Posted by: monetizestudio on: November 4, 2008
All business owners know that the most vital part of a promotional material is the message that it communicates to the customers. That is why even the logo has to be carefully designed and created to make sure that it gives the right meaning.
In the past, there is actually no need to put logos in stores or in the products. This is because there is little competition and oftentimes, towns only have one clothing store, restaurant or general store. But today, things have changed. From everyday necessities such as toothpastes and soaps to expensive jewelries and clothes, there are literally hundreds of different suppliers and retailers. Competition is stiff, that is why most of these vendors are looking for the best way to make their products stand out among the rest.
Picture you are in a grocery store. You need some soaps and shampoos. So you went to the section where these products are displayed. You will be surprised to know that there are quite a number of brands to choose from. If you are the kind of customer who doesn?t stick to one brand you will have a hard time choosing which brand of soap or shampoo is best for you. But most customers today look for consistency and familiarity when it comes to products they need on a daily basis. Hence, a good logo will create a differentiating characteristic of a brand that will eventually become familiar to customers.
Simply put, business owners use logo because they are good stimulants that once a customer sees a particular logo they will immediately remember what brand it is. With the seemingly complex way of modern life today, people just don?t have a lot of time to research all the benefits and features of each brand. They simply take note of the logo and know immediately what these products are all about. In addition, with the advent of the Internet, shopping has never been easier. Just like when people shop in stores, they also look for familiar brands when browsing through the Internet. Hence, when you have a good logo people will not have a hard time recognizing your brand. Logos are in a way the simplest, most direct way of promoting your business. It is like an overall statement of what you are about, minus the lengthy statements. Since logos are distinct graphic images, they can easily create name recognition and easily entice your target customers.
About the Author:
Viojieley Gurrobat loves readings books in her spare time. She writes stories and poems about anything under the sun. For comments and suggestions kindly visit http://www.graphicdesignsunlimited.com.
Posted by: monetizestudio on: November 4, 2008
When deciding the logo that best describe your company and business, there are many choices to consider. Whether you choose to use text or symbols, or both, it’s how your audience react to your logo that is important.
Here are a few suggestions on how you could make your logo work for you:
? The logo should be compatible with your image. Your logo should be compatible to the image you want to project. If your business is in the financial or legal industry, you will probably want a logo that is conservative in design and color. Maroon, dark teal and navy blue are popular color selections for projecting a conservative image.
On the other hand, if you are an artist, or connected with a high-tech computer company, you may opt for a logo that speaks of a more abstract and contemporary element. Different shapes and symbols are good choices for an abstract look. Using black and white for colors also provide a contemporary look and feel to your design.
? The logo should be simple and straightforward. Your logo should be straightforward to avoid confusion in your message. It should be simple because people often process an image in their mind more readily than words alone.
Another reason for your logo to be simple is that you would have an easier time later to resize and recolor it for various design purposes. The simpler your logo, the easier it is for you to re-structure. Keep various sizes of your logo, a web version and a print version. Even a black-and-white version. Always plan ahead. You may never know when or where your business will expand in the future.
? The logo should be unique and easily recognized. Your company needs a unique logo because: (1) it is a visual representation of your company and business; and (2) to avoid violating any copyrights or trademarks.
Your logo is a visual representation of your company so whoever sees it will be able to associate its design with you and no one else. Hence, to avoid being confused with your competitor or being branded as unimaginative, use an image or typeface that is not too common. Avoid using a piece of clipart that you know can also be used by other people. Invent and innovate. That’s the only way for you to stand out.
You would also want to have a unique logo to avoid violating any copyrights or trademarks of other companies. If you happen to have an almost similar logo to another company, it is best to modify or redesign the whole logo. It goes without saying that a stitch in time saves nine. What it would cost you now would be very small compared to what you will be paying for damages and expenses when you wind up in court later for violating copyright laws.
It is also in your best interest to have a simple and unique logo so that visitors will easily remember your logo. If people will frequently visit your web site, chances are people will associate your logo with your company.
