Did you know that businesses have spent nearly $200 million on successful logo design over the years? That is because they understand the importance of branding their business.
A memorable logo is what drives customers to check out your product or service. If you do it right, a logo can even create trust between your company and others.
But how do you devise a successful logo design that will stick in the customer’s brains? Believe it or not, there are a few tried and true methods that will help you make a logo that stands out from the competition.
Want to know what they are? Then keep reading our article for the dos and don’ts of custom logo design.
Do: Your Research
The first thing you want to do is research who you want to target. Take an introspective look into your company and consider your service or product.
From there, ask yourself what type of customer your company wants. What are their age ranges and demographics? You can even pay attention to what those people enjoy looking at online.
All you have to do is hop on a social media platform like Instagram or Twitter. Think of a few of your competitors and type their names into the search bar.
Find their pages and click on their list of followers. You can then get an idea as to who enjoys those services.
You can even look at your competitor’s posts and read the comments from their followers. Sometimes, people will leave comments that talk about why they enjoy the company so much.
From there, you can do further research into other companies similar to yours. Look at their logos and marketing designs and pinpoint what you think works for their brand.
After you do that, you can turn it around and uniquely use those techniques. You can also research successful logo design trends within your market.
Those tactics are trending for a reason. So, you might want to take some pointers.
Do: Consider Color Theory
Be mindful of the color theory method. Some people think color doesn’t matter. Because of that, they go with whatever color suits their fancy. For instance, some people choose bright, wild colors because they want their logos to be flashy.
Others go for more muted tones because they don’t want to deal with the hassle of logo design. Both of those choices are mistakes when done without research.
Color theory suggests that each color brings about different emotions in individuals. For instance, studies show that red is a color that makes people think of strength.
On the other hand, researchers found that the color blue causes customers to feel higher levels of trust in the company. Therefore, what colors you choose are critical to matching the tone and style of your brand.
They let your customers know what emotions to feel when they look at your logo. It would bode well for you to take some time and study up on color theory.
That said, you don’t want a design that is too busy with colors. Don’t choose red to evoke hunger and blue to evoke trust, and then mix those two with a whole bunch of other colors.
It is best to stick to one or two colors. That way, you don’t overwhelm your client’s senses.
Do: Use Descriptive Logos
There are two types of logos: descriptive and non-descriptive. The former pertains to designs that use an image and wording to let the customer know what company you run.
For instance, Burger King’s logo is a hamburger with the words Burger King at the forefront. Alternatively, a non-descriptive logo relies solely on a design or image.
While both are effective, studies show that descriptive logos get more customers than non-descriptive graphics. That is because there is no guessing as to what the company sells or who they are.
Burger King’s burger design lets its customers know they are a burger joint, while the name of their company separates them from the countless other fast-food chains on the market.
You should opt for a design that incorporates description. People’s attention spans are not that long.
You often only have about three seconds to catch someone’s attention. So, be sure to make those seconds count with a fully descriptive design.
Do: Plan for Size Variations
You won’t use your logo for just your business storefront or Instagram page. You will likely want to tout your company on several kinds of media like business cards, cups, T-shirts, and more.
Due to that, you want to ensure that your logo can be shrunken or blown up to fit whatever promotional items you choose.
Do: Make Multiple Kinds
Along with different sizes, you also want to choose various color schemes. That way, your logo is adaptable to several backgrounds.
For instance, your original logo could be black lettering on a white background. You should also have a logo design that alternates those colors and transforms them into white lettering on a black background. That way, if someone uses your logo, it will still be legible.
Don’t: Choose An Illegible Font
It is tempting to choose a wild and crazy font as you create your logo design. After all, you scroll through the font options and see so many that make your design look unique.
While a cool font is acceptable, you want to ensure the wording is still legible. Some companies do not factor this into their logo creation. The result is a sloppy font that no one can make out.
Don’t: DIY Your Logo
Saving money is tempting, but it often comes at the price of quality. Some websites allow you to develop a logo on your own. However, this is one of the biggest logo design mistakes.
You see, unless you are an expert, you won’t know what size and proportion to make your logo. However, a company full of graphic design and marketing professionals offers services that develop your design for you.
All you have to do is hire someone like us here at Cow Lick Studios, explain your idea, and let us handle the rest. By doing this, you ensure a quality design with no mistakes.
Hire a Logo Design Service
As you can tell, there are several things to do and avoid regarding successful logo design. Remember to think about using logos with description and to utilize color theory to your advantage.
Alternatively, be sure not to make your logo illegible and hard to read. We hope this article helps you make an informed decision about your company logo design.
One thing to keep in mind is to let professionals handle your design for you. That sort of thing is what Cow Lick Studios is all about. If you want a killer logo made up for your business, we urge you to schedule a meeting with us today!
