A logo is an important part of your brand identity, but coming up with a concept that you can live with is tricky. These tips will help you learn how to create a logo you'll love. We'll walk you through the essentials - from working with a designer to knowing what file formats you'll need and ideas for creating a logo with staying power.
Keep the Concept Simple
The best logos are easy to read at a glance and don't come with a lot of complicated elements, imagery or typefaces. A logo is an introduction to your brand, or a first impression. You want it to be clean, simple and memorable.
Start with your business name. If there's a bit of imagery that goes well with it, you can pair text and some type of icon. If not, opt for a logotype, or type-based logo, that you can integrate into your website and other marketing materials.
Stick to your brand colors and make sure that the logo also looks good in black and white. (You'll use a colorless version more frequently than you might think.)
Hack the Hood uses this black and white concept to ensure that the logo works well on top of imagery. (The white style could also work well with a brightly colored background.)
Start with your business name. If there's a bit of imagery that goes well with it, you can pair text and some type of icon. If not, opt for a logotype, or type-based logo, that you can integrate into your website and other marketing materials.
Stick to your brand colors and make sure that the logo also looks good in black and white. (You'll use a colorless version more frequently than you might think.)
Hack the Hood uses this black and white concept to ensure that the logo works well on top of imagery. (The white style could also work well with a brightly colored background.)
Be Honest with the Designer
When working with a logo designer, you need to be open and honest about what you like—and what you do not. Show examples of logos or styles that appeal to you. Share color and font choices that you love from the start.
A good line of open communication between you and the person creating the design will make the process run that much smoother.
Wax & Wane uses a logotype that works both on the web and for the package design of products. There was likely a talk between the designer and business owner to ensure that the logo would fit both purposes.
A good line of open communication between you and the person creating the design will make the process run that much smoother.
Wax & Wane uses a logotype that works both on the web and for the package design of products. There was likely a talk between the designer and business owner to ensure that the logo would fit both purposes.
Shape Matters
Think about all the ways you will use a logo—for a website, on social media, business cards, flyers or printed materials, and the list goes on. You need a logo shape that can work in a number of ways.
Shape is one of the most important considerations. While many companies have multiple versions of the same logo in different shapes, you might not have the budget for a large logo project. If budget is a concern, opt for something that fits easily in a square.
This flexible shape is the standard for most places where you will have to use the logo and can look great on a website or be used as a social media profile photo. That's not to say the logo has to be a square, it can be circular, square or more free flowing, but the overall shape should have the same basic height and width to make it easy to use.
Art by Aleisha has a logo inside a circle, but the shape is perfect for a variety of uses, such as in the website header or as a social media profile photo. You want your logo to look consistent in all locations—a strong shape can make that easier.
Shape is one of the most important considerations. While many companies have multiple versions of the same logo in different shapes, you might not have the budget for a large logo project. If budget is a concern, opt for something that fits easily in a square.
This flexible shape is the standard for most places where you will have to use the logo and can look great on a website or be used as a social media profile photo. That's not to say the logo has to be a square, it can be circular, square or more free flowing, but the overall shape should have the same basic height and width to make it easy to use.
Art by Aleisha has a logo inside a circle, but the shape is perfect for a variety of uses, such as in the website header or as a social media profile photo. You want your logo to look consistent in all locations—a strong shape can make that easier.
Get Flexible File Formats
One file format does not fit all. (And many of those $5 logos you see advertised won't work everywhere you need.)
A logo should be in a vector-based format; the designer might deliver an EPS or PDF file. You need something that is scalable and will look sharp at any size.
You'll also need a web-formatted logo; the designer might deliver a JPG or PNG file. These smaller logos work great for screens, but won't work for printed projects, such as business cards.
Make sure that when you get a logo, you get files that will work for print and digital media usage to make the most of your brand investment. (You should also ask for the raw files so that you can alter the logo down the road, if necessary.)
A logo should be in a vector-based format; the designer might deliver an EPS or PDF file. You need something that is scalable and will look sharp at any size.
You'll also need a web-formatted logo; the designer might deliver a JPG or PNG file. These smaller logos work great for screens, but won't work for printed projects, such as business cards.
Make sure that when you get a logo, you get files that will work for print and digital media usage to make the most of your brand investment. (You should also ask for the raw files so that you can alter the logo down the road, if necessary.)
Build It Yourself!
Not sure where to start? Consider building a logo yourself using the Logo Maker app from the Weebly app store.
More than 25 million businesses have used the simple tool to help create a logo. Browse designs created by designers and customize text, fonts and colors to really make it your own. If you don't know where to start, this is the perfect way to get a little logo inspiration. (Plus, the app is free to use; you only pay to download a logo that you love.)
More than 25 million businesses have used the simple tool to help create a logo. Browse designs created by designers and customize text, fonts and colors to really make it your own. If you don't know where to start, this is the perfect way to get a little logo inspiration. (Plus, the app is free to use; you only pay to download a logo that you love.)
Conclusion
A logo is an important part of your brand identity and needs to be something that you can grow into and use for a long time. Try to pick something that tells people something about your brand and works everywhere you'll want to use it, from a website to business cards to billboards.
Don't force the design. A simple logo–think Nike or Coca-Cola–is easy to recognize at a glance and isn't overly complicated. Keep these examples in mind as you create your perfect brand mark.
Don't force the design. A simple logo–think Nike or Coca-Cola–is easy to recognize at a glance and isn't overly complicated. Keep these examples in mind as you create your perfect brand mark.
Carrie Cousins Carrie is a designer and content marketer. She works promoting the Roanoke Region of Virginia and has more than 10 years of media and marketing experience.
