How to Refresh Your Brand and Logo
Posted on December 14, 2017 by Logo Design Tips and Tricks
Branding matters. If your company doesn’t have a smart or memorable brand, you can end up underperforming and even falling apart. But building that brand can be tougher than it seems.
Even if you’ve already established a brand, companies change over time. Your company’s image 40 or even 4 years ago is not the same as your company’s brand today. Being able to adapt and transform is vital to your survival.
Luckily, there are some easy ways to use visual techniques to refresh your brand. Whether you need a new logo or think your consistency is falling apart, these tips can be incredibly helpful for your growth.
Before You Refresh Your Brand, Listen To Your Customers
You need to be careful when you refresh your brand. By definition, refreshing doesn’t mean a complete overhaul. It means seeing what works and building consistency based around that.
Updating for the modern world is a good thing. But some companies throw the baby out with the bathwater to build a total overhaul.
It can be hard to tell whether or not this is what you’re doing. But you can check, and one of the most effective ways to pull that off is by asking around.
See what your customers like about your brand. And see what problems and challenges they find. Use this information to your advantage while refreshing.
Also look at who your customers are. If your brand attracts a large LGBT customer base, make sure that you work with them to create something totally unique.
Refresh, but do it cautiously and conservatively.
Look At Where Things Branch Off
Oftentimes, brands need to change because their message has grown inconsistent and muddled. If this problem is causing you to refresh your brand, there is hope.
You may find yourself with one aesthetic on a mobile app, and another on your website. And in your email marketing, you may find yourself face-to-face with a third image.
The best way to repair it is by taking account of these branching-off points. After examining them critically, you can work with them to build as much unity as you can.
If you find yourself with multiple points of departure, work from what they have in common. After this happens, you can make sure that each element of your company’s image has a unique value, but still maintains a connection to your original work.
This is good news because it means that you don’t need to rebuild your brand from scratch. Remember to emphasize simplicity during this undertaking.
Visually And In Terms Of Branding, What Works
When you’re designing a logo, it can be important to make sure that you stick with what works. This is true for both logo design and branding.
For basic logo design, one of the best thing that you can do is emphasize contrasting and effective colors. It can be easy to do this when you look at tools like the Sessions College color calculator.
You should also make sure that things stick your brand. Using bright orange in the branding for a funeral home probably would not be effective.
In terms of branding, this provides you with the perfect opportunity to connect your brand with your logo. This is particularly helpful if you have a visually inspiring name.
For instance, the financial services company Bonsai Finance is able to link a logo to both its name and purpose.
While they’ve managed to build a logo that resembles a tree, it also does this through an abstract and clean linear design. This trick tends to be more effective for financial companies.
If you have the opportunity to do something similar to your brand, it can be incredibly effective. But the most important thing is to look at how you can use what works to refresh your brand.
How Has Logo Design Changed?
One of the biggest reasons to refresh your brand logo is the fact that things have changed. A good logo today is not the same as a good logo twenty years ago, and that definitely isn’t the same as a good logo fifty years ago.
A good company can recognize these changes and make their own matching transformations. This doesn’t mean that you should completely throw out your current design.
But it does mean that you should look at the changes made to logo design in the past several years, and reform your logo to build a consistent yet evolving visual brand.
For a good example of this, look at the evolution of the Pepsi logo. Once you get to the 1970s, every version of it seems recognizable. Yet there have undoubtedly been some incredible changes made to preserve the brand.
Today’s logo fits post-recession minimalism. Comparatively, the 1990s and early 2000s embraced a more flashy form of branding.
Your logo can refresh your brand on a similar track. Because while it must remain consistent, it doesn’t have to be static.
Has Your Company’s Purpose Changed?
Finally, you should consider whether or not your company’s purpose or vision has changed. While this is unlikely, it is an important consideration.
For instance, if your client base has grown more affluent, you can refresh your brand to reflect that. If your company has grown more prestigious, you can communicate that through a logo.
Your brand can change entirely. If the purpose of your company has changed, you’ll probably need a more extreme brand overhaul to reflect who you are today.
Build A Logo Today
It’s a long process to refresh your brand. But the first step is making your new logo.
We offer a highly effective logo maker to help companies pull off a successful rebranding and refreshing. Don’t wait to take control, build your logo today.
Does Your Window Company Need a New Logo?
