This Is How to Start Your Own Subscription Business
Posted on September 29, 2020 by Logo Design Tips and Tricks
In the subscription box business, there are about 7,000 different companies all around the world.
Whether you’re offering a box business or a different type of subscription business, you’ll have a lot of competition to go up against.
In order to have a successful subscription business, you’ll have to follow these steps!
Come Up With a Great Idea
First, you need to have a great idea. You might have a lot of ideas that you brainstormed in the shower, but you also need to do a little bit of research.
It might seem like every business out there fills every need, but there are still plenty of gaps that are waiting to be filled. There are all kinds of good ideas, so try and make sure that you don’t get stuck on just one idea.
Keep in mind when doing your research – try to find a niche that isn’t overcrowded. If you can do that, you won’t have as much competition to battle against.
However, while you should find a specific niche, you should also make sure that there are plenty of people who will still need your service or product.
You’ll also have to come up with something that you can actually afford and bring to life. While it’s important to chase your dreams, you’ll need to be realistic as well.
Figure Out What Kind of Subscription to Offer
Once you’ve figured out what your product or service will be, you should figure out what kind of subscription you’re going to offer.
There are two main different types of subscriptions that you can offer for your customers: pay-as-you-go and subscribe-and-save.
If you go with the pay-as-you-go option, you’ll offer a monthly or weekly mix of products or services. The customers can either select these products themselves, they could have you choose based on their preferences, or you could send them a mystery option.
With pay as you go, they’ll have to subscribe to a fee for a little bit and then pay for some of the options they want. They’ll have to remember to renew their subscription, and you won’t automatically do it for them.
However, if you have a subscribe-and-save model, you will automatically unsubscribe them.
This is great for people who need your product on a consistent basis and are too busy to remember to do it themselves. If you do decide to use this option, you should check out this recurring billing software.
Do Research on Your Competitors
Once you’ve figured out what type of model you’ll offer, you need to start doing research on your competitors.
Regardless of what niche you choose, you’ll probably have a few competitors. The chances are small that you’ll have a brand new product, so you need to look around and see what your competitors are offering.
What prices are they charging? How good is the quality of their product or service? What are they doing right, and what are they doing wrong?
One of the best ways for your brand to succeed is to find out what your competitors are doing and try to find a way to do it better.
Create Your Brand
You want people to recognize you based on your brand name, identity, and logo. As a new company, you’ll have to do a little bit of foundational work since you probably can’t start launching your products yet.
However, you can start doing this by finding someone to create a logo or do it yourself. Find something that you feel really represents your brand and then make sure it’s consistent.
It needs to be on all your marketing things, any websites, social media, packaging, or emails. Over time, your customers will come to equate your logo with a great brand that they love.
Create a Budget
In order to run your business well, you need to have a master budget so that you don’t end up losing more money than you’re making.
You’ll have to figure out how much you want your customers to pay in order to make a profit. This means that you’ll have to figure out how much it costs to sell them that product or service. If you need packaging, you’ll also have to take into account that cost.
Other things to consider include marketing, SEO, making a website, paying employees, and anything else. Once you’ve figured out some of those factors, you’ll have a good starting point to get your business off the ground.
Start Taking Orders and Launch Your Business
Once you’ve done all of those, now you’re ready to actually start selling your product!
You should create some type of launch event (whether it’s online or in-person) to get people excited and to attract a bunch of interested customers.
On your website, you can have them sign up for exclusive information and deals on your launch.
Once you have several people interested, you’ll have to make sure that you have all your suppliers and employees lined up and ready to handle the launch of your business.
Learn More About How to Start Your Subscription Business
These are only a few things to learn about starting a subscription business, but there are many more tips out there!
We know that starting any type of business can be stressful and overwhelming, but we’re here to help you!
If you enjoyed this article, make sure that you explore our website to find more articles just like this one!
How Brands Make Memorable Logos
Posted on September 22, 2020 by Logo Design Tips and Tricks
Logos are, hands down, the most powerful symbols of what brands stand for. They penetrate through cultural and language barriers, and you’d be surprised at how much money companies are willing to cough up to have the most memorable one. Would you believe that the BBC paid a monumental $1.8 billion for its logo?
