Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I am creating a website for a company that  I am slowly starting on the side but I am having a hard time making the decision of how to get my companies logo created. I am proficient in Photoshop and have done some web development but do not have the creative ability to do it myself. Can anyone suggest some options for getting my logo created. I am on a tight budget but want the Logo to last for years to come. We are in the field of Sustainable Development and Learning if that helps.

I provide printing services, so I often work with clients who are in need of logo design. I think you`d do well to work with an experienced designer.

You`ll want to share some ideas about what you like, then have the designer send you some rough designs to choose from. You can then select what you like and have the designer refine the logo. Once you have your final logo, be sure to have the designer save it in several formats for you. You might want a low res bitmap version for web pages and e-mail signatures, and a vector eps file for print work.

I recently had my own logo redone by an experienced artist/illustrator/graphic designer named Barbara Harmon. She can be e-mailed at bhvisualart@speakeasy.net

I have referred several clients to Barbara, and all were pleased with her work.

 

As an owner of a marketing support business for small-businesses I`m involved with logo designs on a regular basis. We offer a logo design package for $185. It`s competative with internet design services. To make it work we have to have some real involvement from the client. We require the client to provide us with several samples of logos they like.They need to explain what it is they feel their logo should  say about their business. We need feedback about colors, shapes and a "look" (old fashion / natural / futuristic /abstract / etc.) that they feel conveys what their buiness is about. We do 3 quick ideas based on this input. Fron here we narrow the look with one revision and another review. We can then move to a final. We do all production in Illustrator so that we have a vector version. This vector art can be enlarged or srunk so that it can be used in all types of materials. It can also be made into a low res version for use on websites.
In summary:
Be very clear about what you looking to see.
Try to find pictures, symbols, other logos that convey a sense of direction or look.
Make a decision about colors.
Once you have collected this input it`s less of a mystery about what you want.
Check with your local colleges to see if there is a student that has a flair for design and art who you can hire. Check with your local SBDC to see if they have a referal to a local designer who is also starting up and can be you hands.
Send us the job if you can`t find anyone locally, we can use the work.
Steve Chapman
XpressMarketing, Inc.


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Steve Chapman
XpressMarketing, Inc.

Having designed logos for almost 30 years now, I always suggest that small business owners hire a professional to create the identity for their business, whether they hire me to do the job or not.  In the end - in most cases - you will have a much more polished and effective logo.  It is often very wise to bring someone with a critical eye, real artistic talent, and some emotional "distance" from the actual business into the procedure of creating what will be the most important visual element of your marketing and promotion efforts.

One of the most important things is to follow what one of my college professors referred to as The K.I.S.S. Principle -which is Keep It Simple, Stupid.  The most memorable and effective logos are most often the simplest.  A logo does not necessaarily need to say everything about your business.  It should be a very strong invitation to a potential client to want to learn more about what you do, an ever present reminder to existing clients that you are their to serve their needs, and an immediately recognized element of your business image over time.

Another important initial consideration is that your logo needs to work in black and white. Even in these days of flashy technology your logo needs convey your image in black and white, or one color, for photocopying, faxing and other needs.  In designing logos, I won`t even add color to a logo design until the client has signed off on the image in black and white.

When contemplating color for your finalized logo design don`t simply choose specific colors because you like them.  Give some thought to possible emotional, historic or cultural implications of color.  A great resource for this is the book Blue is Hot, Red is Cool:  Choosing the Right Color for Your Logo by David E. Carter.  For example, something like 60% of all logos contain the color blue.  For me that`s always been a reason to not use blue.

Be careful when using online logo design resources for the creation of your business identity.  In many cases, if the price is too inexpensive, you will be getting exactly what you pay for.  Research designers to make sure you will be getting original art created specifically for your own business.  Some designers will simply slap your business name up next to an already existing piece of "clip art" - which may already be in use by other businesses as their logo.  Some web site logo options will offer you a template design for your business.  Again, you risk the possibility of another business having exactly the same logo - with a name change being the only difference.  You want your logo to be a unique representation of your business.  Recently it was discovered that one of the major online discount logo design services - touted by many business publications as a business model for such work - was actually selling some logo designs created by other well-known designers for existing businesses.  In fact, they were even offering the very familar, trademarked Xerox "X" for sale in their menu of available designs as a logo option for a business identity.  So, in those situations, it is "buyer beware." 

You really are best off working closely with a talent, skilled professional designer in creating a strong symbol to represent your business. A great deal of the success in creating an effective logo will be due to the personal and professional relationship that develops between designer and client. You might want to read my article  Inspiration, imitation or innovation - how do designers create unique identities? for some additional thoughts on logo design efforts.

Best of luck with your project.

- J.


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Jeff Fisher | Jeff Fisher LogoMotives | Tweet! Tweet!

Honestly, if you are seeking a logo that you can go here and develop your logo in a matter of minutes. http://www.logoyes.com/?bid=18&aid=CD242&opt=

This is where I send my customers when they are on a budget but want to get nice looking LOGOS, plus you get free business cards with it after you are done.

Good Luck and tell me if it worked out for you

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Edgar Monroy
Web Developer / Owner / Consultant
When starting your own business the need to "know-how" is greater than money!
http://www.nuevolution.net

No matter who you choose to create your logo, the most important decision you need to make is about your brand identity - and you need to be crystal clear in your own mind about what that is before you ask someone else to create a visual symbol of that identity.  Don`t confuse your logo with your brand.  Hopefully, you`ve already got this handled, but just in case, I wanted to warn you. 

I`ve seen so many businesses whose logos have no relationship to what their businesses stand for and, of course, that`s just a symptom of a bigger problem.  They haven`t stopped to clearly define the promise they are making to their customers and potential customers, the words they want to "own" in their customers` minds - in other words, the value they bring to the table that makes them unique from, and better than, their competition in at least one meaningful way.

Having said all of the above, I also agree with those advocating for use of a professional designer - one who also understands the mechanical side of their designs - that is, what prints well, what prints cheaply, etc.  A design that fails to take real-world applications into account will end up costing you far more than a good designer.

Good luck!

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Kim Greenspan, The Alternative Board - Metro Detroit. Helping business owners achieve success with peer advice and coaching. www.tabmetrodetroit.com

True to what PeerBoard Coach said,

It took me 14 designs, before I made a commitment to my companies Logo. Once I made the commitment and was able to relate my business with the Logo it was easier for me to brand the business. I think before you decide what you want to represent to others, make rough drafts, show them to friends, peers, and others and see what they have to say. Sit back and think to yourself "Is this really how I want people to identify me as" and the image will be much clearer that what you expected.

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Edgar Monroy
Web Developer / Owner / Consultant
When starting your own business the need to "know-how" is greater than money!
http://www.nuevolution.net

hi,

as many years as graphic designer i will give a few advises:

1. start with a single colour logo. imagine Apple. it works even with 1 colour.
2. at least get a illustrator or vector version for the logo. do some research what is vector graphic and raster graphic. both have pros and cons. photoshop is raster graphic and that is not good enough as for logo.

Also if you`re on a tight budget and want decent quality I could recommend The Logo Company.  They won overall best in wired magazine.  Take a look: www.thelogocompany.com

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Marston Alfred
Marston Innovation
http://www.marstoninnovation.com/

Managed web hosting, marketing and clean web design for the non-technical small business and independent professional

My experience has been, you get what you pay for.

Big piece of advice - get the "native file" or no deal. Jpegs and PDF`s are great for review but without the native file your hosed if you want to use it on other stuff in the future.


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