When I re-launched my podcast shows, I wanted a logo that can convey the gist of the show. Banyan Tree with kids playing around is what I visualize when I think about Gurukul. And that’s exactly what I tried to incorporate in Mothers gurukul podcast logo and later in my website’s logo. 

Starbucks lady or curvy arrow of Amazon or, Twitter bird or the big yellow M of Mcdonalds. All these logos are imprinted in our mind and memory. Even as bloggers, we recognize many bloggers by their unique names and design. A few of the bloggers have also created their logos. 

The purpose of a logo is to identify your business. Think of it like a country’s flag. Each element within the flag has meaning.

A logo give a face value for any business. It conveys a lot about the business.

Here, I have four reasons why a logo is essential for any business. But before that, let’s see what are its important elements:

The most challenging and most important first step? – Figuring out precisely the concept you want to communicate.

Want to know what makes a good logo? Here are 10 design tips to follow.

1. Simple : Simple as in elegant. The simplest logos are the ones people remember the most. Along with simple,  make it readable. Sometimes using too complicated fonts can be challenging to read. For example TWO WOLVES. They are into branding, web design, graphic design, and SEO. Their logo is very simple – an outline of a wolf with the rotating text- creativity without bounds.
2. Relevant: It should go well with the concept. 
3. Impactful: Let’s take Starbucks as an example. Can you think of any other globally known coffee company that has an identity as unique as Starbucks? That’s the impact t has on its consumers. 
4. Resolution: How will it look when shrunk down or reduced in height? If you can’t see all of the smaller details, your logo is probably too complex.
5. Make it compatible with any device: It should look equally good on any web device and print material. It should have the versatility to appear on collateral for a pen to a plane. 
6. Don’t use stock photography or stock images: You need to use a professional logo designer to make it stand out.
7. Keep it consistent: It is good to do the updates, but it should not be frequent. 

If you are curious to know the story behind Starbucks logo. Starbucks log has a secret you have never noticed.

Now when we know the key elements of a good logo, let’s dive into the purpose of a logo.

1. They are the identity of the business
2. Distinguishes from its competitors
3. Grabs the attention and invites new customers to get to know you
4. It contributes to brand loyalty

They are the identity of a business

Logo communicates ownership. It can tell the world/potential customers who you are, what type of product or service you sell, or what benefit you offer consumers.

Distinguish from its competitors

A good logo reflects who you are, but it should also distinguish you from everybody else. For e.g. maybe there are 50 other coffee shops in your city, but yours is the only one that’s committed to sustainability, or giving one on one attention to the customers. And the logo conveys the message through its earthy colors and proper graphics. It make you stand you in the crowd.

Grabs attention and invites new customers to get to know you

Taking the previous example, a logo can quickly grab viewers’ attention (the colors and graphics) and communicate a company’s core values (sustainability and personal touch). That short attention span can work to your advantage if you have a solid logo to speak for your company/business. That’s why I said that they give the face value. They are the symbol that customers use to recognize your brand. They should instantly connect your logo to the company you hold.

It contributes to brand loyalty

A recognizable and familiar logo goes a long way toward building brand loyalty. Your logo sets the stage for this story. Think about it: When you are shopping for workout gear and spot track pants with the Nike swoosh, you are instantly ready to buy. Or, seeing Lakme’s brand, we get convinced to try the product. Why? Because with Nike or Lakme we know we are in safe hands. 

I am sure that if you have read this post till end then you are very well aware about the importance a logo hold for any business – big or small. But the question is let’s get into creating one. If you know to design and have a great aesthetic sense, you are good to go, but if not, you can get help from professionals.