Starting a business may seem like a straightforward idea. You devise a plan, collect funding, and fill out the necessary legal documents. If you’re able, you can even contact a lawyer to do most of the leg work for you. If not, you’ll spend several hours and maybe even the greater portion of a couple days filling out and processing the proper paperwork. For all intents and purposes, it’s at that point that your business is formed, but there is more to it than that.
The next and very crucial step in the process is developing your brand identity. Your logo provides a concrete identity and will become the most distinguishable way for your clients to recognize you. For some small businesses, the logo is an afterthought when they start their company. On the contrary, it should be one of the first objectives established.
The most successful businesses have a clearly established identity. If pointed towards a Starbucks logo or UPS emblem, you’d be able to easily identify their brands. Their entire company is centered around this identity. It determines the color scheme you’ll use, will emblazon your uniforms if you chose to require them, and will be proudly displayed front and center on any commercial space you inhabit.
When you’re creating a logo, you’ll want to work with an experienced designer. Working within a marketing or design firm can be pricey but a freelance designer can create the same work without passing along overhead costs. View their portfolio and be sure you like their style before you proceed. A quality designer will typically have you fill out a short survey which will include some samples of designs you enjoy. This will give them perspective into your desired results and allow them to create a few options from which you can choose.
When you select your logo there are a number of factors to consider. Bold and simple design is the easiest to recognize and will stand out to your customer base. Timeless designs allow you to use the design for 20 or more years so stay away from current trends. A color scheme can increase business by 80 percent. Your color selection should be no more than four colors. Ideally, you should choose a logo that can be clearly displayed in a simple black or white representation. The amount of detail will determine the readability and ability to scale. You want your logo to scale so that it can be read on the side of a building or even on the barrel of an ink pen.
Once this logo is chosen, it will go on anything that represents your company and can draw attention to your business. This could be promotional marketing tools like keychains or business cards or even custom packaging boxes in which you distribute you product. Whether it is a simple marketing tool or a commonly used packaging container, you want the quality of your business to be reflected in the item. Often a higher quality item will provide a more favorable representation of your business.
In the end, you want your customers to remember you for your quality of service and products. Your logo is just the first step towards the long process of obtaining customers and maintaining their business. Owning a business can be an arduous task full of sacrifice and struggle but it can also be very fruitful and rewarding. Establish a quality brand and you will have a loyal customer base.
