on a logo, stick with it. Don’t keep changing. It would be like introducing yourself by one name today, and changing your name tomorrow and again the day after that. It would either confuse people, or they’d simply never remember who you are. Your logo’s like that. Once people remember it, that’s who you are! You can change later, but it will cost you in terms of customer recognition and how comfortable people feel about your brand and business. So if you want people to stay loyal to you, then you need to stay loyal to your own brand appearance!
Following these tips will give you a strong boost toward a brand that people will remember. It will help you attract customers and sales. That’s what it’s all about!
LogoGarden.com founder and president John Williams is a leading logo design expert who literally wrote the book on brand standards for companies like Hewlett-Packard and Mitsubishi. An entrepreneur and former owner of award-winning studio Logic Design, John served as Entrepreneur.com‘s branding columnist for over 5 years and has written for the Kauffman Foundation.