How to Choose a Logo for Your New Business

There are a number of factors involved in developing a memorable and powerful brand. You’ll need a memorable name, a great tone of voice for your marketing strategy, and even an eye-catching website. However, one of the most important assets of all will always be your logo. Capable of distilling the essence of your business into a simple image, a logo helps to differentiate you from the competition, and make your organization stand out. More importantly, it’s something you’ll include on everything your company creates, from your email marketing newsletters to your website and product packaging. But how do you choose a new logo for your company?

Create a Budget for Your Logo

The first step in designing an effective logo is knowing how much you can afford to spend. While there are various logo creation software options on the market today, most will struggle to give you a unique image. The same shapes and font styles are often used repeatedly by these tools, so you’re unlikely to end up with anything truly memorable. Unless you have a graphic artist in-house in your team, the best option will usually be to hire a professional to make your logo for you. This means finding some extra cash to work with an expert. A small business loan can be the ideal way to get the money you need to pay for a professional capable of capturing your brand identity.

Build a Logo Brief

Once you’ve decided how much you can afford to spend on your design, the next stage is determining what kind of image you want to create. There are many different styles of logo to choose from, including wordmarks, combination marks, and abstract images. Use your brief to outline the kind of message you want to send with your emblem, and the unique aspects of your brand identity. A good brief will also include examples of styles you like from other competing brands, so creators know where to get started. You may also want to include any guidelines you’ve already developed when it comes to using certain types of fonts, color, and shapes.

Choose the Right Professional

Finally, with your brief in hand and a good knowledge of how much you’re going to spend, you can begin to look for an expert to assist you with your design. Part of being a savvy owner of a company is working with the right people. You’ll need to make sure the professional you choose has experience in your industry, as well as a deep understanding of how to create the kind of assets you’re looking for. Depending on your budget and needs, you may choose to work with a freelance designer, an in-house professional, or a graphic design agency. An agency can offer you more expertise and skillsets, while a freelancer is usually the cheapest choice for companies with limited cash flow. Make sure you know exactly what you’re paying for, and how many revisions you can access before you sign a contract. With the three steps above, you’ll be on your way to an amazing logo in no time.