When it comes to shopping for a logo design online one of the first things that you will want to do is find some examples or samples to get an idea about what you want.
Most design firms have a portfolio of logo designs on their website that you can browse through to get an idea of their work. Of course this method is not a fool-proof way of determining quality as companies will naturally only profile their best work and leave out the duds. Logo design is also heavily influenced by the customer so the samples that you see may represent a lot of customer influence that goes against professional design advice.
All in all though design portfolios are useful for giving you a general idea and you can usually browse through samples from a variety of different industries to find logos for companies that are in the same niche as you.
Comparing companies based on their design portfolio is one good way to make a decision but you should also consider other factors as well such as price, delivery time, company location, guarantee policy and what is included in the package. You will usually be offered a variety of packages that specify how many unique concepts you will be presented with, how many redraws or revisions are permitted and how many designers will work on the project.
When briefing your designer it is great if you can point to an example from their portfolio that you like. Their are other ways of finding some examples of great logos so that you can give your designer an idea of what you want. Find samples of logos in your industry or in similar industries by looking online or in the Yellow Pages. Search the internet for classic logo designs from some of the worlds largest companies for design elements that catch your eye that you would consider incorporating into your company brand. Lastly you can search for logo design awards, contests or competitions to find some great contemporary styles.
Remember that it is OK to point your designer to examples but you should strongly consider their advice as an expert rather than insisting on what you want.
By taking some time to look over a variety of logo portfolios samples and other examples of great logos you can increase your chances of getting great branding design work done for your business.
Compare logo companies by design, service, guarantee policy and price in our comparative review chart.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Review of 'The Logo Company' - Custom Logo Design Services
The Logo Company is a well established logo design firm with offices in the US and the UK. They specialize in custom logo design, which means that a designer puts together a logo that is specifically made to meet the clients needs. The client still has some input into the designs and has the right to request revisions or changes until they can perfect the design that they want. I recently ordered a custom design from them and this is a review of their service.
I was initially attracted to The Logo Company due to their refund policy and because a few of the samples in their portfolio caught my eye. They were the only one offering a full money back guarantee right up to the final design so I thought that I'd give them a try as I had nothing to lose.
I ordered their $149 package which seemed to offer good value compared to other firms on the Internet.
After paying I filled out a briefing form with as much information as I could think of about my company and the brand image that I was hoping to develop.
Two days later I heard back from them and was able to view five proposed designs which were done by five different designers.
The next step from here was to review the initial designs, choose the one that I liked the most and to let them know how I wanted to change or refine it. The Logo Company offer an unlimited number of revisions but I actually didn't need any. After looking at the color, shape, font style, image and other design elements I decided that they had it looking pretty much as good as it could get so I decided that I'd go with their professional recommendation and not mess around with it.
The result is a great looking logo, simple, effective, a little abstract and overall well suited to the new business venture I had in mind.
The Logo Company were professional and responsive during my experience with them and I would highly recommend then to anyone looking for a logo design online.
I was initially attracted to The Logo Company due to their refund policy and because a few of the samples in their portfolio caught my eye. They were the only one offering a full money back guarantee right up to the final design so I thought that I'd give them a try as I had nothing to lose.
I ordered their $149 package which seemed to offer good value compared to other firms on the Internet.
After paying I filled out a briefing form with as much information as I could think of about my company and the brand image that I was hoping to develop.
Two days later I heard back from them and was able to view five proposed designs which were done by five different designers.
The next step from here was to review the initial designs, choose the one that I liked the most and to let them know how I wanted to change or refine it. The Logo Company offer an unlimited number of revisions but I actually didn't need any. After looking at the color, shape, font style, image and other design elements I decided that they had it looking pretty much as good as it could get so I decided that I'd go with their professional recommendation and not mess around with it.
The result is a great looking logo, simple, effective, a little abstract and overall well suited to the new business venture I had in mind.
The Logo Company were professional and responsive during my experience with them and I would highly recommend then to anyone looking for a logo design online.
Friday, November 27, 2009
Logo Design For Websites, E-Commerce Sites, Blogs and Forums
When it comes to setting up an e-commerce site, forum, blog or an Internet startup website one of your first considerations will be getting a logo design. In this article we look at some of the features of logo design for web based businesses and look at how you should go about getting the best design for your new venture.
Your website developer may offer to put something together for you but if you really want to create and grow an online brand then it is best to approach designers who specialize in logo design.
There are many options to get a free logo design online but these should be avoided as they use mostly 'do it yourself' templates that allow you to combine clip-art with a customized text logo. Results are amateurish to say the least and you risk being sued for infringing on the trademarks of other firms.
The best option is to go for a custom logo design as the designer will tailor-make their product to suit your business needs, incorporating your ideas with their good design and branding sense. A customized logo can be cheaper than you think and some companies do web logos at lower prices than all purpose logos.
There are no rules really when it comes to designing logos for the Internet. Simplicity still works well, high tech logos that can be almost three dimensional in appearance are popular and characters, cartoon images and mascots also work well online.
Most niche websites go for images and coloring that are not unlike their offline counterparts. Business models that are unique to the internet often go for images that express connectivity and communication between people. Among Web 2.0 sites, blogs and forums it is now almost a cliche to have MySpace style outlines of people positioned in a way that highlights human interaction.
Ask your website developer about the format that they prefer to receive the file in so that you can put in a request to the designer. Vector based formats offer the most flexibility.
You may also consider having your logo designer put together some banner designs as well so that you can promote your site.
Make sure that you shop around and don't make a decision based solely on price. Try to find out how many designers will work on your logo, how many rounds of revisions are permitted, how many unique concepts will be presented to you, delivery time and guarantee policies.
A lot of your brand reputation can be lost if you later realize that you don't have the best logo for your website and have to re-brand. It is therefore important that you put a little time and investment into getting a great logo design for your Internet Startup.
