Do I really need a logo?
I started my business as a bit of newbie, yes my parents had both run businesses and I had helped them to run their business, however, I sort of came up with my own during the middle of the night 4.5 years ago and did the classic visit to vistaprint and created a logo with just the letter A in a pretty fashion.
I have been told it's too flowy and pretty tough to read on a business card (I agree-ish). Then, as I started to grow my business I went down the personal route and had logo designed with illustrations of my team, 3 women together, myself in the middle, Dinah on the left and Hayley on the right, all with our passions on our t-shirts. EG Dinah has "I love writing", Hayley had "I love social media" and I had "I love admin". (the love was actually a purple heart shape).
Only issue is, as with many businesses and companies, I am hoping, is people come and go. I had to let go of the lovely lady on the right (Hayley, who helped with social media) due to the inability to offer as much work as she desired, as she wasn't running her own business at the time so mainly depended on our work.
I still love the ability to have a face to the person who helps my clients, as well as showing that we are more than just me. Plus, I have now added a new person to our business who will be assisting once again with uploading of content, and background necessities of social media such as reports and monitoring sites for relevant questions for our clients to comment on, or opportunities for our clients to utilise.
My question is - does a logo truly make a difference when you are a smaller business? Will people recognise my branding or will they recognise me, as I am the person who networks my business, I even use photos of me within our marketing.
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Jun 21, 2020
I want to give you one more perspective, I think the logo is a very good investment in the current world as I see the same logo can be used to promote your brand in lot of places like social media, business cards, e-commerce websites. I reviewed lot of local businesses and most of these businesses have their own logo.
May 30, 2020
Logo is another thing this give you a unique identificatation and when it come for smaller business its not required but if you want to expand than you can register its not cost to much so and when you have a logo it increases trust so it all depen in you as per your requirement and for that you can . check trademark here
May 27, 2020
Does a baby need a recognizable face?
Yes. A logo or wordmark, or both. I don't make a big distinction between the two because a wordmark without a logo is usually strongly stylized so it is recognizable as "not regular written text."
So the answer is yes UNLESS (big exception here) you are talking about a business that is purely local and has inbound demand through word of mouth that is more than enough to use up its supply capacity.
Typically businesses that fit that description have a charismatic one-person owner who is out front being the face and voice, so you don't need a logo because that person's face is enough. Like the Soup Nazi on Seinfeld. You can call such brands implicit brands, with the person's face being the implicit logo. Instead of a face, a distinctive part of the service can also replace the logo (example, a roadside peanut vendor who sells his peanuts in distinctive paper cones that look different from the normal ones of nearby vendors).
But in general, an abstract and explicit logo is required for most normal businesses.
I am not including here the idea of a "personal brand" (either celebrity or social media varieties). I don't like that term because it overloads the concept of brand and dilutes it to the point of vacuity.
The deeper reason is that visual symbols need to be recognizable at a pre-literate level. There are illiterate people out there who can nevertheless recognize famous brands like Coke, because the logo/wordmark is so distinctive and stands out so clearly from regular written text.
Regards,
Akshay
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May 24, 2020
Every business needs a logo. Whether it's big or small. The challenge is not every everyone has the knack for graphic design. Luckily, there are tools out there that could help you create free logos. The good thing about those is that they're free and easy to use. However, you can't really have that custom and unique feel that a logo should give. You can choose to hire logo designers on the other hand. I am a logo designer myself and you might find this answer a bit biased. LOL. If you're still interested, check out my portfolio at https://dandesignsph.com . Stay safe. :)
Nov 25, 2019
A logo helps identify your business and make it unique. Some people remember images better than words too. Every time they see that logo, you are keeping your business in their mind. I would definitely recommend it.
Sep 16, 2019
A logo helps your target market identify you and differentiate you from other businesses in the same industry. Whether you are a home-based business, a small one or an online service...you need a logo to mark your products and marketing.
So unless you want to stay invisible, you should get a logo designed. You can use a logo maker to create a visual identity that is way cheaper than an agency. You can start off this way and then as your business grows, you can ask a professional designer to make amendments or revamp your image.
Jun 21, 2019
This made me think a bit deeper on the subject as my instinctive reaction to the question was a resounding yes, of course, you need a logo. However, I then questioned my response and asked - why? Why do you NEED a logo?
Upon deeper reflection, I don’t think you NEED a logo to have a successful business, but I do think people come to expect some sort of logo and people enjoy a well-crafted logo. Why? People are visual and seem to have shorter and shorter attention spans by the day; a logo is an easy visual cue that people can quickly spot and make a connection with.
A bit of a side note, when I interview lots of people face to face, I find it very beneficial when candidates put a photo on their resume. That visual cue instantly connects the person and interview rather quickly. Much like a logo does with a business.
I know lots of people make references to Nike, Apple, and the biggest and badest logos out there. Keep it all in perspective and understand your not spending tens of millions on branding year in and year out – forget those references. You simply want a visual cue that is in line with your service or products and connects with your customers.
May 28, 2018
The logo is an integral part of any company and it helps you to stand out from the others. It helps you define what your company stands for. A simple logo is all you need to make your company look authentic. A minimalistic logo is a very powerful tool to get your brand image across to the minds of the consumers. There are many designing firms offering logo designing services but I personally recommend PrintStop, as I have been associated with the brand for the past 2 years. You can visit them at https://www.printstop.co.in/logo-design/ and have a look at their logo designs.
Dec 24, 2015
Yes, every brand or business needs a logo to stand out from the crowd .A good logo is your business's public face which represent your business.A professionally designed logo attracts attention, and leaves an everlasting impression in customer's minds.
For example : Look at Nike, the famous shoe company, as an example. When you see that "swoosh" logo, you immediately know that is Nike.
By giving customers a visual they can associate with your brand.