It’s among the most memorable logos, along with Apple, Coca Cola, Nike, and McDonald’s. These logos are the face of their companies, as it should be. A logo should be part of a business that grabs attention and makes a great first impression.
It should separate your brand from the competition, foster brand loyalty, and serve as the foundation of your brand. The question is, how do you create a recognizable logo in such a competitive world? This is exactly what we’ll discuss in this post, and guide you on how to make a successful logo for your brand.
Understand the Brand
Before you go to the drawing board to brainstorm with your team, it’s imperative for you to understand your brand. The logo essentially represents the brand and creating one without knowing the brand can be a massive logo branding mistake. It would be like creating an image with no purpose.
Most of the memorable logos you have come across happen to have hidden meanings behind them or hidden right in the logo. FexEx, for instance, has an arrow between the letters E and X at the end, which signified speed and precision. The Amazon logo has a smile in between the A and Z, which is not just a smile, but an arrow indicating that the shopping giant sells everything from A to Z.
It’s vital that you consider the attributes of the brand because it’s an introduction of your brand to customers. Consider your target market, your brand’s history, your competitors, and intended visual identity. It’s important that you take time and note down what emotions your brand evokes in people, your plans and aspirations, your company goals, and your brand ideology.
Create a Logo That Stands Out
A successful logo is simply one that stands out enough to be memorable. Apple, for instance, has a logo that really stands out. The bite in the apple relates to the byte of the digital information the company deals with. Consumers like it even more for the double entendre and dual suggestion, making it one of the most memorable logos in the world.
This means that to create a successful logo, you need to think of a unique symbol and be creative with the fonts, colors, and images you use with it. Do something quirky and break the conventional rules if you have to, but make sure you design something interesting enough to be captivating and memorable. Your logo should be recognizable in a pile of hundreds of other logos, so don’t be afraid to go all-in here with ideas.
Use the Right Colors
Talking about colors, did you know that different colors have different psychological relations? The right colors will make your brand beautiful, intriguing, and bright. Bright and bold colors grab attention much faster, while muted colors ooze sophistication.
You also need to consider the brand colors and company representations while considering colors because consumers have to associate the logo with the brand. Different colors have a different impact on human emotions, so you need to choose colors that evoke the emotions you want. Red, for instance, evokes the feelings of love, affection, and passion, while green evokes those of nature and growth.
Blue, which is the most widely used logo color, represents professionalism and trustworthiness, while purple is associated with royalty. Pink represents femininity, and the ever-powerful black represents power, authority, and credibility.
Choose the Right Kind of Logo
What kind of logo will be most suitable for your brand? There are many different types of logos, and this is a question you should ponder before settling on the right one. Essentially, you can use lettermarks, pictorial marks, abstract marks, an emblem, a mascot, or a combination logo. Some great examples of lettermark logos include IBM and NASA, and wordmark logos include Visa and Google.
Graphic logos, on the other hand, are like the Apple logo, mascot logos have some mascot like KFC, emblem logos have a flag in them, combination logos have two different types, and abstract logos can be defined in more ways than one, such as Pepsi. Choose the right one, depending on the personality of your brand and the message you want to convey. Beyond that, you have to consider what typeface and font will go well with your type of logo.
Go for a Simple Design
When it comes to logos, the simple ones are the most memorable logos, and for obvious reasons. Most people only take a glance at most graphics, and you need to ensure that what they see within that glance is memorable and will be recognizable the next time they see it. A simple design is one that consumers find appealing without having to define or figure out the hidden meaning.
Don’t get this wrong, though, because simplicity and ordinary are two different things. Make your logo design simple, but quirky to the extent that makes it one of the most recognizable logos your target audience comes across. Come up with something eye-catching, and you can use it on your brand for years to come.
Create Something Long-Lasting
Talking about years to come, you need to create a logo that will scale with you over the years, regardless of how much your business grows. Your audience may not like it if you change your logo years from now. Take GAP, for instance, that chose to change its logo a few years back, which really backfired after their audience complained too much about it.
