Every organisation should have a brand element that helps them stand out from the competition. This is usually the logo. These days, one of the most popular options is to create a logo online.
Logos can stand alone as a mark or image or add text to help explain what the brand is, what they do and what it stands for. It helps identify products and services and is designed for quick recognition.
In other words, the best logos sum up everything that a company is about.
The tricky thing is that this isn’t as easy as it sounds. To come up with the perfect logo, many companies choose to engage a professional graphic designer. For some, though, this is just too expensive.
Today, we’ll cover everything you need to know to create an effective logo for yourself online.
Why Does a Company Need a Logo?
It is very important for a company to have a logo. You have international appeal when audiences can immediately identify who you are based on your logo. People usually need an image to see in order to fully connect with your brand.
There’s a reason that some companies spend millions on their logos. They know that this will offer a return on investment. So what does a logo actually do?
Here are a few reasons why you need an effective logo:
Establishing a Unique Identity
Your logo is what gives you a space in the world. It signifies who you are and your intentions to make a statement. This is easily demonstrated by thinking of a couple of major international brands.
For example, McDonalds’ or CocaCola’s logos are every bit as recognisable as these brands’ actual names. The best logos are instantly recognisable and communicate your brand without the need to spell it out.
More reading on branding and logos to consider:
- Do’s and Don’ts To Make Your Logo Great
- WIX Logo Maker VS Squarespace
- WIX Logo Maker Tutorial
- What Is A Logo? Standing out From the Crowd
- How to Create a Logo Online
- Brand Positioning Basics
- Why Organisations Use Branding
- Market Segmentation – Why it Matters for Brands Big and Small
- The Importance of Branding for Business
- Amazing Brand Storytelling Examples
- Voice Marketing: How to Create an Amazing Brand for Voice
Building Brand Equity
A logo helps a corporation look established and, in some cases, bigger than it really is. Every marketing piece with a well-designed logo on it gives the impression of an organisation that is going places and doing big things.
Your logo helps to shape your brand perception.
Using your logo as a watermark on reports and documents projects a great deal of professionalism.
To Get More Clients
With so many people turning to online information whenever they come across a new brand, having a presence with a logo gives you credibility and helps them make purchasing decisions.
Any business considering venture capital or selling its business must have a complete marketing package. This includes a logo and other elements that suggest the brand is worth investing in or buying.
It’s been well established that having consistent branding across all of your marketing channels leads to growth in revenue.
Brand Awareness
If you take the time to create a logo and brand image, you have invested time and money that needs to have some type of ROI. This also demonstrates to your customers that you are in it for the long haul and are here to stay.
It also helps you to stick in their heads.
Most people remember what they see. They may not remember a name, but they can associate your logo with your brand. When they are seeking services, they will look for your logo as a starting point.
Having an effective and recognisable logo also allows you to maintain a high level of brand awareness so that even if someone isn’t looking for your product right now, you’ll be the first brand they think of.
Having a prominent public image by using your logo on branded merchandise and promotional materials helps you to achieve this.
How to Create a Logo
A logo should be used on a consistent basis to ensure it becomes a part of your brand identity. It should be on every marketing tool and element of your organisation that will be presented to the public.
That includes business cards, letterhead, signage, websites and digital marketing elements. This is how you maximise the return on investment you receive when you create a logo online.
However, not all logos are created equally. Some are incredibly effective, while others are more or less a waste of time.
Before creating a logo, it is important to understand what a good logo should contain. Here’s what makes an effective logo tick:
Clear and Readable Text
If text is included in the logo, it should be clear and free from distraction. The fonts used should always convey professionalism at the highest standards. Most people will find this jarring or even irritating when text is hard to read.
Simple Colours
Your brand’s colours should be simple but impactful enough to make a statement. Depending on your industry, the colours should convey what your brand is, and how you will stand out amongst the competition.
For example, many B2B brands rely heavily on blues and greens in their logos to project professionalism, while consumer brands choose to use warmer and more vibrant colours, like reds, oranges and pinks.
Memorable Imagery
If you are using imagery in the logo, it should be strong enough to tell a story and memorable enough to have a lasting impact on the minds of everyone who sees it.
This is even more effective when the imagery relates in some way to your brand name. For example, ProfileTree’s logo is a digital tree. The goal here is to maximise recognition of both elements of your brand by creating an association between them.
Uniqueness
The logo should be able to draw the attention of others and make a statement. It should be able to stand out among a crowd of logos. This can be accomplished by doing something different and straying away from frequently used icons or symbols.
Adaptability
The logo should be used across a number of elements. It is important to make sure it is scalable and adaptable to any size or use. We’ll talk about the specifics of creating a logo online later, but for now, you’ll need a vector file format.
Timelessness
Your logo should be timeless and can be used in a variety of ways throughout the years. While it is always standard practice to update your logo after a certain time period, those original elements should still be present moving into the future.
This means that it’s a bad idea to try and newsjack with your logo or try and ride the wave of a fad. When you create a logo, try to think about how it will be perceived in five or even ten years’ time.
Appropriate for the Industry
There are certain industries where your design should reflect the professionalism associated with the culture. An attorney would not have a neon green logo with a race car on it, and vice versa.
Some logos do not need to be fun or playful and should convey what your industry stands for. Researching colours and how they convey meaning is a good step to take when designing logos for international appeal.
Best Tools for Creating a Logo Online
If you are just getting started, you may not have the resources to hire a professional designer to create a logo for you. Using an online logo creator may be the best option in those cases.
There are a number of online logo tools that can help create a logo online. These tools will walk you through the process and help establish your brand. Creating logo online software is very popular and can be found with a simple search.
Here are a few options to consider:
Logomakr
This program allows individuals to create and design a logo for free using icons located in their database. It helps you decide what colours, shapes and text you like to create a professional logo.
Onlinelogomaker
This software has two versions – free and premium. With a straightforward interface, it has a large font selection and different templates to choose from, and it allows you to save and return to complete the project.
Shopify
Shopify helps businesses brand themselves with their online logo maker. It’s free and helps those business owners who are getting started with Shopify present a more professional image.
Designmantic
Touted as the easiest and fastest way to design a logo for your business, companies can also use this platform for website design and other services. They also offer custom design if you feel as if you need assistance with your logo design.
What Do You Need to Create a Logo Online?
Using the suggestions for creating a good logo, a good online logo creation tool, and your imagination are all the elements needed to design a logo that will resonate within your organisation and your audiences.
Having goals, objectives, and the strategic vision of the company in mind makes the difference.
Getting advice from a designer prior to starting to create your logo can provide insight and tips on the process, how different shapes can add value, or whether or not your colour scheme may be too much for the type of industry you are in.
While you are not hiring them to create the logo, their assistance from a consultant level can make the difference between a subpar logo and a professional logo that will make an impact on your audiences.
Of course, creating a logo online by yourself isn’t always as effective as engaging a professional designer. After all, there is a reason that experienced designers command such high salaries.
If you’d like to find out more about how to develop your brand or anything related to building your business brand online, speak to ProfileTree today and find out about our agency services.
