The logo is the most identifiable part of your brand or business. It goes on your website, your social media, your products, your letterheads, your signatures, and more. It functions as a visible reminder of your company, and it is meant to make customers immediately think of you when they see it. For this reason, your logo should be recognizable, clean, and effective. Some companies try to go over the top with intricate logos and designs, but ultimately, they lack the simplicity that seems to resonant with the most well-known brands. In fact, when a logo no longer has words or a slogan with it, you know it’s transcended – think about how Nike’s “swoosh” logo eventually removed the “Just Do It” slogan and was still recognizable for the image alone. Every fast food company has a logo that most of us can easily identify; we know the “Golden Arches” all too well and we always recognize “The Colonel.”

This is the spirit you should aim for with your logo: to leave no doubt that it’s your company and to install instant recognition in existing and potential customers alike.

Below, we talk about why a logo is important for your business. If you haven’t gotten a logo yet, it might be the right time to look into a design!

Logos are Visual Hooks

We are a visual people. The eye is attracted to something out of the ordinary, to sensible color patterns, to a design that isn’t run-of-the-mill.  When something stands out, it has a lot of contrast to the world around it. It may be the only brightly colored logo in a storefront where the other businesses consist of drab grays, or it may be the only professional and bold design in a sea of loopy, bubbly logos. Your logo need to catch attention with visual appeal to make sure people remember it. Once it becomes burned in their memory, they’ll be more likely to return to your store.

Designing a good logo involves the proper color palette, an attractive font, and an appropriate theme. You should focus on what kind of services you offer or what kind of atmosphere you cultivate at your business; your logo will be an extension and representation of that. For example, it’s wise to maintain a professional and clean-cut logo if you work in real estate, but if you head an event company specializing in children’s birthdays and other occasions, your logo can be silly and colorful.

Logos Separate You from Competitors

The majority of businesses fit into a specific category or niche that is populated by many others. Restaurants, for example, tend to have similar designs. Businesses that sell noodle dishes (ramen restaurants, Thai restaurants, etc.) may have cups of noodles with chopsticks; ethnic cuisine restaurants may have the flag or shape of the country in their logo.

On the one hand, customers associate the logos with specific types of restaurants. On the other, you need to be able to stand out to generate more business. So how do you find the right logo to separate you from competitors?

It isn’t about reinventing the wheel, but improving it. You don’t need to create an entirely new concept for a logo, but you can blend some ideas together to create a unique image. A perfect example of this is the logo for the NHL team the New Jersey Devils. Their logo mixes all the integral parts about each component: the N and J are conjoined; the J has the horns and pointed tail indicative of a devil; the color is devil-red; and the entire image is close to the shape of the state of New Jersey.

Can you incorporate your services or most famous item into your logo to make yourself known as an authority, or as the best supplier? You may have similar products to other businesses, but your logo can easily put you on a more recognizable field than your competitors.

Your Logo Can Populate the World

Your physical store is in one location. Your website is its own entity. Your logo, on the other hand, can go out into the world and be present everywhere. You can have flyers and brochures, you can share posts and be featured in online journals and blogs, you can create tablecloths and stands with it if you’re sponsoring an event. The possibilities are endless, and the fact that your logo can go places where you physically aren’t is a huge marketing opportunity.

Of course, that means that your logo can’t only be visually appealing – it has to be versatile, too. You might need a simple logo that can be attached to other phrases or tag lines, or of such a quality that will still look attractive when it’s placed on different kinds of products.

Building a Logo

Creating a logo isn’t easy, though. A custom logo will take time, thought, and dedication. You’ll need to revise it a number of times before you get the desired effect. It’s hard if you don’t know how to create a logo, and unfortunately, many people will simply throw something together and hope for the best. You’re better off hiring a designer who knows how to build a logo and will help you bring your vision to life.

A graphic designer, though, will not be cheap (or, more accurately, you’ll get what you pay for!). You can expect to pay more money for revisions or recreations, and if you need the logo quickly, you’ll pay more for a rush job.

The alternative to this is to use a logo creator. There are many types of free software available and many websites that will provide you with art to mix and match so you can create a logo. The issue is with the originality, not the price, though. Still, with proper marketing and branding, you can make even a simple logo stand out.

Logo Design Services at Promotion LA

If your business needs a logo, Promotion LA has you covered. Logo design and creation is one of our many services, and we’ve helped many companies with their trademark images. We believe that every company should have a memorable, recognizable logo that will draw clients in, and we do everything we can to bring your idea of a creative logo to life.

For help with designing a logo, contact Promotion LA today.