When done properly, a company’s logo will go a long way to make a brand name for you that stand out from the rest.
About the Author:
Granny’s Mettle is a 30-something, professional web content writer. She has created various web content on a diverse range of topics, which includes digital printing topics, medical news, as well as legal issues. Her articles are composed of reviews, suggestions, tips and more for the printing and designing industry.
Her thoughts on writing: “Writing gives me pleasure? pleasure and excitement that you have created something to share with others. And with the wide world of the Internet, it gives me great satisfaction that my articles reach more people in the quickest time you could imagine.”
On her spare time, she loves to stay at home, reading books on just about any topic she fancies, cooking a great meal, and taking care of her husband and kids.
For comments and inquiries about the article visit http://www.ucreative.com
articles[at]ucreative.com
Posted by: monetizestudio on: November 4, 2008
A logo is a name, symbol or trademark of a company or organization, made up of text or symbols arranged to convey a distinct and unique message. It leaves a greater and lengthier impact than words alone that’s why it is the simplest and most direct way of promoting one’s business. On the web, a well-defined and thought-of logo decides whether your site is worth browsing. It is literally the first piece of graphics that visitors see, that’s why it is important to make that moment count.
Text or Symbol Logos
There are two types of logos: the text logos and symbol logos.
A text logo is made up of words and type fonts. Type fonts usually come in all shapes and sizes. Different strokes make impressions to different folks. A thick font may convey strength and power; while a script font can say that you?re a person of elegance and austerity. On the other hand, a slanted typeface expresses movement and motion.
Hence, your very own company name may be created as a company logo. Provide a type font that displays your intended qualities and your all set.
A symbol logo uses an image or illustration to convey an actual or abstract representation of your business. It is less direct than text. However, because of its ambiguity, symbols often leave an open space for a wider and much different interpretation of what the business is about. Symbol logos may either take on a company name, or create an entirely new symbolic meaning.
A classic example is Nike’s “swoosh” logo. People did not originally associate it with the company. But because of its corporate rise and ubiquitous presence, people have grown to associate the “swoosh” to Nike. McDonald’s golden arches have also developed its own identity.
Another option is to combine text and symbols to create your company logo. It could be a brief amount of text, or sometimes an abbreviation. Just remember to make the two elements compliment each other and provide the extra clarity to what your company wants to get across its target audience.
The Color of Your Logo
Color also has a lot of impact to the overall appearance of your logo. Colors can help you make a positive image or convey a wrong perception. They do influence your audience, and before a visitor would ever read your content, color would be the primary element that would attract him/her to your logo.
There are many choices to consider when deciding on the corporate logo that best exemplifies your image. However, you should also bear in mind that your logo is not only for you but also for your target audience. How your audience will perceive your logo is more important.
About the Author:
Granny’s Mettle is a 30-something, professional web content writer. She has created various web content on a diverse range of topics, which includes digital printing topics, medical news, as well as legal issues. Her articles are composed of reviews, suggestions, tips and more for the printing and designing industry.
Her thoughts on writing: “Writing gives me pleasure? pleasure and excitement that you have created something to share with others. And with the wide world of the Internet, it gives me great satisfaction that my articles reach more people in the quickest time you could imagine.”
On her spare time, she loves to stay at home, reading books on just about any topic she fancies, cooking a great meal, and taking care of her husband and kids.
For comments and inquiries about the article visit http://www.ucreative.com
articles[at]ucreative.com
Posted by: monetizestudio on: November 4, 2008
Creating a well-designed logo is a must for all businesses who want to enhance its image. A good logo adds a professional look to letterhead, business cards and marketing materials. It’s important for your logo to be unique and appropriate to your business.
With this in mind, you can consider seeking the services of a graphic designer well-versed in designing logos. Making a good logo for your company is a task that you can opt to delegate to skilled experts.
Have a brainstorming with your designer to find the best design suited to you and your company. Choose a logo that you feel comfortable with and one that best meets your need. You should be comfortable with your chosen design as you?ll be spending a lot of time with it.