Your website developer may offer to put something together for you but if you really want to create and grow an online brand then it is best to approach designers who specialize in logo design.
There are many options to get a free logo design online but these should be avoided as they use mostly 'do it yourself' templates that allow you to combine clip-art with a customized text logo. Results are amateurish to say the least and you risk being sued for infringing on the trademarks of other firms.
The best option is to go for a custom logo design as the designer will tailor-make their product to suit your business needs, incorporating your ideas with their good design and branding sense. A customized logo can be cheaper than you think and some companies do web logos at lower prices than all purpose logos.
There are no rules really when it comes to designing logos for the Internet. Simplicity still works well, high tech logos that can be almost three dimensional in appearance are popular and characters, cartoon images and mascots also work well online.
Most niche websites go for images and coloring that are not unlike their offline counterparts. Business models that are unique to the internet often go for images that express connectivity and communication between people. Among Web 2.0 sites, blogs and forums it is now almost a cliche to have MySpace style outlines of people positioned in a way that highlights human interaction.
Ask your website developer about the format that they prefer to receive the file in so that you can put in a request to the designer. Vector based formats offer the most flexibility.
You may also consider having your logo designer put together some banner designs as well so that you can promote your site.
Make sure that you shop around and don't make a decision based solely on price. Try to find out how many designers will work on your logo, how many rounds of revisions are permitted, how many unique concepts will be presented to you, delivery time and guarantee policies.
A lot of your brand reputation can be lost if you later realize that you don't have the best logo for your website and have to re-brand. It is therefore important that you put a little time and investment into getting a great logo design for your Internet Startup.
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Re-Branding - Updating a Business Logo
As companies mature and take different directions it is sometime necessary for them to update or redesign their business logos to improve them and make them more modern or relevant.
Businesses evolve with time, enter new markets, offer new products or change the entire way that they do business. Sometimes a businesses logo design is no longer relevant to what the company does and a new logo, or a major redesign of the existing logo becomes essential.
Design trends change over time too and some logos, which were poorly thought through at the time, go out of fashion and just start to look tired or ugly.
However, a lot of value has been built up in a brand over time and to just 'dump it' risks losing a lot of customer recognition and trust that is so valuable. And a logo change can be expensive when you consider that all your company stationary and promotional materials will have to be scrapped and replaced. For these reasons it is best to avoid a complete change of logo if possible.
If you feel that a change is necessary you should seriously think about the reasons why it is necessary and the effects of a change. Try to get some honest opinions from colleagues and customers before deciding. As the business owner, the logo is your baby and maybe you have just seen it so much that you, and only you have tired of it.
A better option than a completely new logo is to look at only having it redesigned or refreshed. Keep some of the basic design elements such as color and shape. If done well, customers should immediately be able to recognize your new logo as being an improved version of the old one.
Informing your customers about any change to your logo is a good idea though to avoid confusion.
And if you are scrapping your logo make sure that you let your designer know that you are looking for something timeless or classic so that you won't have to make any changes again for a very long time.
Businesses evolve with time, enter new markets, offer new products or change the entire way that they do business. Sometimes a businesses logo design is no longer relevant to what the company does and a new logo, or a major redesign of the existing logo becomes essential.
Design trends change over time too and some logos, which were poorly thought through at the time, go out of fashion and just start to look tired or ugly.
However, a lot of value has been built up in a brand over time and to just 'dump it' risks losing a lot of customer recognition and trust that is so valuable. And a logo change can be expensive when you consider that all your company stationary and promotional materials will have to be scrapped and replaced. For these reasons it is best to avoid a complete change of logo if possible.
If you feel that a change is necessary you should seriously think about the reasons why it is necessary and the effects of a change. Try to get some honest opinions from colleagues and customers before deciding. As the business owner, the logo is your baby and maybe you have just seen it so much that you, and only you have tired of it.
A better option than a completely new logo is to look at only having it redesigned or refreshed. Keep some of the basic design elements such as color and shape. If done well, customers should immediately be able to recognize your new logo as being an improved version of the old one.
Informing your customers about any change to your logo is a good idea though to avoid confusion.
And if you are scrapping your logo make sure that you let your designer know that you are looking for something timeless or classic so that you won't have to make any changes again for a very long time.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Logo Design For a Cleaning Or Janitorial Services Business
When you set up your cleaning business, janitorial service or maid service, one of your first concerns will be getting a logo design. Along with your business name, your company logo will form the cornerstone of your overall branding strategy. Your logo will play an important role in giving a good first impression, 'jumping out' at the customer from the Yellow Pages and generally being a symbol that represents the quality of your service and your company values.
This article looks at some characteristics of cleaning business logos and offers advice on how to get a great logo online.
Cleaning business logos serve their companies best when they look modern and sharp with well defined lines. To state the obvious, it should look 'clean' and designers can give a logo a shiny or sparkling effect to enhance this.
Popular images that cleaning companies have used include soapy bubbles, splashes of water and mascot characters and animals with cleaning equipment in hand.
Some companies logos include images to hint at the niche that they specialize in such as glistening office buildings, shapes of residential houses or cartoon maids.
Blue always seems to be the most popular color in cleaning business branding and to most people blue represents water and cleanliness. Some environmentally friendly cleaning companies are starting to go with predominantly green coloring to highlight their clean 'green' services.
Keep in mind that there are really no rules and that it is better to go for something unique then to look cliched and the same as every other company.
Your logo will have to look good in all sizes as your branding could be used on company materials ranging from tiny business cards up to large vehicle wrap advertising.
There are many logo designers online who can provide you with a business logo. The best method is to get a customized logo design as the designer will come up with a unique design (that you will own) that is tailor made to your requirements.
Get your cleaning business or janitorial service off to the best possible start by getting a logo that is bold, flexible and memorable.