Nov 24, 2015
Hi Hannah,
my answer is straightforward: you definitely need a logo.
That said it can also be your name...
Good Luck,
Emilio
Nov 11, 2015
Hi Hannah, there are definitely better and more subtle ways of saying you're a people focused company without having illustrations of your staff in your logo. Think of the logo as just part of your visual identity and don't feel like you have to cram every idea into it. Less complicated the better. You can get other messages across on your website and other branded materials. Good luck!
Oct 2, 2015
I think you would be well served and entertained by reading, "Does Your Logo Fumble or Win the Championship" by Rachel Begg the COO at Impulse Creative Inc. See: http://blog.chooseimpulse.com/logo-championship-game. And after you have your logo classified as a winner, or not, download the free Do-It-Yourself Brand Audit Guide for some tips and ideas to enhance your brand. - The Pragmatic Web Designer
Sep 29, 2015
Hannah,
If you are wanting the logo to represent the business, then yes - a nicely designed logo could make a difference. For you being a small business - people will recognize you with your logo since you are the one that will be networking for the business and speaking with the clients.
You may want to think about things such as how you want your business to be viewed, or what type of message you'd like to put off about your business if someone were to look at your site, business card, or logo with out even meeting or talking with you first and then have something created that represents that.
If you need any assistance feel free to message me directly.
Regards,
Rodkem
Sep 24, 2015
YES! Consistency in your branding helps people quickly identify you. Your logo, your colors, your tag line, your font should be consistent from your website, to your business card, social media, letterhead, etc. While as small business owners we may never be as identifiable as the Target bull's eye, throughout your local community and your networking groups you want to stand out against your competitors.
Sep 23, 2015
That logo is definitely needed in all levels of business, small or large. Particularly, your logo is the source of branding, it symbolizes everything about your company, even your personal work. As you continue to grow your business, you want customers to recognize your brand; then, as you gain more brand recognition, advertise it everywhere. After all, the key to organizational success depends on how well you market your company and consumers will remember you brand.
Sep 23, 2015
Hannah! There are a lot of good recommendations here for you that you can take to the bank but I just wanted to throw in some ideas that I hope will make that bag (the one that is full of goodies and that you are taking to the bank) heavier!
A logo will be the face, or image of your company to world (and the world wide web) and is one of the most critical aspects of your business' marketing campaign. Unfortunately, some businesses will rush into designing a logo and wonder why their logo is not anchoring their business' good image!
Your logo is a graphical display of your company's identity and no matter how small your business is, you need to make sure that you are using fonts, colors and pictures that will better identify your business brand!
So do you need a logo? Yes you do but not just any logo. If you cannot design it yourself, hire a good logo designer that has the skills and experience in the logo design field. Also, watch out for cheap logo design prices! If you spent $25, or $50 on your logo, it will give a cheap identity to your existing customers, or future prospects!
I don't believe you should be using a photo of you, or someone else in your logo because, like Marzena Kmiecik said, people change and you don't want to have to change the logo because the person in the logo is not longer with you. You can include your favorite animal but only if it fits your business (like an animal clinic or hospital) but not people (Sorry Jim - this is just my opinion, but I still respect yours).
When designing the logo for your business, one think I do recommend is to avoid recreating a different logo for your business card, your letterhead, your car/van, business sign, and so on! Your logo should be the same for all of the above listed purposes!
Once you have a logo, don't rush in and accept the design! Look at it (maybe for days) to make sure you like it, ask your friends and family members for their feedback! Unfortunately, choosing the right logo takes time, and maybe some sleepless nights - Just don't rush in!
Good luck with your logo design adventure and in choosing the right one!
Sep 23, 2015
Oh my God, yes! This is the great identifier of your product or service. You should spend time/more than likely money and a great deal of thought developing it. Be thinking "long term" here, and don't be short sighted. Often people starting a business have tunnel vision. You want a brand that will start building you equity from day one, if possible. So you need to think long and hard about future projections. I have often seen brands/logos that reference local, or very specific products or services. As they grow, and want to add new elements to their businesses, these companies often need to revisit their brand, thus loosing the recognition/equity that they have gained ( if the logo was good). That said, a bad logo can certainly hurt your business. It is the face that you are putting out there, and it should be a great tool to help you. Ideally, it should be a "broad" communicator, that helps "sell" your products or services A bad logo can actually hurt you, even though you may have a great product or service, you will leave a negative impression with your customers. A bad logo can make you look very small, and unprofessional, while a really strong logo can create the impression that you are larger and more established, than you actually are. Assuming you have a quality product/service, that is priced right, add a great name that is represented with a professional logo/brand, create a strong message...get it to your marketplace, in as many ways possible... that should be a home run!
Sep 23, 2015
You are the brand. What your business does is the brand. It's what you say (marketing), do (service offered) that matters most. Then comes the logo. It's the final flourish. It wont sell your offering, but it will can help make it memorable. So in summary: it's not the logo that makes or breaks the business, but it helps just that little extra.
Sounds like you have a nice idea going there with your team members. As the logo is an illustration, would anybody really notice that that person has left? Stick to your logo, for the time being anyway. You can always review where you are once a year, and then carry on or finally update it.
Hope that helps!
Sep 23, 2015
It depends a lot on the nature of the business.
For example, if you are a temp secretary working through a temp agency, you may not need a logo.
If you are an inventor selling a retain product, a logo is essential. Best if you file for a trademark. That way, even without a patent, you can get a recognized market share before the competition tries to enter the field.
Yes, I agree with you. Logos help to build associations. And your customer will connect with your brand by something that surrounds them.
And this service for logo making is great. If you need some examples of good logos of different business before starting to make yours, visit this link: https://weblium.com/blog/15-personal-logo-ideas-and-examples/