One of the most challenging parts of being able to start a blog is coming up with a great logo. You can hire a freelancer to design you an okay logo at an affordable price or you use free logo generator like Hatchful. But what you’ll find is that you often get a generic looking logo that’s comparable to other sites related to your topic. That’s why it’s important that you put a lot of thought into the kind of logo you need for your site whether you’re designing it yourself or hiring somebody else. Here are some great tips to creating an incredible logo.
1. A Logo Should Be Simple and Memorable
When it comes to logos, less is more. There are plenty examples of complex logos that really catch the eye and stand out. The problem is that these complex designs make the logo less memorable. The user has to take in all the little details and try to remember its association the next time they come across it. You want to keep your logo simple in design so that people can remember it. This will make it easier for users to associate it with your company throughout multiple touch points. Don’t think that simple equals boring and dull.
2. Create a Design That’s Relevant to Your Site
A part of creating a memorable logo is to make sure it’s relevant to what your website is about. For example, a site that’s about living a healthy lifestyle should have those elements in the logo. These elements can be made up of various things such as symbols, colors, accents, shapes, and graphics. Come up with ideas on how to incorporate your site’s subject matter into your logo. In most cases, the color will be a huge part of your logo. That’s why it often helps to decide on a color scheme for your website before you start designing your logo.
3. Make Sure Your Logo is Distinctive
Many people make the mistake of coming up with a logo that’s overly descriptive of what their site is about. For example, a logo for a VPS hosting service may include graphics of a cloud or a stack of servers. These are the same kind of graphics that every other shared, dedicated and VPS hosting company is using. You want your logo to be unique, especially in a competitive market or industry. A logo that’s overly descriptive ends up being cliché and you end up being seen as just another hosting company. Ask yourself: how can I come up with an attractive logo that’s different from all of my competitors?
4. The Typography Can Make or Break Your Logo
The typography is a big part of your logo. With so many different choices, it can really be hard to decide on logo typography. A good way to really hone in on the typography you should be using is to think about your website’s mood, quality and style. For example, a website about saving money on everyday purchases may bring up a thrifty mood, budget quality, and a simple or clever style. You’ll need to put extra effort into the typography if your logo will purely be text based and will not include any graphics.
5. Create a Logo That’s Versatile
It’s also important to create a logo that’s versatile. For example, a logo that is well designed but it utilizes animated graphics to catch the user’s attention. While it may very attention grabbing and engaging, you wouldn’t be able to use this logo for things like business cards, print magazines, and direct mail. You also need to make sure that the logo can scale to different sizes without its quality diminishing. Try testing the logo on various channels, mediums, and contexts to verify that it can be used in all kinds of situations.
6. Play Around with Different Styles
Another good way to come up with a logo design is to try different aesthetics. For example, try a classic, retro, vintage, minimalist, modern, or even avant-garde style. You’ll find that some styles will fit the theme of your website perfectly. There are plenty of different styles you can explore, so spend some time experimenting. You can even decide to mix and match styles for your logo. But you have to be careful when you do this as you do want to keep your logo simple and make it look cohesive.
7. When In Doubt, Study the Competition
If you’re having a hard time coming up with original ideas, it’s always smart to research the competition. Start by looking at the top 20 Google search results to get a feel for what your competitors are doing. It will help to look for certain patterns as this will help you avoid creating a cliché design. Just because websites are top ranked doesn’t necessarily mean they have a great logo. From there, see what elements you can borrow from your competitors. At the same time, think about how you can distinguish yourself from them with your logo design.
8. Don’t Stop Improving on Your Logo
While you want to make your logo memorable and timeless, you have to understand that all logos eventually need to be revised. Even the world’s biggest brands have revised their logos over the years. As a general rule, you’ll find that the task of creating a logo is an iterative process. If you’re working with limited resources, you may have to work with an affordable designer and start off with an average looking logo, but don’t let that be the last time you revisit your logo. You’re bound to come up with many great ideas in the future.
These are some great tips for creating an outstanding logo for your new site. Don’t be let down if you don’t come up with a great design right off the bat. It may take some time to create a logo you’re satisfied with. The important thing is that you don’t forget the importance of a great logo design. It can really shape the perception of your target audience and form a powerful association for your website in your market or industry.