This article looks at some characteristics of cleaning business logos and offers advice on how to get a great logo online.
Cleaning business logos serve their companies best when they look modern and sharp with well defined lines. To state the obvious, it should look 'clean' and designers can give a logo a shiny or sparkling effect to enhance this.
Popular images that cleaning companies have used include soapy bubbles, splashes of water and mascot characters and animals with cleaning equipment in hand.
Some companies logos include images to hint at the niche that they specialize in such as glistening office buildings, shapes of residential houses or cartoon maids.
Blue always seems to be the most popular color in cleaning business branding and to most people blue represents water and cleanliness. Some environmentally friendly cleaning companies are starting to go with predominantly green coloring to highlight their clean 'green' services.
Keep in mind that there are really no rules and that it is better to go for something unique then to look cliched and the same as every other company.
Your logo will have to look good in all sizes as your branding could be used on company materials ranging from tiny business cards up to large vehicle wrap advertising.
There are many logo designers online who can provide you with a business logo. The best method is to get a customized logo design as the designer will come up with a unique design (that you will own) that is tailor made to your requirements.
Get your cleaning business or janitorial service off to the best possible start by getting a logo that is bold, flexible and memorable.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Different Types of Logo Design
Most logos include a combination of text and image (shapes or symbols) however some logos work well with only text and some are identifiable only by their symbol. Let’s take a look at some of the different types of logo design at the basic level.
Text Based Logos
Text-based logos or ‘wordmarks’ use a font or type style to represent a company’s brand name. The company’s name, represented in the logo essentially becomes the visual representation of the business. The font in this kind of logo may have some unique styling or artistic flair but generally it will not have any symbols to complement the name. ‘Wordmarks’ keep a logo simple and make it distinct and easy to remember. Companies that have highly effective text-based logos include Google and Yahoo.
Another kind of text-based logo is the ‘lettermark’. This is when a company uses only its initials within its logo design. CNN (Cable News Network) and GE (General Electric) are examples of successful companies that have done this. This type of logo is great for companies that have exceptionally long names.
Brandmarks
Brandmarks are perhaps the most difficult logos to promote to consumers. A brandmark is a symbol, representing a company that is able to stand alone and represent a brand without any text to clarify to the viewer who the company is. To develop a brandmark that is recognizable to viewers who immediately associate it with the company in question requires a concerted marketing effort. One of the most famous brandmarks in the world today is the swoosh symbol used by Nike.
Brandmarks are perhaps the most difficult logos to promote to consumers. A brandmark is a symbol, representing a company that is able to stand alone and represent a brand without any text to clarify to the viewer who the company is. To develop a brandmark that is recognizable to viewers who immediately associate it with the company in question requires a concerted marketing effort. One of the most famous brandmarks in the world today is the swoosh symbol used by Nike.
Combinations
Customers want to deal with companies that are well established and professional so you should try to convey this message in your logo design. By branding your Lastly, probably the most popular type of logo design is a combination of a wordmark and a brandmark. Combined in the right configuration, text and symbol fit together in a way that they compliment each other and make up a companies logomark or logo. Sometimes a tagline or slogan can be attached to complete the overall trademark that a company needs to be the ‘public face’ of their branding strategy.
Text Based Logos
Text-based logos or ‘wordmarks’ use a font or type style to represent a company’s brand name. The company’s name, represented in the logo essentially becomes the visual representation of the business. The font in this kind of logo may have some unique styling or artistic flair but generally it will not have any symbols to complement the name. ‘Wordmarks’ keep a logo simple and make it distinct and easy to remember. Companies that have highly effective text-based logos include Google and Yahoo.
Another kind of text-based logo is the ‘lettermark’. This is when a company uses only its initials within its logo design. CNN (Cable News Network) and GE (General Electric) are examples of successful companies that have done this. This type of logo is great for companies that have exceptionally long names.
Brandmarks
Brandmarks are perhaps the most difficult logos to promote to consumers. A brandmark is a symbol, representing a company that is able to stand alone and represent a brand without any text to clarify to the viewer who the company is. To develop a brandmark that is recognizable to viewers who immediately associate it with the company in question requires a concerted marketing effort. One of the most famous brandmarks in the world today is the swoosh symbol used by Nike.
Brandmarks are perhaps the most difficult logos to promote to consumers. A brandmark is a symbol, representing a company that is able to stand alone and represent a brand without any text to clarify to the viewer who the company is. To develop a brandmark that is recognizable to viewers who immediately associate it with the company in question requires a concerted marketing effort. One of the most famous brandmarks in the world today is the swoosh symbol used by Nike.
Combinations
Customers want to deal with companies that are well established and professional so you should try to convey this message in your logo design. By branding your Lastly, probably the most popular type of logo design is a combination of a wordmark and a brandmark. Combined in the right configuration, text and symbol fit together in a way that they compliment each other and make up a companies logomark or logo. Sometimes a tagline or slogan can be attached to complete the overall trademark that a company needs to be the ‘public face’ of their branding strategy.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Logo Design For a Financial, Insurance Or Accounting Company
When starting out in financial services, insurance or accounting, one of the all important first decisions to make is your logo design and overall branding strategy. The financial services industry is so competitive these days that having a strong brand is essential to help you stand out in a very crowded market place.
As you develop your business plan, try to understand more about your customers and think about how you want them to perceive your company.
Traditionally, companies in finance, banking, insurance and accounting have featured themes in their logos that relate to strength, reliability and stability. Images of pillars, a lion, bricks or a mountain can convey these themes.
Companies in these fields also have traditionally tried to highlight their professionalism and attention to detail. Images of pencils, scales or charts can go along way towards letting customers know exactly what your company does and how you go about doing it.
However some of these themes and imagery in logo design in these industries can look a little clichéd, old fashioned and boring. The key is to try and be original by conveying the same message that financial companies always have but convey it in a modern, interesting way.
