It’s easy to build your brand with no logo. I’ve put together five ways you can use, in any combination, to help you build your brand with no logo.
How many customers will not notice your business because you don’t have a custom logo design that says “Hey! This is who I am and this is what I do!”? Can you afford to miss out on potential customers because they don’t know what you do and how you can help them? They might not need your product or service today, but building your visual recognition now will help them recall your company when they do need what you provide, or when a friend asks them if they know anyone who does what you do.
“I’ve been in business for twenty years, everyone knows my business!” Is this accurate? If I were to stop a stranger on the street, hand them a card with your logo design and business name on it, would they recognize the name? If not, would they know what you sell or do just from looking at the card?
If the answers are “Yes” – great, your branding is working for you! If the answers are “No” or “I’ve heard of them, what do they do?”… then you’ve got some work to do.
So where do you start to build your brand with no logo?
Does your company have a logo design? Is it unique and easily recognized? A logo design is only one part of your brand, but it’s the most visible part. A strong logo will stand the test of time, identify your company, and be the visual cornerstone of your branding, advertising, and marketing activities. Even if you don’t have a logo design yet, you can still do a lot to build brand consistency and recognition.
Number 1: Do you consistently use the same font or typeface for your company name? Fonts can project almost as much personality as a logo design and there are definitely some font choices that are WRONG for the type of business you have. Check out these examples of fonts gone wrong. If you have some time and are interested in the science of choosing fonts, check out this article on font psychology.
Number 2: Do you have a photo or drawing that you always use? If you plan to build your brand with no logo, selecting an image to use consistently in your branding is the next best thing to a logo design. I recommend using a photo you took yourself, or a drawing you created. The last thing you want to use is a copyrighted image downloaded from a Google search. You can get into trouble for copyright infringement.
Number 3: Do you always use the same color(s)? Similar to fonts, colors can help define the personality of your branding, and some colors are often associated with entire industries, like green for financial or hemp companies. Rather than selecting colors arbitrarily, do some research on the psychology of color in business.
Number 4: Do you place your company name in the same or similar location on your materials? As you become more established, the consistent placement of your company name helps with recognition, which strengthens your brand with no logo.
Number 5: Do you do all these things both in print and online? You should apply the same choices to both printed and electronic materials where and when possible. Don’t treat them differently just because they are viewed and used differently from each other.
Do these five things consistently, and you’ll be on your way to building a strong brand with no logo! A custom logo design is a small part of the whole package that builds your company recognition. A professional graphic designer can create a custom logo design, then help you understand how and where to use that logo, with the steps you took above, to continue building your company recognition.
A logo design is a graphic symbol representing a company, product, or brand. A logotype is a stylized word or name that is used as the graphic logo. See some examples collected HERE.
A custom logo design for your company or brand adds a visual element: a picture, a symbol, a design. Logos can tell a story, describe a company or product, and build your reputation and recognition. Some logo designs are so iconic and familiar that they can be readily identified even in a foreign language.
Companies, products, and brands aren’t the only ones that need a logo design. Event logos are popular. For example, an annual sales meeting co-branded with the company logo, or a themed trade show use custom logo designs. A standalone, one-time event like a competition, performance, or anniversary can benefit from a strong logo design. Remember, one-time events often become annual occurrences, and custom logos help build recognition year after year.
So take a few minutes and review the 5 ways to build your brand with no logo, looking at your own materials. Maybe there are one or two things you can immediately do, or plan to do, to make your visual brand stronger. For a more complete process to make your brand stronger, I created a do-it-yourself brand review. Good luck!
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