Dos and Don’ts for Creating a Fantastic Business Logo

Creating a business logo is an exciting moment in a startup’s lifecycle. Your logo acts as the visual ambassador of your brand. Customers will be able to identify your company and its offerings simply by seeing your logo. As such, a great logo should be able to match the look and feel of the business.

However, without the proper guidance it can be easy to make common mistakes when creating a logo. Follow the advice from our friends at FreeLogoServices on the general dos and don’ts for creating a fantastic business logo.

Do: Create a Vector File of Your Logo

One of the easiest mistakes to make when first designing a business logo is choosing the wrong file format. The right file type ensures that a logo looks great at any size. (The wrong file type, on the other hand, has the ability to make your logo look like a tiny, pixelated mess!)

The best file format is typically a vector file for your logo. A vector file is made up of lines and shapes. These lines and shapes are scalable and embedded with true colors. This allows designers to stretch and resize the file without reducing the quality in the source file. A vector will scale up or down without any issues and serves as the perfect representation of the logo’s original format.

Ready to create a vector file of your logo? Get started with this helpful step by step vector file creation guide by FreeLogoServices. You’ll enjoy the peace of mind in knowing your logo will never be blurry or pixelated regardless of whether it’s on a screen or in print.

Do: Think About Color Combinations

The first impression of a logo is everything for a small business. One critical element to focus on when designing a logo is its color combination.

There is a psychology behind color combinations and the ability to evoke emotions in consumers. For example, bold color combinations may inspire feelings of love and excitement. Meanwhile, subtle color combinations may reflect a sense of calm or trust.

There are no hard rules to identify the best color combination for your small business. However, if you need a bit of help identifying the proper color combinations for your business consult the guide from FreeLogoServices. It breaks down color combinations by industry and the important role they play in a business logo.

Don’t: Just Use Your Logo on Business Cards

Logos are a powerful branding tool for small businesses. You do not have to solely showcase it on business cards. Add your logo to the following spaces:

Your company website and/or blog
Signs and banners
Packaging for your products
Letterhead and email signatures
Invoices and forms
Social media accounts
Promotional merchandise
Company apparel

The more consistently you use your logo, the more it acts as a unifying symbol that may relay positive messaging for your small business.

Don’t: Rely Too Much on Trends

A classic mistake made when creating a logo is using a design that is popular right now.

Consider the longevity of such designs. Reflect on what was popular a year ago. Does it still resonate with audiences? Or does it feel a bit dated? The best approach is to create a logo that is timeless and classic.

Don’t: Use Multiple Fonts

If you struggle to read your logo, chances are your customers will face a similar dilemma.

Choose no more than two fonts to keep your logo consistent and clean. Make sure each font is easy to read. When possible, pick a font that matches your company’s style too.

Do: Refresh Your Logo

Conduct a logo, and brand, refresh every couple of years. This will allow your business logo to stay current in the market. The brand will retain its existing customer base while attracting new demographics. You may also choose to refresh your logo because you have shifted your product focus or are reinventing your brand.

What should you focus on when refreshing your business logo? You may use this time to upgrade your font or use a slightly darker or lighter shade for your color combination. Once you have refreshed your logo, remember to share the updated logo design across your marketing materials.

Do: Register Logos as a Trademark

Did you know your logo is a piece of intellectual property? A logo is also one of your startup’s trademarks. It is a unique mark that identifies your brand to the world.

After you design it, the next best step is to register the trademark at the federal level. Our team of professionals at MyCorporation are here to assist you in conducting a name search and registering your trademark. Once your application has been submitted and processed, you will receive exclusive rights to the mark. This ensures nobody may use your logo without your permission. It also gives you, the owner, exclusive rights to use the logo as your own trademark.

Ready to register a trademark for your logo? MyCorporation is here to help! Reach out to our team at mycorporation.com or call us at 877-692-6772.

Deborah Sweeney

Deborah Sweeney is an advocate for protecting personal and business assets for business owners and entrepreneurs. With extensive experience in the field of corporate and intellectual property law, Deborah provides insightful commentary on the benefits of incorporation and trademark registration.

Education: Deborah received her Juris Doctor and Master of Business Administration degrees from Pepperdine University, and has served as an adjunct professor at the University of West Los Angeles and San Fernando School of Law in corporate and intellectual property law.

Experience: After becoming a partner at LA-based law firm, Michel & Robinson, she became an in-house attorney for MyCorporation, formerly a division in Intuit. She took the company private in 2009 and after 10 years of entrepreneurship sold the company to Deluxe Corporation. Deborah is also well-recognized for her written work online as a contributing writer with some of the top business and entrepreneurial blogging sites including Forbes, Business Insider, SCORE, and Fox Business, among others.

Fun facts/Other pursuits: Originally from Southern California, Deborah enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, Benjamin and Christopher, and practicing Pilates. Deborah believes in the importance of family and credits the entrepreneurial business model for giving her the flexibility to enjoy both a career and motherhood. Deborah, and MyCorporation, have previously been honored by the San Fernando Valley Business Journal’s List of the Valley’s Largest Women-Owned Businesses in 2012. MyCorporation received the Stevie Award for Best Women-Owned Business in 2011.