Once your business grows, your audience will grow emotionally attached to your brand, and they will always want the logo they relate to. This is why most global brands have had their logos for decades, some only tweaking them a little when they rebuild their brands.
Ensure You Test It in Black and While and for Scalability
Logos usually remain in back and white in newspapers, documents, stationery, and other promotional products. The logo you design may look exceptional with the right colors, but not so memorable or recognizable in black and white. This means that your logo needs to leave as much impact in black and white as it does in colors.
Try designing your logo in pencil sketches first, after which you can add the colors of your choice, to meet both goals. Beyond that, it’s also vital that you test it for scalability and ensure it would fit well in a small stamp or a humongous billboard, and still retain its beauty and message. Use a secure online fax and send your final designs to experts for an honest review before you make it official.
Creating Memorable Logos: This Is How You Do It
With these tips, creating memorable logos becomes much easier. There are so many businesses around, each one with its own logo, so you need to ensure that you create something unique that works well with your brand.
For more incredible and informative content, please check out our blog section, where we have so much more.
Logo Design Process: Effective Ways to Brand Your Clients
Posted on April 20, 2020 by Logo Design Tips and Tricks
“Can you design a logo for us?”
These 7 little words can be awfully intimidating if you’re new to logo design. Where do you start? What if they don’t like it?
Professionals have a process that they follow, so they’re never left asking these questions.
Keep reading to learn all about the logo design process.
Brief the Client
The first and most important step of this entire process is to talk to the client! Clients want to be part of the process and to feel like they have a say, so sitting down and talking about their ideas is vital.
Ask your client questions:
- What does your brand represent?
- Who is your brand’s audience or clients?
- What are the goals of your business?
- What makes you different from other businesses?
The answers to these questions will help you know what your clients want to say with the logo.
Additionally, you should verify with the client what type of logo they are looking for.
- Abstract
- Pictorial
- Wordmark
- Combination Mark
Be sure to get an idea of which ones they would like. Logos will serve different purposes. So if they’re looking for a website header logo, that will be very different than a storefront logo.
Research
The next step is to research. What are competitors in the same field doing? How can you design something unique and better than what the competitors have?
This is a critical step! The last thing you want to do is preset a client with a logo that’s similar or not as nice as a competitor’s.
Brainstorming and Sketching
It’s time to start designing! You’ll want to start by brainstorming through your favorite method. Maybe this is a lot of post-it notes on your wall or a mind map.
It can help to visualize words that are associated with your client’s brand. Brainstorming and sketching will be a very intuitive process that comes with experience, but if you need some inspiration, head to Pinterest.
Another great way to brainstorm is to create a mood board that represents the brand.
Digitalize the Design
Once you have a rough sketch, you’ll want to take to an online program to start digitizing the design. Programs like Adobe Illustrator are the industry standard, but if you work in an HTML program and need to move from html to pdf converter c# to send materials to your client, that is always an option.
Presentation
The final step (unless edits need to be made) is to present the logo!
Along with the logo, many designers will also send a color palette and other types of logos, depending on what the client paid for.
Create Your Logo Design Process Today
Now that you know how to create a logo design process, start making it your own today. Each designer’s process will be different and will vary by client and experience.
If you’re still not sure about the process, keep reading to learn more on our blog!
7 Tips for Unique Logo Design for Your Creative Business
Posted on March 13, 2020 by Logo Design Tips and Tricks
Any type of creative business needs to have cutting edge branding material. Even if they provide non-graphic services, such as content, the way they look online has a huge impact on their reputation.
All brand personas start with a logo. This symbol is a unique identifier that forms a mental connection between a business and consumers.
If you own a creative organization, it’s critical to design an ideal logo before you fully brand yourself. Your logo will be a constant on all your marketing materials.
Keep reading to learn seven tips for creating a logo that sets you apart.
1. Understand Your Brand
It’s easy to jump the gun on your logo design because you want to get the process over with. However, it’s important you first understand your brand. This means pinpointing your target audience.
Think about what type of people require your service. If it helps, make a list of reasons why a person would hire you. Doing so will help expose your target client.