There are certain issues that will have to be answered when making a company logo. This will serve as a gauge to determine if the logo is doing what it was intended to do. First, it must be clear if the logo is accurately portraying the real essence of the company. The main purpose of your logo is to make your company look good. What you are trying to do here is to let your customers see the real you through your logo. Next, see to it that your logo will look well in different sizes. There will be instances when your logo will have to be reduced or enlarged according to certain situations and it is important that it still will look great with all the manipulations done with it.
In making your logo, a key factor that must be given attention is originality or uniqueness. You certainly would want people to recognize your logo and associate you with it. It should be eye-catching and interesting and have a pleasing quality.
An important note that should be kept in mind is that the making of your logo must not be hasty. A great deal of planning is required for you to have a satisfactory output. Many difficult times will surely arise but it will be easy to overcome them if you know what you want to do and you stay on focus.
About the Author:
Ariel Velasco goes by the author alias of Paul Hood. This author is into books and writing. Reading is an essential part of his life and this has lent a considerable influence in his writing. Well traveled and would always want to travel more. He loves learning more about people and their ways. Took up a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology to further this fascination and had a fulfilling educational experience having been exposed to a wide spectrum of people. Always ready for new opportunities to learn and have a great deal of interest in different fields of expertise.
For comments and questions about the article you may contact the Author through their website at http://www.brochuresprintingonline.com
Posted by: monetizestudio on: November 4, 2008
There are a lot of things that contribute towards the success of a business. Having a good quality product doesn’t necessarily assure the success of a business. To build a long term impression on your customers, it is vital that you have a proper marketing strategy and something unique about your company. Here comes in the importance for having a custom logo design.
I think it is absolutely important for all corporate bodies to realize the importance of having a custom designed logo. A professional logo design goes a long way to establish the identity and exude the attitude of the company. Now, when we say ‘professional logo design”, we must understand that it is not a child’s play, its a specialist job and better if it is assigned to a professional logo designer. The corporate bodies need to appoint the specialist in the field to get it done. I definitely do understand that its lot of fun to design your own logo; You play with colors, try out your drawing skills and spend some idle time to think what should be the design, at the end you land up with a very common concept of having the initials of your company in some twisted fashion or putting in a sleazy slogan to say your product is the best or some other things like that. However, that is not how your logo should be, it is not just a small graphics to appear in your business cards and letterheads. A logo, if done properly can leave a long and deep impression on your customers mind. They go a long way in depicting the image of your business. You can well understand, how powerful a logo can be if you think about the golden M of McDonalds?the moment you see that, you know its? them. Just think about the IBM logo or Swoosh of Nike, do you even take a moment to think, to whom does that logo belong? That shows how powerful impact a logo can create in the mind of your customers. Wouldn?t you like your company to have an equally powerful logo?
A professionally designed custom logo can be very powerful in representing the company profile, the nature of job they do and the attitude of the company. It helps to build the identity of the company and distinguishes your service from your competitors in the industry.
These days its really easy to find a professional logo designer and the best part is that they offer the service at real cheap rates which can be afforded by the smallest of business houses. There are so many logo design firm that offers excellent custom logo designs at unbelievable low rates. There are even companies that would happily do a quality logo for you for just $60-$80. Some companies would even allow you to quote “Your price” for Your Logo” 9check out, www.mycorporatelogo.com ) and they will do it at whatever price you quote. What can be more wonderful than this? Does it really make sense not to have a good logo even when you can have it so cheap?
The good news is, these days the corporate houses have started to realize the importance of establishing their brand and they are acknowledging the crucial role that a company logo plays in this process. The sooner the business houses realize the importance of professionally designed custom logo and stationery the better it will be for them and also for the graphic designing industry.
