Charlotte, aka The Queen City, ranked first in the small business average growth rate category. This is according to a study by WalletHub. Furthermore, it ranked eighth in the diversity of industries. But no matter which industry you are in, whether you are a B2B or a B2C company, branding is of utmost importance. And one of the most important aspects of branding is your company’s logo.
Your logo will be displayed on business cards, email signature, website, and social media presence. It will also be used on the rubber stamps that you use for your business. Whether they are for invoices or legal documents, it is important to know the various types of rubber stamps available for corporate purposes as these stamp imprints will be permanent on whatever you use them on.
Why Is the Logo So Important for an Organization?
The First Impression
Your company’s logo is the face of your company. For the customer, it is what sets the tone for the rest of the relationship that is to follow. A great first impression will entice the customer to learn more about the company’s products and services. Think about the 5 most valuable brands in the world today, Apple, Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Samsung. Can you not recall their logos instantly?
Differentiates Your Company
There is never going to be a case where you start a business and there are no competitors around. So how do you stand out in a crowded space? You create a logo that immediately grabs the customer’s attention. You already know that you can fulfill the customer’s needs in a much more efficient way than the competition. But first, you need to grab their attention.
Creates an Aura of Professionalism
Professionalism is synonymous with trust. You can expect a professional to do the job on time and do it right. Like it was mentioned before, your logo is plastered all over the internet and in the real world. And the first thing a customer does when looking for a new company to deal with is to look at its signage. If the logo signals that you are an amateur, well then, game over. There is a reason why 90% of the global population recognize the iconic coca-cola logo.
What to Look Out for When Designing a Professional-Looking Logo?
Never Be Generic
A Harvard Business Review study found that the most important element of logo design is to have at least one textual or visual reference to what your company does. I.e. if your company delivers tea to customers, then have a teacup in the logo. The typography in the logo tells the customer whether the company is whimsical, serious, futuristic, or elegant. This typography also needs to be in harmony with the graphic that has been used on the logo.
Colors
Colors are known to have a psychological impact on the viewer. Certain colors are always associated with specific moods. Red with mystery and suspense, yellow with joy, and so on. Additionally, certain industries have a color pattern that they have always used. You need to look at the color scheme that your competition is following and choose accordingly. This analysis will also give you a chance to be disruptive. Selecting different hues in the same palette will set you apart from the competition.
Simplicity
Never create a logo that requires a lot of explanation. An MIT Sloan business school study looked at how logos can influence a customer’s brand commitment. The way to positively influence it is to create a logo that can connect a customer to your company’s message in a quick way. A test that you can do right now is to go out and look at a few company logos in your local area. Cover up the text of the logo and see what you can decipher from only the graphics.
Keep these points in mind as you set about the branding journey for your startup or small business. Your logo will be the source of an emotional connection between your business and your customers. It will also give a sense of consistency to your employees. This will be of prime importance as your company grows over the years and ownership is passed on from one individual to another. And finally, to reiterate the strength a logo can have, here is a fun fact. Playboy earned about $45 million in 2017 from licensing its logo. That is the majority of its entire revenue.