Designing an Effective Logo

starbucks logoIf you stop and think about some of the most successful companies in the world, what comes to your mind first? Is it the products or services they offer or the catchy logo they use in all of their advertising? For most of us, the first thing that comes to mind is the logo that represents who they are. For example, if you see the “Swoosh” your mind immediately thinks of Nike, or the apple with the bite taken out of it, Apple and the many products they offer. But what does it take to create a truly effective logo? Here we take a look at several key factors in creating an effective business logo.

Keep It Simple

On a daily basis we are bombarded with virtually thousands of product advertisements and logos. How do you encourage your target market to notice your logo above all others? The one thing the most successful logos have in common is their simplicity. The idea is to take everything that inspires you about your business and reduce it to the most basic and simple form. A truly effective business logo needs to only contain those features vital to your business identity.

Make it Memorable

For the most part, you and your business have no more than a few seconds to make a memorable impression. While making a strong first impression is important, so is making a lasting one. Bright colors, truly unique graphics, and simplicity are all important factors in creating an effective logo that is going to stand out from the crowd. A perfectly good example of this is the little blue bird used by Twitter. This little bird is easily linked to the concept of tweeting, which easily makes the viewer think of Twitter. This sub-conscious linking is what effective logos are all about.

Make Your Logo Versatile

The best logos are those that are truly versatile. In other words, you need to choose a logo that can be used on a wide range of advertising surfaces in an even wider range of sizes and shapes.  For example, your logo might end up on letterheads, business cards, and banners. Choose a logo that is versatile enough to be used effectively in any size.  While color is very important, beware of overly bright colors and color combinations that won’t translate into black and white as any effect they might have will be lost.

Make Your Logo Appropriate

Finally, you should carefully research your target audience and then tailor your logo to meet their expectations as well as making it appropriate for your services or products. For example, we all easily associate the apple with a bite out of it as belonging to Apple brand products, in other words, the logo matches the name of the company. On the other hand, if the company had used a globe or perhaps a keyboard or computer, the company might have become lost in the crowd.

These fundamentals should help you get started on the right path to creating a logo for your business that will not only get you noticed, but firmly fix your products and brand in the minds of your target customers. Remember, keep it bold, simple, and memorable.

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