About the Author:
Ray Smith is a marketing Expert with years of experience in different industries and specialized knowledge on branding and internet marketing.
http://www.mycorporatelogo.com
webmaster[at]mycorporatelogo.com
Posted by: monetizestudio on: November 4, 2008
Now to define a good logo design we first need to understand the purpose of having a logo. A corporate logo is one of the most essential branding elements for your company. It should be instrumental in building your corporate identity and should successfully exude the company?s attitude. The viewers must have some idea about the disposition, character, or fundamental values of your company through your logo. The functionality of a logo does not end here, I have not yet mentioned the most important function of a corporate logo. Your logo should be able to build a positive, strong and long lasting impression on existing and prospective customers. The very moment a person views your logo, even a part of it, he should think of your company.
Just think of some of the all time great logos, McDonalds?, IBM, Nike? the moment you see their logos, even if you see a part of it or may be in Black and White (there comes another important aspect!) are you able to think of anything else than the respective company? The answer is definitely NO! The first thing that comes to your mind is the name of the company. This shows how strong an impression their logo leaves in our mind. Isn?t that, what all of us are looking for?
How do you get your logo to leave such a strong long lasting impression? The key to this question is to make it easy to remember. Companies often make the mistake of thinking that a complicated artistic design might work well for them, while the reverse is true, in most cases. The simpler your logo is, the easier it is to remember and so it leaves a stronger impression on the people.
You also need to think of all the possible mediums where you are going to use your logo. You are not going to use your logo in only one medium, you might use it on your business cards and stationery, you might use it in your website, you might also use it in the conventional media like newspaper classifieds and magazines. This is why it is most important to inform your logo designers about the possible mediums where you are going to use your logo. You should also check if your logo looks good in Black and White, because tomorrow if you need to get a document in black and white with your logo on it, it should be very easily compatible to that as well.
In the beginning of this article, I have mentioned, that your logo can successfully convey the character and nature of your business to its viewers. How do we do that? There are a host of factors that are considered before designing a logo. When you place an order for a logo design, as a client it is your responsibility to give a clear brief of your company profile, the industry you are in and the nature of logo that you are looking for, to the designers. If you are not sure about the nature of logo that suits your company, let the logo design firm decide on that. There are many logo design companies who are experienced and they will be much better equipped to suggest you the correct type of logos. Any good logo design firm would conduct a market research about the different types of logos used in your industry by your competitors and their impact on the people. Based on that they will deliver you a set of logos from which you can choose any one and then they will customize !
that to your perfection.
If you have any corporate colors, as we have red for McDonalds?, it will be wise to suggest the designers to use that color in your logo-any good designer would anyhow do that.
One last word, as with any other industry, it is definitely beneficial to buy professional service than to go for any amateur designs just to save a few dollars. You might be the best in your industry but they know their job better than you, so if you want to get a good result, try to depend on your logo design company. I do understand that there are certain logo design companies that charge exorbitant rate to create a logo design but the industry is changing. These days there are companies that offer excellent logos for nominal charges (check out http://www.mycorporatelogo.com ). So before you decide to place your order for your logo design, check the portfolio of the company and then check the price tag. You can definitely find some professional logo designs at affordable rates.
About the Author:
Ray Smith is a marketing Expert with years of experience in different industries and specialized knowledge on branding and internet marketing.
http://www.mycorporatelogo.com
webmaster[at]mycorporatelogo.com
Posted by: monetizestudio on: November 4, 2008
Every day, the average person is exposed to millions of visual stimuli including hundreds of company logos.
A logo is a unique visual image that represents a company or its products. It aims to create a positive and memorable impression in the minds of the people who see it. In addition, a good logo can make a sale by saying something about the company to customers when there is no sales person present.
Choosing a logo for your business requires much thought and it is essential that you work closely with your graphic designer. Logo design needs your input as well as the designer?s creativity.
You have to start with an idea of the image you want your logo to portray, i.e. what you want it to say about your company. Beware though of turning the logo into a metaphor for something. The most memorable ones are usually the simplest ? think of McDonald?s golden arches, the Apple Computer logo or Nike?s ?swoosh?. Less is often more as far as logos are concerned.