When people are going to putting a lot of trust into a financial institution it is generally better to have a serious, conservative looking logo design.
You should avoid currency symbols as they can appear crude or amateurish on a logo for the finance, insurance or accounting industries.
Give plenty of thought to color as a lot of meaning and emotion can be conveyed through its careful use. Financial and insurance institutions have typically gone with black representing seriousness, red for strength, white for truth, and darker shades of blue for security, professionalism and faithfulness. Some modern companies are shaking up tradition though and are starting to go with a whole variety of colors so you by no means have to limit yourself here.
Financial institutions should use a bold face font to express strength and stability and have typically gone with readable, conservative, formal fonts. Most companies in the financial services follow convention and place the font below the logo image.
Having a great logo design for financial, insurance or accounting company is easy these days with so many ways to a get a logo online or offline. Get your business off to a great start and invest in a great logo design that can carry your business forward to success!
As you develop your business plan, try to understand more about your customers and think about how you want them to perceive your company.
Traditionally, companies in finance, banking, insurance and accounting have featured themes in their logos that relate to strength, reliability and stability. Images of pillars, a lion, bricks or a mountain can convey these themes.
Companies in these fields also have traditionally tried to highlight their professionalism and attention to detail. Images of pencils, scales or charts can go along way towards letting customers know exactly what your company does and how you go about doing it.
However some of these themes and imagery in logo design in these industries can look a little clichéd, old fashioned and boring. The key is to try and be original by conveying the same message that financial companies always have but convey it in a modern, interesting way.
When people are going to putting a lot of trust into a financial institution it is generally better to have a serious, conservative looking logo design.
You should avoid currency symbols as they can appear crude or amateurish on a logo for the finance, insurance or accounting industries.
Give plenty of thought to color as a lot of meaning and emotion can be conveyed through its careful use. Financial and insurance institutions have typically gone with black representing seriousness, red for strength, white for truth, and darker shades of blue for security, professionalism and faithfulness. Some modern companies are shaking up tradition though and are starting to go with a whole variety of colors so you by no means have to limit yourself here.
Financial institutions should use a bold face font to express strength and stability and have typically gone with readable, conservative, formal fonts. Most companies in the financial services follow convention and place the font below the logo image.
Having a great logo design for financial, insurance or accounting company is easy these days with so many ways to a get a logo online or offline. Get your business off to a great start and invest in a great logo design that can carry your business forward to success!
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Ordering a Custom Logo Online – Briefing your Logo Designer
To get the logo that is best for your company you have to be able to communicate clearly with your logo designer to get your ideas across to him or her.
When you order a custom logo online you will always be given a briefing form to complete. It is worth taking the time to go through this form carefully. If you don’t include precise information about your company and what you want then the designer has nothing to go on and will come up with concepts that are not appropriate
While good designers may do some research on their own it is important that you pass on as much information as possible to them to assist them in the design process.
The following article outlines the things that you should consider when completing the briefing form before you email your order to your chosen online logo designer.
Nature of your Company and Brand
As a customer ordering a logo you should try to fully convey the nature and character of your business to the logo design company. What is your brand (or the brand you want to develop) all about?
One way to convey to the designer what your company is about is to offer some words that describe your business. Give the logo designer a list of words such as ‘reliable’, ‘modern’, ‘great customer service’ etc to help them fully understand you.
You should let you designers have a detailed profile of your business and let them know about the industry you are in and your position within it.
Your Customers
You should also let the designer have a clear idea of who your customers are, their values and the image that you want to project to them. If you are marketing to a specific demographic let your designer know so that he/she can design something to target that particular group.
Why do you need a Logo?
Let your designer know how you intend to use the logo? Of course you can request a logo for all purposes but if you only need a logo for a website or a select few other reasons then that will help your logo designer immensely.
Design Preferences
Do you have any preferences for images, shape, style, color or font? Is there anything that you really don’t want?
While you will want to give your designers as much creative freedom as possible it is important to put some constraints on them if you really have something specific in mind. Should the shape be long, stretching across the page, should it be more of a ‘top left hand corner’ square shape or can it be a circular shape?
Examples
Offering the designer links to the logos of other companies can be helpful although you really want to differentiate your company from your competitors as much as possible. You may even consider providing examples of logos that you don’t like so that your logo designer has an idea of what you don’t want.
Unique Value Proposition
Give your logo designer a clear idea of how you distinguish your company from the competition. First you should identify your companies unique ‘value proposition’ which basically means how you differentiate yourself from other companies in your industry. Your unique value proposition may be price, faster service, more variety of products or many other aspects that make your company unique.
Once your designer has sent you the initial concepts you will have to choose one to move forward with for revisions and improvement. Now is the time to ask friends, family and co-workers what they think of the logo design concepts, which design they prefer and what changes need to be made.
By talking to people in your target market you will get the best idea of what kind of logo will work well in your industry. Relying too much on just your own opinion is often a mistake.
If you brief your designer clearly he or she should be able to create a logo design that can serve as the perfect visual representation of your brand for many years.
When you order a custom logo online you will always be given a briefing form to complete. It is worth taking the time to go through this form carefully. If you don’t include precise information about your company and what you want then the designer has nothing to go on and will come up with concepts that are not appropriate
While good designers may do some research on their own it is important that you pass on as much information as possible to them to assist them in the design process.
The following article outlines the things that you should consider when completing the briefing form before you email your order to your chosen online logo designer.
Nature of your Company and Brand
As a customer ordering a logo you should try to fully convey the nature and character of your business to the logo design company. What is your brand (or the brand you want to develop) all about?
One way to convey to the designer what your company is about is to offer some words that describe your business. Give the logo designer a list of words such as ‘reliable’, ‘modern’, ‘great customer service’ etc to help them fully understand you.
