RachelHow many companies do you recognize simply because of their logo? It’s probably a lot more than you realize. The logo, look, and branding of a website is one of the most important decisions you can make when starting your online business.
These are a couple of super recognizable logos…
If you are in the process of developing a logo for your business, think about how this design impacts how your company is perceived by potential customers.
Each of these marketing components can turn your online business into a highly recognizable household name. Whether it’s the golden arches of the McDonald’s “M,” or the iconic Nike swoosh, these logos prove just how important it is to brand your business.
Before Getting Started
Before you design the first thing that comes to mind, do a little brainstorming. Colors, fonts, symbols, and illustrations all need to be considered when deciding on the look of your website. Come up with a branding strategy before you come up with a logo design.
Think about those iconic logos (Target and McDonald’s, for example) and how odd it would look if those logos were confusingly colored. Those golden French-fry replicated arches wouldn’t have the same meaning if they were blue or green, and the red bulls-eye at Target has to be red. The color palette should reflect the brand and should appeal to your audience.
The other component of your logo is the symbol or illustration you choose to describe your business. This symbol or illustration will need to represent the feel of your website. It also needs to be unique, so do a quick search before you hire a designer.
Did you know the letter “L” in the Staples logo is actually a half-stapled staple? And the two T’s in “Tostitos” are actually representing two people sharing a chip over salsa? These images are hidden in plain sight in the middle of the name to perfectly illustrate what the company does.
So before you get started, brainstorm ideas about what colors, fonts, and visuals you want to use when designing the logo and look of your website.
How to Choose a Website Logo
Did you know that a logo belongs to a specific logo category? There are as many as nine different categories of logos, but we are most familiar with about five of them.
Pictorial Logos
You guessed it. These logos are based on pictures and need no words included. Some of the most famous pictorial logos are the Shell gas station, the Apple technology company, and the Dominoes Pizza domino. These pictorial logos include no words, yet users across the globe know exactly what these iconic images represent.
Abstract Logos
These are very similar to their pictorial cousin except the picture is more abstract than direct. Think of the Pepsi icon, Google Chrome icon, or the Nike Swoosh. While these logos are pictures, they are abstract pictures that do not completely illustrate the name of the brand or company; yet users can identify these abstract logos by how common they are.
Lettermarks and Wordmarks Logos
These are self-explanatory, but just for fun, let’s make sure we know what lettermarks and wordmarks are.
Lettermarks are logos that are made up of a single letter or acronym. Think of the McDonald’s “M” or the fluid “CNN”. These are both lettermarks.
Wordmarks are logos that encompass the entire brand or company’s name in the logo. Some examples of these types of logos would include Coca-Cola, Disney, and Google.
Mascot Logos
Mascot logos are logos that are represented by a picture of an animal or person to represent the brand. These logos typically represent a family-friendly brand, so the mascot is family-friendly as well. These logos are found in household items. Think of Tony the Tiger, Quaker Oatmeal, and Mr. Clean. Even the Geico Gecko has become a logo for Geico Insurance.
Emblem Logos
Emblem logos take a picture or abstract design and combine it with the name of their brand to create what is known as an emblem logo. These logos give brands the best of both worlds. The brand has their own designated image associated with their brand as well as their brand name imprinted directly onto the logo. Some of the most recognizable emblem logos are Starbucks Coffee, the BMW emblem, and the NBC peacock.
What about the Look?
You may have an idea of how you want your logo to look but not know how to execute it. This is where a professional designer may come in. They will work with you to help with graphic design and possibly include elements that you were unaware of.
Your logo design cost will depend on ‘if’ you hire someone, who you hire and what exactly you want. Prior to hiring a designer, ensure you do your research and that you have a idea of what you want your brand image to look like.
Deciding the type of logo you want to design is half the battle; now you have to choose the color, font and personality of your logo. As we mentioned above, you can create an applicable logo for your business, but if the color is off, it can ruin the whole ensemble.
Some color choices will be obvious to use. Let’s use the red bull’s-eye for Target as an example. It is pretty obvious that this logo should be red, but what about those logos that aren’t so obvious?
Color Psychology
Studies show that colors can be associated with moods, behaviors, and decisions. If you have created a logo for your website but need help knowing the best color combination to use, take a look at these helpful tips.
Red
- Used in relation to food as it increases appetite
- Draws people’s attention
- Creates excitement, urgency, and energy
- Stimulates the mind, body, and circulatory system
Red would be best used for a brand that is high energy, exciting, or related to food.
Famous red logos: Target, Coca-Cola, Budweiser
Blue
- Commonly used in professional logos
- Represents peace, trust, and harmony
- Associated with maturity and productivity
Blue would be best used for your logo if you are branding a reputable professional service.
Famous blue logos: IBM, PayPal, Samsung
Yellow/Orange
- Similar to red; used in food service and draws attention
- Creates enthusiasm and excitement
- Increases happiness when used appropriately – do not overuse
Famous yellow and/or orange logos: McDonald’s, Mastercard, Denny’s, Sonic
Green
- Associated with money, nature, and health
- Promotes relaxation, calmness, and harmony
- Used frequently to represent environmental companies or brands
Famous green logos: Animal Planet, Whole Foods, Land Rover, Tropicana
Purple
- Royalty, class, rank, and respect
- Commonly preferred among women and commonly found representing feminine products
- Associated with creativity, wisdom, and imagination
Famous purple logos: Hallmark, Aussie, Yahoo!
Be Original: Your Website Logo and Look Matter
A logo will begin to mean so much more then what it looks like, so spend time to create one that you love. Creating a logo, look, and brand for your website is the key to becoming a name found in households across the world.
Take some time to brainstorm the type of logo that will best fit your website. Don’t be afraid to take some time on this portion of your proprietorship. If you do it right, it can pay big dividends. Remember that this logo will need to fit on every piece of marketing you do, therefore it must represent your brand.