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One of the most important ways to build your business is to develop a great branding campaign. An effective campaign will help potential customers recognize your name and understand what you do. At the heart of any good brand is a great logo, and here are seven ideas for how to make a logo.
Sketch It Out!
Almost every design of any kind starts with a hand-drawn sketch, whether it’s created by a graphic designer at a drafting table or an entrepreneur with a cocktail napkin. Many of the most recognizable logos in business today are incredibly simple. That’s because simple logos are easier to remember and easier to recognize at a distance. Start with a pencil and paper, then embellish it yourself or pass it on to a professional.
Design It Online
With today’s fast internet speeds and user-friendly websites, you can easily figure out how to make a logo by going online. These tools will allow you to draw straight lines and perfect circles–the kind of thing that most do-it-yourself logo designers struggle to do. Best of all, your completed professional business logo is ready to save for all kinds of digital applications, from letterhead design to shirt embroidery.
No Need to Start from Scratch
Nothing is as intimidating to an amateur artist as a piece of paper or a computer screen with nothing on it. There are ways to overcome this frozen creativity. One good technique is to purchase design elements bundles online. Many of them come with fonts, graphics and other elements that you can incorporate into your logo. Choose something that reflects the work you do, then elaborate on it. You can even start with someone else’s logo or a photograph, then remove it from the design as your idea gets its own feet. Give yourself a boost and see where it takes you.
Never Overlook the Obvious
While you’re seeking inspiration, use what makes sense. McDonald’s kept it about as basic as it gets–a simple golden “M” to represent the founder’s name. Today that logo, as straightforward as they come, is probably the most recognizable logo on the planet. Use a letter, or a sketch of something that pertains to your business. The secret of how to make a logo is in not making it harder than it has to be!
Enlist Creative Friends
When your business starts out, you won’t have a marketing department to get things going. However, almost everybody has a creative or artistic friend, and people like that can provide exactly the help you need to get your graphic put together. Even if you don’t have a true artist to recruit, a fresh set of eyes can go a long way toward getting your graphic tidy, memorable, and unique.
Make It Three-Dimensional
If you don’t think you can draw, why not cut? Using felt, construction paper, wood, metal, fabric, or other materials is a great alternative for how to make a logo. Think distressed wood, rusted metal, or faded denim. You’ll be able to show the colors, patterns, textures, and shapes you want without the constant scribbling and erasing of trying to draw it out. You can even disassemble it and re-order or reposition elements. Your design can then be scanned or computer-drafted to put it into a usable format that can go to work for you as part of your developing brand campaign.
Explore Fonts & Colors
Many businesses don’t want a complex logo, just something distinctive and classy. A very easy way to come up with a logo through this process is simply to start with a letter or two, or a word that represents your name, the company’s name, or your products. From there, you simply try different designs. Computers offer dozens of fonts, hundreds of colors, and many effects that can quickly turn a simple bit of text into something distinctive and memorable. Brainstorm a dozen or so designs printed on separate pages, leave them overnight, and flip through them the next day to see if one really stands out. Your company’s logo is the first thing people see about you, and it’s often the only way they remember you. Design your company’s logo in a way that represents who you are and provides that memorable image of what you do.
Consumers often associate the quality of a logo with the quality of a company’s offerings. A messy, poorly thought out logo gives the impression you may not care as much.