You should let you designers have a detailed profile of your business and let them know about the industry you are in and your position within it.
Your Customers
You should also let the designer have a clear idea of who your customers are, their values and the image that you want to project to them. If you are marketing to a specific demographic let your designer know so that he/she can design something to target that particular group.
Why do you need a Logo?
Let your designer know how you intend to use the logo? Of course you can request a logo for all purposes but if you only need a logo for a website or a select few other reasons then that will help your logo designer immensely.
Design Preferences
Do you have any preferences for images, shape, style, color or font? Is there anything that you really don’t want?
While you will want to give your designers as much creative freedom as possible it is important to put some constraints on them if you really have something specific in mind. Should the shape be long, stretching across the page, should it be more of a ‘top left hand corner’ square shape or can it be a circular shape?
Examples
Offering the designer links to the logos of other companies can be helpful although you really want to differentiate your company from your competitors as much as possible. You may even consider providing examples of logos that you don’t like so that your logo designer has an idea of what you don’t want.
Unique Value Proposition
Give your logo designer a clear idea of how you distinguish your company from the competition. First you should identify your companies unique ‘value proposition’ which basically means how you differentiate yourself from other companies in your industry. Your unique value proposition may be price, faster service, more variety of products or many other aspects that make your company unique.
Once your designer has sent you the initial concepts you will have to choose one to move forward with for revisions and improvement. Now is the time to ask friends, family and co-workers what they think of the logo design concepts, which design they prefer and what changes need to be made.
By talking to people in your target market you will get the best idea of what kind of logo will work well in your industry. Relying too much on just your own opinion is often a mistake.
If you brief your designer clearly he or she should be able to create a logo design that can serve as the perfect visual representation of your brand for many years.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Logo Design For a Beauty Salon, Hair Stylist Or Spa Business
When starting out or re-branding a beauty salon, hair salon or spa business, a great logo design is of the utmost importance. This article looks at what logos in these industries are usually like and gives you some ideas about how to go about getting a logo for your health and beauty related business.
The beauty and spa business is all about personal grooming as well as image and effective logos in this industry reflect that by being neat, classy, elegant and exclusive at the same time.
As modern trends in the salon and spa business are towards natural products based on natural plant, fruit and vegetable extracts, colors for logos tend to be natural and not too bright and flashy. Feminine colors are popular, earthy colors such as light browns work well and light blues are common too.
Fonts tend to be classic with characters flowing together in a style that is beautiful, soft and delicate.
A typical image used in beauty and hair logos includes an outline of a female body or face, either abstract or with minor detailing. Other popular imagery includes, hair, hands and eyes.
Most online logo designers have an extensive portfolio of logo designs on their website. Some even have a specific section of health and beauty logos that they have done and this can be a great way to see what you could expect if you go with one of their packages.
A logo will form the base of your salon or spa branding strategy and will be one of the key factors in determining how customers perceive the quality of your services. Like in the fashion industry, beauty salons and spas can command a premium for their services by appealing to an exclusive clientele who want to be part of 'the club'.
A great logo will give your salon or beauty business a unique image that will take you forward to profitability and success.
The beauty and spa business is all about personal grooming as well as image and effective logos in this industry reflect that by being neat, classy, elegant and exclusive at the same time.
As modern trends in the salon and spa business are towards natural products based on natural plant, fruit and vegetable extracts, colors for logos tend to be natural and not too bright and flashy. Feminine colors are popular, earthy colors such as light browns work well and light blues are common too.
Fonts tend to be classic with characters flowing together in a style that is beautiful, soft and delicate.
A typical image used in beauty and hair logos includes an outline of a female body or face, either abstract or with minor detailing. Other popular imagery includes, hair, hands and eyes.
Most online logo designers have an extensive portfolio of logo designs on their website. Some even have a specific section of health and beauty logos that they have done and this can be a great way to see what you could expect if you go with one of their packages.
A logo will form the base of your salon or spa branding strategy and will be one of the key factors in determining how customers perceive the quality of your services. Like in the fashion industry, beauty salons and spas can command a premium for their services by appealing to an exclusive clientele who want to be part of 'the club'.
A great logo will give your salon or beauty business a unique image that will take you forward to profitability and success.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Shopping for Logos - How to Compare Custom Logo Design Firms
With the number of companies offering logo design services on the Internet increasing on a daily basis it is challenging for online shoppers to determine which company to go with. Above all the other options we suggest going for a custom-made logo design as this is a good method of getting something especially made for your business for a reasonable amount of money.
In this report we outline several of the factors that one should take into consideration prior to picking a firm for the critical assignment of putting together your company's logo, the face of your brand.
Cost is one selection consideration that shoppers usually rank as being important. Low price doesn't always mean poor quality or service but in general you get what you pay for. Look for value instead of just choosing the cheapest alternative.
You could find that you are facing legal troubles before too long if you purchase a design that infringes on another company's trademark. Going with a US based logo firm is generally the safer approach as they can usually ensure that you have exclusive rights to the images used in your logo.
Start out by looking at the portfolios of a number of companies offering custom logo services. Many place their earlier design work into industry categories so you can see the projects that they have done in the past for businesses similar to yours.
As soon as you find a selection of firms that seem promising you can begin to compare packages and see what they include for the price. Consider the following points.
1) Will more than one designer be involved with your project? The more expensive packages usually offer preliminary designs from at least two designers to offer a few different angles on what you are looking for.
2) How many preliminary concepts will be offered to you for you to choose from? And will they all be markedly different design variations or will some of them be similar or only offer color variations.
3) How many times are you able to request alterations? Custom logo businesses usually offer a number of preliminary designs and the purchaser then has to select their favorite with the chance to have revisions carried out.
4) Find out how long it takes to complete the design process and when you can expect to have the designs emailed to you, especially if you are rushing to get them.