Then, think about your industry. Does your product create an emotional response or is it strictly technical? This factor has a huge impact on the vibe your logo should convey.
Finally, consider what your business is all about. If you’re forward-thinking, your logo should be ultra-modern. If you’re traditional, you may be able to get away with a classic approach to branding.
2. It’s All About Style
Once you’ve nailed down what kind of branding approach you’re going to take, you can start thinking about logo style. This refers to the aesthetic your logo design will have.
If you’re not in the graphic design industry, it’ll surprise you how many logo styles are out there. Professional designers can take things in any direction.
You may opt for a pictorial mark, which is a symbol used to represent your business. On the other side of the spectrum, a wood mark incorporates the name of your business.
If you want to convey a fun, playful tone, consider using a mascot as your logo. You could also go abstract and use geometric shapes that send an effective message.
This can be a tough decision, so don’t hesitate to hire a creative agency to help you out.
3. Embrace Simplicity
Many businesses make the mistake of trying to “wow” their audience with a logo. The result is often overwhelming to the eye, which is a no-no when it comes to logo design.
The opposite approach (simplicity) is better. A clean, subtle logo can be much more effective than a bunch of bells and whistles.
Don’t be afraid to use white space when coming up with logo prototypes. A well-positioned symbol with a sharp design can be very attractive.
The primary thing to keep in mind is that your logo should be straightforward. All it needs to do is get the message across and stick in people’s minds.
Consider the logos for companies like Apple, Target, and Twitter. They use one or two colors and a lot of white space. It’s all about the execution.
4. The Science of Color
Even if you’re going for the most minimal logo possible, the colors you use are critical. Colors can evoke emotional responses, which means you need to spend a lot of time thinking about which ones to use.
You’ll need to consider what kind of business you are when deciding on a color. This is your chance to convey compassion, creativity, assertiveness, empathy, or any other feeling.
Blue is always good for creative businesses. It evokes collaboration, innovation, and intelligence.
Red is a strong, energetic color. However, it’s loud and can evoke aggression, so be careful with how you use it.
Muted or earthy tones evoke classiness and trustworthiness. Black is always good for conveying power and credibility.
5. Fun With Fonts
This is another element that’s easy to gloss over. However, the typography of your logo speaks volumes.
Fonts have the power to exude personality. This is your chance to get creative and set yourself apart from the competition.
The great thing is, there are thousands of fonts to choose from. Look for a program that provides you with a good selection.
Like the other elements of a logo we’ve discussed, you’ll need to think about your business persona when choosing a font. You’ll also need to make sure there’s no mistaking what your font says. Remember, your business name is foreign to many people.
6. Make a Lasting Impression
Your ultimate goal is to create a logo that’s unique and eye-catching. Unfortunately, this is hard to do in today’s competitive marketplace where seemingly countless businesses are vying for attention.
Take a look at the logos of your closest competitors. Write down what stands out about them and what you feel they lack.
Then, brainstorm a logo concept using your business principles and with your target audience in mind. You’ll need to come up with several mock-ups and revise them.
Don’t hesitate to get other employees’ opinions. There’s always a chance someone will provide a perspective you’ve never considered.
Once you have a final prototype, show it to people and ask for their impression of it. If it’s not getting the reaction you want, keep working on it.
7. Scalability
Your final logo will go on all your marketing materials. It needs to be easily scalable.
This means that when it gets sized up or down, it will still look good. You wouldn’t want to add it to a print advertisement and realize after the fact that you can’t read the tagline.
You’ll need to work with a graphic designer to ensure good logo scalability. They have the software and knowledge needed to do this.
It’s also important to keep in mind that your logo will need to go on your website. Make sure you design something that looks good in a digital format and doesn’t have too much information included.
Start Designing Your Ideal Logo Today
Even if you plan to work with a professional graphic designer, you can start thinking about your ideal logo concept now. Going in with a good sense of what you want will prove helpful.
Use the tips discussed above and create a logo that makes your business stand out.
We hope this article has been informative. Browse our site for additional design-related content and more.