How to make a great logo?

Creating a logo for your business can be overwhelming. There really are so many variables to consider, and how do you know you are making the right decisions. You want your logo to stand out from the bombardment of logos that already exist and you want it to effectively represent your business. A good graphic designer can help you come up with the best possible logo for yourself, but these tips below will ensure you are on the right track.

1. A beautiful logo is nothing if it doesn’t communicate your business. So the first thing to do is do your research and make sure you have a clear idea about the message you want to convey. When my husband and I started his surveying business, we came up with a business name and logo to the left of center to go along with it. No one could tell what the logo was (a leaf-shaped tripod) and the name (Fertile Soil Surveyors) gave us a lot of calls from people who needed to analyze their soil, but not for surveying! We ended up changing the name and logo!

2. Take a look at what others in your field have used as their logo, pick a few that work and some that don’t. This will help you become familiar with the layout. You don’t want to copy, but you can get inspired!

3. If you hire a designer, make sure they give you a design brief to complete. Help them by providing as much specific information as you can.

4. Think timeless. If you choose a typeface or image that is trending, it may look good for a while, but it could potentially become outdated. Do you know that the legendary Coca-Cola logo was created in 1886 and is still going strong? Now that is timeless.

5. You DO NOT NEED to have an image / icon. The text can be the logo if you want.

6. Your logo should appear on a variety of materials: cards, brochures, posters, t-shirts, and so on. Make sure it looks good across the board.

7. Consider how a tagline (your tagline) will look next to your logo.

8. A great logo will look good both in black and white and in color.

9. Remember: don’t imitate others! Your business is original and so are you. Your logo should represent this.

10. Finally, use your logo. Put it on as many things as you can, so everyone can get acquainted with your amazing business!