5) The money back policies set out by every logo company will be different. They often seem to offer a generous policy on their website but escape from their obligations in the fine print. Be sure to read the fine print relating to money back and satisfaction guarantees.
Make sure that you are clear when you communicate your logo specifications to the provider. Be meticulous when filling out the briefing form so that they can fully understand what your business is about and have an exact comprehension of what you require.
Investigate the market and proceed carefully and you will find that you can get a professional looking custom business logo without breaking the bank.
In this report we outline several of the factors that one should take into consideration prior to picking a firm for the critical assignment of putting together your company's logo, the face of your brand.
Cost is one selection consideration that shoppers usually rank as being important. Low price doesn't always mean poor quality or service but in general you get what you pay for. Look for value instead of just choosing the cheapest alternative.
You could find that you are facing legal troubles before too long if you purchase a design that infringes on another company's trademark. Going with a US based logo firm is generally the safer approach as they can usually ensure that you have exclusive rights to the images used in your logo.
Start out by looking at the portfolios of a number of companies offering custom logo services. Many place their earlier design work into industry categories so you can see the projects that they have done in the past for businesses similar to yours.
As soon as you find a selection of firms that seem promising you can begin to compare packages and see what they include for the price. Consider the following points.
1) Will more than one designer be involved with your project? The more expensive packages usually offer preliminary designs from at least two designers to offer a few different angles on what you are looking for.
2) How many preliminary concepts will be offered to you for you to choose from? And will they all be markedly different design variations or will some of them be similar or only offer color variations.
3) How many times are you able to request alterations? Custom logo businesses usually offer a number of preliminary designs and the purchaser then has to select their favorite with the chance to have revisions carried out.
4) Find out how long it takes to complete the design process and when you can expect to have the designs emailed to you, especially if you are rushing to get them.
5) The money back policies set out by every logo company will be different. They often seem to offer a generous policy on their website but escape from their obligations in the fine print. Be sure to read the fine print relating to money back and satisfaction guarantees.
Make sure that you are clear when you communicate your logo specifications to the provider. Be meticulous when filling out the briefing form so that they can fully understand what your business is about and have an exact comprehension of what you require.
Investigate the market and proceed carefully and you will find that you can get a professional looking custom business logo without breaking the bank.
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Custom Logo Company Reviews, Ratings and Opinions
Getting an affordable logo design done these days is a simple process and there are many providers online catering to this demand.
The logo business is competitive though so it can be hard to find a design firm to work with as there are so many. Unless you have a personal recommendation from someone you trust then you will have to look at design portfolios on a variety of websites and then search for some reviews and opinions from some of their customers to confirm that their service is indeed professional.
In this article we offer you guidance on selecting a logo provider and set out some factors for consideration.
There are some review sites out there that have reviewed numerous logo companies and have them ranked against each other allowing you to compare them on a variety of factors. Be careful though as not all of these sites are independent. At least one of the market leaders has been accused of creating fake review sites where they rank themselves as number one in order to drive traffic to their site and make easy sales.
Before deciding on a company it also pays to do a bit of a background check to make sure that they don't have a lot of dissatisfied customers that are saying negative things about them online. There are consumer complaint websites that you can check including the 'Better Business Bureau' (BBB) site.
There are logo award ceremonies held by a variety of organizations every year. Some online custom logo design firms have won them from time to time and this can help you to assess design quality (but not necessarily service quality).
Eventually you will have to stop shopping around and decide on one firm. One way of protecting yourself against scams is to make sure that you are able to get your money back if you are not happy with their work, service or design concepts. Many offer guarantees but you must read the fine print to have a proper understanding of how their refund policy really works.
The online logo business offers you the chance to get a logo for a much cheaper price than a traditional local design firm so it is worth taking the time to look online and find one.
Get your business off to a great start or rebrand your existing operation with a great custom logo design. If you take the time to do some research you will find that getting a logo online is the best way to go.
The logo business is competitive though so it can be hard to find a design firm to work with as there are so many. Unless you have a personal recommendation from someone you trust then you will have to look at design portfolios on a variety of websites and then search for some reviews and opinions from some of their customers to confirm that their service is indeed professional.
In this article we offer you guidance on selecting a logo provider and set out some factors for consideration.
There are some review sites out there that have reviewed numerous logo companies and have them ranked against each other allowing you to compare them on a variety of factors. Be careful though as not all of these sites are independent. At least one of the market leaders has been accused of creating fake review sites where they rank themselves as number one in order to drive traffic to their site and make easy sales.
Before deciding on a company it also pays to do a bit of a background check to make sure that they don't have a lot of dissatisfied customers that are saying negative things about them online. There are consumer complaint websites that you can check including the 'Better Business Bureau' (BBB) site.
There are logo award ceremonies held by a variety of organizations every year. Some online custom logo design firms have won them from time to time and this can help you to assess design quality (but not necessarily service quality).
Eventually you will have to stop shopping around and decide on one firm. One way of protecting yourself against scams is to make sure that you are able to get your money back if you are not happy with their work, service or design concepts. Many offer guarantees but you must read the fine print to have a proper understanding of how their refund policy really works.
The online logo business offers you the chance to get a logo for a much cheaper price than a traditional local design firm so it is worth taking the time to look online and find one.
Get your business off to a great start or rebrand your existing operation with a great custom logo design. If you take the time to do some research you will find that getting a logo online is the best way to go.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Different Online Design Options – Why a Custom Logo is Best.
When you start browsing the Internet looking for a logo for your business you will soon realize that there are four options available to you if you want to get a logo online.
Online shoppers looking for logo designs should weigh up the options themselves taking design quality, price and ownership rights into account as well as other factors such as delivery time and the amount of input that they want to have in the design process.
I am now going to outline what those four options are and I will tell you why I feel that custom logo design is the best.