Secondly, you will have to decide whether your logo should be an illustrative representation or abstract graphic that represents what your company does, or whether it should be font-based. Alternatively, your logo could be a combination of these options.
Logo colour is very important. Bear in mind that the colours you choose will impact on all your corporate materials. Your logo should also look good in black and white for use in mono print applications or on faxes for example.
Size is also a consideration, as your logo needs to look equally good on a business card as it does on the side of a truck or building. Similarly, make sure your logo is designed for print first and the web second. Do it the other way round and you may find that a design that looks good on a web site appears mediocre when scaled up for use in print.
Choose your logo design carefully as it will have a powerful impact on your business. A great logo lasts and should look good years from now. It also stands out from its environment and from the competition.
As well as building brand-awareness and speaking for your company, a great logo helps you make great sales? provided of course that you have the product and service quality to back it up.
Copyright ? 2004, Christopher Smith, Mano Design
About the Author:
Chris Smith is a partner in Mano Design ( http://www.mano-design.com ) – a Vancouver Design and Marketing agency.
Posted by: monetizestudio on: November 4, 2008
When I began my career in the graphics industry, almost 17 years ago, I would approach the design of any new logo by first taking out a pad of paper and a pencil and sketching out basic ideas before diving into any real concept creation. As computers and design software became more and more a part of the design process I tended to find myself heading to the computer immediately to put together my ideas. This only tended to result in a lot of time spent staring at a blank computer screen. As my business expanded and time became a more precious commodity I began to head back to my early days and approached my designs again with a pencil and paper before sitting down at the computer. This not only gave me more free time but helped me to increase the profitability of my business. The following is an outline of the design process I now take whenever I am creating a logo for a client. I hope it will inspire some of you to take pencil in hand prior to sitting down in front of the computer.
Core Practice Partners is a leading international expert in Labor Management for companies that don’t work a traditional “9 to 5″ schedule. Their clients have included such industry leaders as Kraft, BMW, and General Electric. Their approach to creating solutions for their clients is unique and their desire was to have a logo that was both professional and creative.
They approached my company with a few ideas of their own, but were very uncertain whether the look they truly wanted could be achieved. I first set up a phone conference with their president, John Frehse, to discuss the goals he had for the logo and how he wanted to be perceived by the clients he serviced. After our initial discussion I sat down at the drawing board to rough out some ideas for the logo. This is the normal approach that I take in the designing of any logo. It allows for the creation of many concepts within a short period of time and dramatically decreases the amount of time spent producing the initial concepts to be presented to the client.
Once I had 6-8 rough ideas conceived I then scanned in the designs and used them as templates for the creation of computer generated concepts. I typically place them in the background and insert text and graphics over the top. Once the groundwork has been laid in I then remove the sketch from the background and add the finishing touches.
The initial presentation to the client contained anywhere 4 concepts that I felt worked best with the impression they were looking to achieve. These first ideas were presented in black.
About the Author:
Sitecritic.net Website Reviews, Design Ideas is formed by a group of web addicts, mainly volunteers from all over the world. Our goal is to create a community of web designers and developers who share the common interest in bringing out the best in creatiing effective web sites.
admin[at]sitecritic.net
Posted by: monetizestudio on: November 3, 2008
So what exactly is branding? In doing research for this article, I came to the conclusion that branding is very much like what has been said about pornography: ?I can?t define it, but I know it when I see it.?
I define a brand image as being the picture that appears in a member of your target market?s mind when they see, hear or think about you, your company and your service. In this sense, your logo and print materials become the symbols representing everything you and your service stand for, much like the letters of the alphabet are symbols that when combined form words and sentences with a common meaning to everyone who understands the language.
We often think of branding as being something that only big corporations must attend to. However, a strong branding program is as critical to smaller businesses as it is to Fortune 500 companies. And smaller businesses are challenged with building our brands without the mega resources of the huge corporations. So how can a business with limited resources, develop an effective brand image? Here is a step by step guide to steer you through the process.
