Did you know that there are over 30 million small businesses listed on Facebook alone? That means, if you want to compete in this crowded market, it’s important to make your business stand out.

One important way to do this is with your branding. Have a clear, recognizable brand identity that follows specific logo guidelines will help customers remember your business.

Want to make your brand identity strong? Check out this tips to communicate your brand effectively.

Why Are Guidelines Important?

First, let’s take a moment to consider why it’s so important to have guidelines for your logos and brand identity.

The purpose of a logo is to create an icon that is immediately recognizable to folks in your target market. Whether you put your logo on social media, a billboard, a mug, or a set of pinback buttons, customers should be able to associate it with your company.

Simply put, it’s impossible to achieve this goal if you don’t have consistency. If your logo looks slightly different from one medium or publication to another, it will be harder for customers to make the association.

Determine Your Colors

One of the reasons that Coca Cola’s brand is so recognizable is the unmistakable red and white colors. And it’s not just the fact that Coke always uses red and white, but that Coke always uses the same shade of red in all of its branding.

When you choose your colors, it’s important to stick with them. Determine what the RGB and CMYK color codes are, and make sure to always use the exact hue.

Also, whatever colors you use in your logo, make sure to incorporate these across these brands. For instance, if you have a particular shade of green in your logo, you should use that green on your website, or on promotional items like pens.

Choose Your Typography

If you decide to use lettering in your logos, it’s important to choose your font carefully. Will you use a serif or sans-serif font? Will it be bold, thin, or italic?

Also, whatever font you choose for your logo, carry this font across other branded materials. The same or similar font should be used for advertisements, publications, etc.

Specify How to Use Variations

Sometimes, companies have multiple variations of a single logo. Maybe there is one version with the icon and the company name, and another version with just the icon. Or, maybe there is a version in one color, and another in a different color.

Having these variations is acceptable, provided that you are consistent with how you use them. For instance, you may indicate that the icon-only logo is okay for internal communications, but the full logo must be used for external ones.

Put Logo Guidelines to Work Today

With these factors in mind, you’ll be able to design a logo that you can use on multiple platforms to reinforce your brand.

Ready to get started putting these tips for logo guidelines to work for your own business? Use our free logo maker today to design the perfect logo for your family.