There are a lot of places where you can put your company’s logo to promote awareness of your brand and gain visibility with your target audience. It can range from something as big and attention-catching as a billboard along the highway (if your budget allows for it), or something as small and personal as custom envelopes with logos printed on the face.
You can think of your company’s logo as the “face” of your business: the moment people see it, your business should immediately come to mind. Thus, you need to have a high-quality logo for your brand that is understandable, easily recognizable, and uniquely different.
Starting to Design a Logo
Whether you are designing your logo by yourself or you are getting external help, it is important that you invest in the creation process. It might not always be financial resources (there are free logo maker websites online), but even if you are not going to spend any money in getting your logo made, you still need to invest time, effort, and thought in order to get a good logo made.
A good logo – one with extensive thought and creative process behind it – is obvious even at a glance, especially when you compare it against a logo that you slapped together in 10 minutes with Photoshop.
Logo Designing Options
There are generally six ways that you can use to get a logo designed for your company:
1. The DIY Logo
If you’re just starting out, you might not have the resources set aside to get a logo professionally created. Thus, your best option might be to make a logo on your own. If you don’t have a lot of experience with design, it might be a bit of a challenge learning how to create a logo from scratch. Luckily, however, there are tons of graphics software available as well as tutorial videos to help you learn how to use them properly. If you are also a stickler for details, making your own logo means that you have complete control over the designing process.
2. Buy a template, get it customized
If you have a little cash set aside and you want to be able to have a logo that’s customized for your business, you can opt to buy a template logo and customize it according to your preferences. These template logos can vary in price, ranging from as little as $2 to $500. You can generally choose a logo based on the social media and branding package that they come with so that you can choose one that’s apt for your company. The files are generally compatible with popular graphics software, so it’s easy to customize the template once you have it.
However, the problem is that since it’s a base template, there is a chance that your competitors might be using the same template as well. Try to avoid logos that are on the cheaper end.
3. Use an online Logo Maker
If you don’t want to purchase your own software, you can opt to use an online logo maker. These websites are free to use, and you would only need to pay once you have a final logo design. These websites also offer several add-on packages that you can purchase to make your logo compatible with different printing methods, such as business card templates, box templates, or envelope templates.
4. Get the help of the Crowd
Crowdsourcing has become a popular way for companies to have their logo created, due to the fact that for a small fee, there is a possibility that multiple designers will submit a design. This allows these companies to have a wide choice of possible designs for a single fee!
This method is generally used by larger companies because their name and brand recognition encourage designers to submit designs for the possibility of being associated with a large, well-known company.
5. Hire a Freelance Graphic Artist Directly
You can choose to work with a freelance graphic artist to have your logo created. There are many platforms online where you can find graphic artists, allowing you to find one that fits your budget and needs. Of course, the more experienced and talented the graphic artist, the more expensive their fee. However, if you choose one that has extensive knowledge of your particular business industry, it will be helpful because that artist will have an idea of what kind of logo would work well in your niche.
6. Hire a Graphic Design Agency
If you have a significant amount set aside for logo creation services, why not go ahead and hire a graphic design agency? You will have the benefit of an established and experienced company working on your logo. However, most agencies will charge anywhere from $2500 to $5000, and this price tag can go all the way to $10000 or more if the logo is particularly complex to create.