Custom Logo Design
This option is the one that I recommend above all the others. By having a logo design tailor made by a graphic designer to suit your company’s needs you are assured of getting an original, professional looking design. Your logo designer does all the design work while you, as the customer still get a considerable amount of input into the design. A customized logo design offers the best of both worlds really.
Pre-made Logos
Pre-made or pre-designed logo templates allow the user to browse through hundreds of different designs with generic company names such as ‘XYZ Real Estate Company’. Once users see a logo design that they like they can then order it and have their company name incorporated into the logo. The main advantage here is the large variety of logos available and the delivery time which can be instant, or same day delivery. They are sometimes cheaper than custom logo designs.
You will have to make sure that you own the exclusive rights to the logo that you have created as some companies sell the same templates over and over again.
Free Online Logo Applications
There are numerous websites that offer free (or cheap) logo design applications online. Users are guided through the process of making a logo and have a lot of input into the finished logo design. The downside here is that some of the components that users can incorporate into their logo design such as shapes, symbols and clipart are unoriginal and in use by many other lower class business ventures. Without any design experience users usually end up with amateurish looking logos and sometimes even have to include a small credit on the logo referring to the site that was used to create it.
Once again, you will have to make sure that you own the rights to your logo creation and that the rights are not retained by the website in question.
Logo Design Software
You can now purchase some quite sophisticated logo design software that can assist you in the creation of professional looking logos on your home PC. The downside is that the better software packages can be expensive, there is a bit of a learning curve related to using the software properly and these packages still require some artistic input on the part of the user. Why would you bother really for only a few logo designs?
Each of the four options for getting a logo online offers advantages and disadvantages. While I recommend custom logo design above the other options some online shoppers may be more inclined to try the other options depending on their situation.
Online shoppers looking for logo designs should weigh up the options themselves taking design quality, price and ownership rights into account as well as other factors such as delivery time and the amount of input that they want to have in the design process.
I am now going to outline what those four options are and I will tell you why I feel that custom logo design is the best.
Custom Logo Design
This option is the one that I recommend above all the others. By having a logo design tailor made by a graphic designer to suit your company’s needs you are assured of getting an original, professional looking design. Your logo designer does all the design work while you, as the customer still get a considerable amount of input into the design. A customized logo design offers the best of both worlds really.
Pre-made Logos
Pre-made or pre-designed logo templates allow the user to browse through hundreds of different designs with generic company names such as ‘XYZ Real Estate Company’. Once users see a logo design that they like they can then order it and have their company name incorporated into the logo. The main advantage here is the large variety of logos available and the delivery time which can be instant, or same day delivery. They are sometimes cheaper than custom logo designs.
You will have to make sure that you own the exclusive rights to the logo that you have created as some companies sell the same templates over and over again.
Free Online Logo Applications
There are numerous websites that offer free (or cheap) logo design applications online. Users are guided through the process of making a logo and have a lot of input into the finished logo design. The downside here is that some of the components that users can incorporate into their logo design such as shapes, symbols and clipart are unoriginal and in use by many other lower class business ventures. Without any design experience users usually end up with amateurish looking logos and sometimes even have to include a small credit on the logo referring to the site that was used to create it.
Once again, you will have to make sure that you own the rights to your logo creation and that the rights are not retained by the website in question.
Logo Design Software
You can now purchase some quite sophisticated logo design software that can assist you in the creation of professional looking logos on your home PC. The downside is that the better software packages can be expensive, there is a bit of a learning curve related to using the software properly and these packages still require some artistic input on the part of the user. Why would you bother really for only a few logo designs?
Each of the four options for getting a logo online offers advantages and disadvantages. While I recommend custom logo design above the other options some online shoppers may be more inclined to try the other options depending on their situation.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Should we go for a Cheap Logo Design Company?
Price is the first thing that people think about when looking at various options for logo design. It is great to get a good deal with a cheap logo design and to try and save a bit of money but stop and think for a moment how important a logo design is to your company.
With your logo being on your stationery, website, building signage, advertising and even vehicles it is often the first aspect of your company that customers run into. Within a few seconds potential customers subconsciously examine your logo and create their first impressions of your company. These first few seconds are very important in conveying the right image to customers and the quality of your company logo can in some cases help to determine whether you get those customers or they go to the competition.
With these thoughts in mind it becomes clear that maybe price shouldn’t be the main focus when shopping around for a logo provider.
Many logo design companies have sprung up on the Internet and by using the Internet as a platform to do business have been able to reduce overheads and still offer a quality service. For larger companies with huge budgets meeting with designers face to face to communicate is still the preferred method however for most small and medium sized businesses today, ordering a logo online offers a cheap and efficient way to have a logo designed without compromising quality.
There are many different ways to get a logo online ranging from customized designs and pre-designed templates through to do it yourself logo design options. Online shoppers should appreciate that these different methods have different price ranges and also vary in the quality that you can expect.
Your logo is an integral part of your organizations marketing plan and a fair amount of the company’s budget should be allocated to it just as a healthy budget is usually allocated to other marketing activities.
Spending $300 on a Logo may seem like a lot but if you spread the cost out over a period of say 10 years it only works out to a few dollars a month (a small amount compared to a monthly marketing budget that could run into hundreds or thousands of dollars).
Some businesses these days in industries with low barriers to entry (such as online business) are started in the short term to test the market and see if they are viable. For businesses such as this there are a good variety of companies producing cheap custom logos for under $100.
However, if you are starting a business that involves considerable investment and is one that you intend to grow over many years then you should start off right, start off with a great logo design.
With your logo being on your stationery, website, building signage, advertising and even vehicles it is often the first aspect of your company that customers run into. Within a few seconds potential customers subconsciously examine your logo and create their first impressions of your company. These first few seconds are very important in conveying the right image to customers and the quality of your company logo can in some cases help to determine whether you get those customers or they go to the competition.
