If you have even a slight understanding of marketing, then you know how important building a brand for your business is. Your logo design is a big part of that brand. After all, customers will use it to identify you!

What makes for a good logo design?

The best logos are simple, yet distinct. When people look at them, there should be no question as to which company they represent – without looking busy or tacky.

Chances are you need a logo design firm to give you exactly what you need. Your regular branding firm might be able to create a logo for you – but only if they have the right experience. In order to come up with the right logo design, you need someone that has both design and marketing expertise. It’s not good enough to just be a good artist or to just know a lot about marketing. The best logo designs come from joining the two together.

So, how do you do it?

• Talk to your logo design firm

  Even if you can’t draw a straight line without a ruler, your input is important. Sure, they might be the experts on logo design, but you’re the expert on your business! You can certainly provide insight into your target audience, your products, and your company goals that will help create a better logo.

• Look at your competitors’ logo designs

  While yours will have to be distinctly different to set you apart, it’s a good idea to see what your competitors are doing. Do you like their logos? Do they work? What would you change about them?

• Gear your logo to your target audience

  You will have to “step outside yourself” to do this one! Let’s say your company targets teenage girls. You can’t look at a potential logo from the perspective of a 30 or 40-something entrepreneur. Instead, you have to look at it from the perspective of a teenage girl. Bubbly pink letters may not be YOUR thing, but they can look amazing to a teenage girl!

• Make it timeless

  The best logo designs are built to last for years and years. Think about it… companies like IBM and Coca-Cola have had the same logos for decades – and they’re working just fine!

  When it comes time to design a logo, you can’t just think about today’s trends. You have to come up with something that’s “evergreen” – which is a fancy way of saying that it will always be in style.

• Make sure your logo can be used anywhere

  You can’t say that a logo is good without also saying that it’s versatile. You logo design needs to look good in all sizes – whether you’re putting it up on a giant billboard or on a tiny business card.

• Don’t count on getting everything done in one day

  There is no rushing the creative process. Sure, your logo design firm shouldn’t be sitting around for weeks or months at a time, but you also can’t expect to have a finished product in a few hours.

  You should start working on your logo design long before “crunch time”; otherwise, you’ll probably wind up with a logo that you’re not crazy about. If that happens, even the best branding firm can’t help you out!