There are a lot of “have to” things on the list when starting a business: filing paperwork with the government, opening a bank account, buying software, etc. But one of the fun things (or at least, should be), is working on your brand and logo. Not enough people enjoy the process.
We recently launched a new business here at AMDG Ventures, Shield of Faith Press, and the featured image for this blog is the image one of us drew up after one of the early meetings in which we had decided not just on the name of the company, but on what a logo might look like.
As you can tell, the person who made the drawing is certainly no artist, but that wasn’t important. What was important was conveying the intent and direction so that a professional, someone who has worked on hundreds of logos over the years, could get in there and get the work done.
Here are some things you should think about when designing a logo for your business:
- It needs to be clear. A stranger should look at your logo without knowing anything about you or the business and clearly understand what the business is and does. Examples include Gold’s Gym, Gerber, and Instagram. If you had come from a long period living underground and were shown these logos, you would know that these logos had to do with working out, babies, and cameras/photography.
- It should use colors you will use everywhere. People often forget that part of the right design for a logo is using colors you love, or at least can live with. These colors are going to be used on your website, in your pamphlets, in your packaging or uniforms. It starts to create a brand presence in your customer’s mind that is readily identifiable.
- It doesn’t have to be forever. Neel Parekh of MaidThis recently shared on social media that he made his original logo in Microsoft Word, took a screenshot, then used it until the company hit $30k in MRR. He then let a designer jazz it up a bit, but if you look, it’s too far removed from the original. Lesson: Capture the essence of what you are trying to convey to the world.
- It doesn’t need to be pricey. Costa Kapothanasis of Costa 10 Minute Oil Change has a logo that sits on 50 buildings, company clothing, and NASCAR vehicles. Original cost? $5 on Fiverr. Costa has tried to find the designer but she deactivated her account some years ago and doesn’t have any matching social media.
- It should have a story. Our story for this most recent logo was hardly an epic one. We talked about the intentions of what we wanted to do (offer works in translation) and who we wished to serve (Our Lord and Our Lady) and that came together in our badge. But just because it’s not an epic story doesn’t mean it’s not meaningful. It conveys that message to everyone who sees it and if they want to go in for more detail we offer it on our website.
Most importantly, take your time. There’s no rush. You can always just put a company name up in the meantime while you work on your logo. If you have a compelling offer, people won’t care that you don’t yet have a website, company uniforms, or even a catchy jingle, at first. A good, basic logo is a sign that you’re on your way to growing the company beyond those first steps.