Posted on December 14, 2017 by Logo Design Tips and Tricks
Does your window company need a new logo? Maybe. But maybe not. This is a big and drastic undertaking and should never be taken lightly. You should never shake things up for the sake of shaking things up.
But a new logo and rebrand certainly does have its time and place. And a lot of companies have found new success after a new logo.
So is it right for you? Keep reading to find out.
We’re Not All Pepsi
Listen, we would all love to have Pepsi’s marketing dollars and fan base, so we could pull off a full rebrand every couple of years. Take a look at their many logos over the years.
But here’s the thing. Constant re-brands is a part of their brand. Some time ago, they decided to differentiate themselves from Coke by establishing Pepsi as the younger and edgier brand.
Coke was to be the American institution, and Pepsi wanted to be it’s younger and wilder sibling.
But Pepsi is Pepsi and has billions of marketing dollars at their disposal to spread the word of their rebrand, and change the logo on a billion cans. None of us are Pepsi.
As a window company, it’s highly unlikely your brand or position is young, hip, and edgy. So, a new logo every 5 years for you is only going to cause you to water down your branding.
When is it Not Time for a New Logo
There is always the, “if it ain’t broke don’t fix it mentality.” So should you stick with your original logo? Here are some situations where the answer is probably yes.
1. Your sales are stagnant:
It’s really easy to scapegoat your brand when your sales are underperforming. But it’s actually rarely to blame.
Your brand could be the problem, but it takes a lot of research to determine if your brand is failing, or your brand execution is failing. Too many people assume it’s the former.
This is particularly true of new brands. Some people will pull the plug on a new logo, and switch back to the old one after only about a year. Or even worse, they will pay money to have a new-new logo designed.
You need to give a new brand time to ripen and mature. And you need to give yourself enough time to promote it and incorporate it.
Marketwire is an example of this. As a global leader in press release distribution, they rebranded in 2012, to reflect a move to doing more than press releases and rolled out a new logo and a new tagline “Beyond Words.” It was well received.
But then, a year later, they rolled out another rebrand, another logo and inexplicably added a “D” to their name to become Marketwired. This was almost universally met with head-scratching and was seen as a big step back.
2. Your logo is already popular
Let’s not forget what happened to the Gap. In 2010, they decided to change up their already-iconic logo. The new logo was fine and actually looked good. But the existing logo was so beloved by customers there was an uproar.
In the end, The Gap had to go back to the “old” logo in a matter of days.
if your window company already has a logo that people like and recognize, there is probably no reason to change it up, unless, one of the situations in the next section apply to you.
When is a Good Time to Change Your Logo
Here are the situations when a new logo is appropriate and could really help your window company.
1. Your offering has changed
Maybe you’re a window company that is expanding into blinds and patio doors. If you feel your logo is a little to windows-only, you could rebrand and launch a new logo that doesn’t pigeonhole you as much to one offering.
2. You’re attacking a new market
Let’s say someone like Blinds and Design decided they were going to target just home builders and interior designers. That would be a serious shift from business-to-customer to business-to-business, so that could necessitate a new logo.
You will have a new target market, so you may need a new logo that will better resonate with your new audience.
That being said, you’re going to need more than a new logo. You’re going to need new messaging and a total re-brand as well. Too many people think a new logo is a rebrand. It’s actually far more complex than that.
3. A merger or new acquisition
This one is a no-brainer. If you acquire, get acquired by, or merge with another company, it’s time for a new logo.
You will need a new logo to combine the elements of multiple brands coming together as one. The mentality here is always “It’s a new day. It’s a new company. Stronger, yet still united.”
4. You didn’t put much thought into your logo the first time
You’re a startup who just feels the need to have “something” to stick on your website and letterhead.
But over time, your business grows and matures and your logo that never really meant anything is becoming more meaningless.
Now you have the time and resources to create a logo that actually means something to you and your target audience. So take advantage of your chance to do things right the second time.
Ready to Create a New Logo for Your Window Company?
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Top 5 Tips For Creating The Best Home Improvement Logo For Your Business
Posted on December 14, 2017 by Logo Design Tips and Tricks
You have a new home improvement business, which means that it’s time to design a home improvement logo.
A logo is more than images, text, and colors. It’s a visual representation of your brand. It creates an emotional connection to your company.
Coca-Cola’s red and white logo connects soda to happiness and good feelings.
You don’t need to have a logo as iconic as Coke’s, but you can create one that makes your company memorable and engages prospects.