Step 1: Define your desired brand image. What is the picture you want your target market to develop in their minds when they see, hear or think about you, your company and your service? The more clearly you can see the image the better able you are to communicate it to your prospective clients. Start to define your brand by answering these questions in writing:
Step 2: Develop your logo. Only when you have the picture clearly in your own mind that you want your target market to have of you is it time to begin the process of logo development. And this is an area to invest in some professional help. Don?t use a clip art logo or down-load a free logo from the web. Answering the questions above in detail will make the logo development process not only more effective, but also more efficient from a cost perspective.
In developing your logo and designing your print materials, think about what lines, shapes, typestyles and colors represent the image you want your target market to develop. If you coach people in developing the leadership skills necessary to reach the executive suite, you probably don?t want to use primary colors in your logo. On the other hand, if you help people bring more joy into their lives by discovering their inner child, primary colors may be perfect. If you assist people to organize their lives, you would not want a cluttered business card. You would want a very clean and understated look. If you help people bring out their hidden creativity you could use a fancier, more elaborate typestyle and incorporate flowing lines or curly queues into the design.
Step 3: Begin communicating your brand identity to your target market. Everything you say and do — from the way you answer your telephones to the specialty advertising or promotional items you give your prospective clients ? should reinforce the brand image you want to develop. Use your logo and colors on everything. Develop a tag line that conveys your message and use it on all your printed materials from your letterhead to your invoices. Your website should have the same general look as your letterhead, business cards, e-mail newsletter, brochure, and direct mail pieces. Continuously look for ways to incorporate your logo, colors and tag line into everything. Be creative. I know business partners who drive bright yellow Volkswagen Beatles to match their corporate colors. Almost daily I find an opportunity I?ve been missing to incorporate my brand image into my materials ? and I do this for a living!
Step 4: Maintain your brand identity. Once you have begun to develop your brand identity, resist the temptation to make major changes or to even do too much tinkering. About the time you start to become bored with your look, your target market is just beginning to recognize and identify with it. Consistency over time is critical. Not only does it build awareness, it also develops credibility. In this respect we need to learn from the masters. While Coca Cola? and Betty Crocker? have updated their looks many times over the past 100+ years the basic elements have remained consistent.
What picture develops in the mind of your target market when they see, hear or think about you and your service? Is it fuzzy and out of focus with pieces of the puzzle missing? Is it inconsistent and ever changing? Or is it crisp, clear and in living color?
? 2004 STRATEGIES-BY-DESIGN. May be reprinted with credits and contact information.
Posted by: monetizestudio on: November 3, 2008
The right logo, with the right characteristics, will boost your visibility, credibility and memorablity ? which means more business for you!
These characteristics include:
Consistency in use of your logo, tagline, materials. Repetition of similar elements, used in the same or similar ways, helps people to remember who you are and what you do.
Memorability, so that your logo stays at the forefront of your potential clients’ minds. That way, they’ll think of you next time they have a need.
Meaningfulness, so that your logo can spread the message about the distinguishing characteristics of your business.
Uniqueness, which helps you stand out from the crowd. For example, if everyone in your industry uses a particular symbol (i.e., travel agencies often use globes in their logos), try to use something else ? that way, your logo doesn’t just look like everyone else’s.
Professionalism, in the quality of the graphics, the printing and the paper on which your materials are printed.
Timelessness in your logo will ensure that you don’t have to redesign your logo in just a few years and that your investment and equity in your design will be lasting.
Differentiation between the colors in your logo ? and not just in terms of hue, but in terms of value as well, so that it translates well either to black and white or greyscale and colorblind people are able to see it.
Unity among the different elements in the logo. The logo must fit together as a single unit, and not just appear as a jumble of elements pasted together.
Scalability, so that your logo looks equally good on both a business card and on a sign for your business (or a billboard!), and at every size in between. Your business’s name should be legible at different logo sizes ? be sure that your designer chooses a font that is easily readable.
Having a professionally designed logo can really give your business a jumpstart and helps your business get the attention ? and clients ? you need to succeed.
Copyright 2005, elf design. All Rights Reserved
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