With these thoughts in mind it becomes clear that maybe price shouldn’t be the main focus when shopping around for a logo provider.
Many logo design companies have sprung up on the Internet and by using the Internet as a platform to do business have been able to reduce overheads and still offer a quality service. For larger companies with huge budgets meeting with designers face to face to communicate is still the preferred method however for most small and medium sized businesses today, ordering a logo online offers a cheap and efficient way to have a logo designed without compromising quality.
There are many different ways to get a logo online ranging from customized designs and pre-designed templates through to do it yourself logo design options. Online shoppers should appreciate that these different methods have different price ranges and also vary in the quality that you can expect.
Your logo is an integral part of your organizations marketing plan and a fair amount of the company’s budget should be allocated to it just as a healthy budget is usually allocated to other marketing activities.
Spending $300 on a Logo may seem like a lot but if you spread the cost out over a period of say 10 years it only works out to a few dollars a month (a small amount compared to a monthly marketing budget that could run into hundreds or thousands of dollars).
Some businesses these days in industries with low barriers to entry (such as online business) are started in the short term to test the market and see if they are viable. For businesses such as this there are a good variety of companies producing cheap custom logos for under $100.
However, if you are starting a business that involves considerable investment and is one that you intend to grow over many years then you should start off right, start off with a great logo design.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Why a good Logo is so Important to your Company
These days a logo is essential for even the smallest of businesses. For those who still disagree with a logo’s importance, below are some reasons why a logo can be one of the best investments your business will make.
First Impressions
A logo is often the first part of a company that customers come into contact with. It is therefore an important tool for giving customers their first impressions of a business.
To Establish a Brand
You want to be the company in your industry that stands out. You should aspire to be the company that your customer always thinks of first when they need the products and services that you provide. You don’t only want new customers but you also want to retain your existing customers over time. A great logo can position your company within your customer’s minds and make your company the one that they instantly associate with a specific product or service. This is a great way to enhance your credibility and brand reputation over time.
Also bear in mind that some people are visually orientated and ‘brand orientated’. Customers buying decisions are often irrational in that they are emotional in their choices rather than weighing up and comparing the true value of goods and services on offer. An appropriate logo design is able to target this kind or consumer effectively.
Professionalism
A logo conveys the idea to viewers that you are serious and professional in the way that you do business. The right logo lets your customers know that you are stable, reliable and successful and helps to build trust with them over time.
To Look Bigger and Better than you really are
A professional looking logo design combined with other clever marketing efforts can make a company with two employees seem more like a company with twenty employees. Done properly a logo design can also make you look well established even if you just opened your doors for business yesterday.
Company Identity
Give your business a personality that lets customers immediately know who you are and what your attitude to business is all about.
Differentiate yourself from your Competitors
Use your logo to make your company stand out in your industry. Let customers know why you are unique and how your products and services differ from your competitors.
First Impressions
A logo is often the first part of a company that customers come into contact with. It is therefore an important tool for giving customers their first impressions of a business.
To Establish a Brand
You want to be the company in your industry that stands out. You should aspire to be the company that your customer always thinks of first when they need the products and services that you provide. You don’t only want new customers but you also want to retain your existing customers over time. A great logo can position your company within your customer’s minds and make your company the one that they instantly associate with a specific product or service. This is a great way to enhance your credibility and brand reputation over time.
Also bear in mind that some people are visually orientated and ‘brand orientated’. Customers buying decisions are often irrational in that they are emotional in their choices rather than weighing up and comparing the true value of goods and services on offer. An appropriate logo design is able to target this kind or consumer effectively.
Professionalism
A logo conveys the idea to viewers that you are serious and professional in the way that you do business. The right logo lets your customers know that you are stable, reliable and successful and helps to build trust with them over time.
To Look Bigger and Better than you really are
A professional looking logo design combined with other clever marketing efforts can make a company with two employees seem more like a company with twenty employees. Done properly a logo design can also make you look well established even if you just opened your doors for business yesterday.
Company Identity
Give your business a personality that lets customers immediately know who you are and what your attitude to business is all about.
Differentiate yourself from your Competitors
Use your logo to make your company stand out in your industry. Let customers know why you are unique and how your products and services differ from your competitors.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Characteristics of a Quality Company Logo
Below are some of the characteristics that make a great logo. You should give some thought to each aspect when briefing your logo designer.
Relevancy
A great corporate Logo should be relevant to what the business does. While it can be a little abstract it should clearly identify the business that the company is in.
Distinct and Memorable
A great logo catches the eye and engages the viewer. A logo should demand attention and appeal to viewers to take a second look.
Simplicity
Keep it clean, clear and simple. Trying to be clever or humorous with the design or wording can work well for certain businesses but you should be careful that the logo can still be easily understood.
Timeless
A good logo should be a classic design that will never go out of fashion. Redesigning a logo (link to - Logo Redesign - Updating a Company Logo) usually means that you lose some or all of the brand awareness that you have built up over many years with your existing logo.
Uniqueness
Your logo should be unique to your company and should not attempt to imitate competitors. While you can gain inspiration by looking at other companies logos it is a mistake to try to imitate then too closely as customers may immediately think of your competitors when they look at your logo. Borrowing ideas from the logos of companies in other industries is better than borrowing ideas from competitors within your own industry.
Functional
A logo should be functional. It should be able to be easily integrated into all marketing materials and advertising campaigns.
Scalable
The logos size should be able to be reduced to a size suitable for a business card or pen yet should also be able to be enlarged to a size appropriate for a vehicle or advertising billboard.
Follow the Principals of Good Design
A logo should follow the principles of good design to make it pleasing on the eye. Good designers know how to balance color, space and shape in this respect. A logo is the sum of its parts and good designers take into account how the parts interact together to form the whole.
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