Read on for five tips that will show you how:
The Process of Designing a Home Improvement Logo
Creating a logo is a process. To start, you’ll want to define what your company stands for. You will need to ask yourself what you want the logo to convey about your company. What do you want people to feel when they think about your products?
You should also know what your unique selling proposition is and who your ideal client is.
If your business offers the best concrete driveway sealer, your logo should reflect that.
Finally, look at logos that you like and don’t like. Take the time to examine them and explain what it is that you like and don’t like about them.
That will help you design a logo you and your clients love.
What’s Your Competition Doing?
You will need to know what your competition is doing. You certainly don’t want elements of your competitor’s logo in yours. That will only cause confusion in the marketplace.
This type of research will open up ideas as well. You can find creative ways to stand out in the marketplace, whether it’s by using a certain color or a font type.
Think about Where the Logo Will Be Used
How are you going to use the logo? Will you use it mostly on brochures, business cards, and your website? You might want to have your logo engraved on a trophy at some point, especially if you sponsor a golf tournament.
By thinking through how your logo will be used, you can see how your designs will look in certain applications.
For example, you can print out a design and see how it would look as letterhead or on a brochure.
Color Has a Big Impact
Our minds respond to certain colors in a certain way. Your logo’s colors should convey what you want people to feel about your company.
For example, blue typically indicates trust, while people relate to red as youthful and bold.
Try a Few Designs and Test Them Out
Before settling on a single design, it’s smart to test a few ideas. You can test your designs through social media, surveys, or by split testing on your website.
I wouldn’t test a logo just by showing to friends and family because they’re probably not your ideal clients. If you do, ask them to put themselves in your ideal clients’ shoes and decide which design they like.
Start Designing Your Logo
Designing your home improvement logo doesn’t have to be an overwhelming experience.
OnlineLogoMaker has helped over two million brands create their logos. You can make yours in about 10 minutes.
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5 Things To Consider When Designing A Financial Logo
Posted on December 14, 2017 by Logo Design Tips and Tricks
Financial companies rely on a reputation for trust and integrity. Everything from mission statement to the company logo needs to reflect this along with the company’s core values.
According to Edelman, trust is a foundation of banking. One small but powerful part of building a trustworthy image is the company logo.
A logo is a key component of company branding. Potential customers need an immediate, memorable, and positive view of the company.
Read on for five things to consider when designing a financial logo.
1. Identify Your Audience
Think about the demographics of your target audience. Age, lifestyle, and profession are some that pertain to financial companies. Also, focus on words or images that highlight those concepts that you want the logo to reflect about your company.
From there you can begin to formulate color schemes, fonts, images, and so on.
2. Find Your Inspiration
A financial logo should be unique. While you will study designs used by other financial companies, keep your mind and eyes open. Look into the company history or the biographies of the founder and CEO. Observe the architecture of the headquarters building.
Think of the company’s mission statement and image. What visual images does that inspire? There may be something in one of these places that inspire ideas.
3. Consider Your Color Palette
Colors impact the impression left by a financial logo. Bright colors tend to appeal to younger audiences. Then again, bold colors like red and orange are often associated with chance, which isn’t a desirable effect for a financial company.
The logo should have a no more than three prominent colors. You should be able to reproduce it in different formats for marketing purposes.
4. Design for Multiple Formats
Most of the time, people see the company’s logo online or in smaller formats like brochures and business cards. The logo design should still look good when minimized.
That said, the logo should also look striking at its largest scale, such as on the side of a building.
Finally, consider how the logo looks when reprinted in black and white. If grayscale obscures your logo, you may need something with better contrast.
5. Timeless Over Trendy
A successful financial institution becomes a mainstay. The financial logo should be one that will stand indefinitely. The logo should have a touch of class and avoid any trendy designs that may date it a dozen years from now.
Often the best logos are ones that feature a representative element of the company’s name. The industry will change over time, and the company will adapt. But its name and core mission will most likely stay the same.
While it’s not a financial institution, one logo everyone knows is the simple apple of Apple, Inc. And given the current rate of AAPL stock, this company certainly qualifies as a mainstay.
Another option is using an abstract design. Abstract images give off an air of elegance because they are visually like fine art. Since they do not depict actual objects or things, they do not become outdated.
Design Your Financial Logo
Most of the above tips have to do with planning and brainstorming a design. Complete that process, and you’re ready to create your logo. A quick and easy way is to use an online tool.
If you have any questions about using our logo design tool, please contact us.