Creating a logo for your business is like hiring a lawyer to defend yourself in a lawsuit. That attorney works for you, represents you, explains what you did, and convinces the jury to trust you. In general, he will do the best he can to protect you. And while most of us have never had to go through a cold sweat in court, we all know what it means to want to make a good impression and be appreciated.
In the process of designing a logo, you need to avoid the following 9 mistakes, if you want to make a good impression on customers at first sight.
1. Ambiguous about the market and competitors
You have a small business, you do business, not an artist. That means, you need to work with your mind, not your emotions, in other words, you need to study and research the market thoroughly before proceeding to create a logo. Depending on different fields, such as photography, construction, literature or finance, etc., we will have different logo design criteria.
Looking at what others have done before will guide your ideas. If you don't observe and learn from your competitors, you may miss out on great creative ideas or valuable experiences in the same field in which you operate. You can refer to the logos of some of the major companies in the industry, making a list of standout logos until you find the design that appeals to you the most.
2. Too focused on the trend
During your research, you'll find lots of great design trends, and you'll probably be tempted to include them all in your new logo.
That would be a huge mistake.
Trends come and go and usually evaporate in less than a year. The worst thing is that your logo will look outdated or like a caricature, in the eyes of the viewer.
So what you should aim for is a logo that has timeless value, looks trendy, that can last a long time with the brand. But saying that doesn't mean we have to give up on referencing new trends, it's clear that some designs that follow current trends will help your logo stand out and leave a deep impression on your brand. customer. However, many emerging design trends can die out after just a minute on top of their glory. Therefore, before deciding to focus on the trend, try to evaluate which trends can go with the years, which ones only last for a short time, thereby making the right choice for you. your design.
3. Logo too detailed leads to clutter
Sometimes in life, we tend to want to keep with us things that we don't really need, and that is also a common mistake in logo design.
It would be great to refer to the color palettes and fonts to create a design of your own! However, not all will be beautiful and suitable for your logo. Simple = effective, while overwhelming = confusing and confusing for your audience.
Your logo should include only your company name or initials, a symbol, one or two typefaces, and up to three colors.
That's enough !
Apart from the slogan, you don't need to add anything else in the logo, symbols like '™' or copyright are redundant. Remember, if a logo is overloaded with details, it will fail to function and drive customers away.
4. Forgetting who your customers are
Have you ever wondered what customers will notice the most when looking at your logo?
The answer is: all.
As we explained above, the main goal when creating a logo is to pique the curiosity of your audience and make them see the best version of your creation. Forgetting to think about customer tastes when designing a logo is like making an omelette without eggs – you won't get any significant results.
You think that's exaggerating?
Imagine, for example, that you want to hire an animation company to celebrate your child's birthday. You've heard many good reviews about that company, but when you try searching the internet, you see that their logo is a grave on a black background. What is the probability that you will call them?
So, keep your target audience in mind at all stages of logo design, to create a logo that is attractive and appealing, instead of scaring them away and running away.
5. Choose the fonts at random
If your logo doesn't have a logo, the first thing your audience will do when they look at the logo is read (and evaluate) the text.
One of the biggest mistakes people make when designing a text logo is choosing the first typeface they see, without the strategy behind it. Every font has its own meaning and you need to convey that message to your customers, to let them know whether your business is classy and sophisticated or extroverted and simple.
You can also include the slogan in your logo design, but with a different font than the main text. However, there are some DON'Ts when mixing different fonts, so research their compatibility carefully before making a final decision.
6. “Coloring” the logo is too colorful
Just like the font, the color of the logo sends a message to the viewer about your brand. So, don't use purple and brown for your logo just because you like them, that's a mistake.
And think again about mistake #4 regarding customer impressions: Why does a black-toned logo used by a children's event company immediately sting the viewer's eyes?
The answer is: each color has its own meaning, according to psychological analysis. Blue evokes serenity and sophistication, red conveys passion and energy, while black doesn't really convey the joy of life.
Also, as mentioned above, you should be sparing and only use up to three colors (such as black, white, and a third color that stands out more than the other two). Too many colors will confuse the logo, while just two or three colors will give you a cleaner, sharper design.
7. Using the wrong format for design files file
The quality of the design file can make a huge difference between a logo that stands out and one that no one cares about.
Once you've finished your design, you'll want to put it everywhere, and the logo needs to be resized to fit the context. Logos in pixel and JPEG formats won't do the trick, as resizing these files can cause your logo to appear distorted, reducing its quality significantly.
By contrast, the vector file format will allow you to resize your logo as many times as you want and still retain its quality, even if you print it on business documents and off-the-shelf products. You can also use the vector files to edit your logo in Adobe Illustrator or other design software.
8. Put the logo in the wrong place
Although this error is only discovered after the design is complete, you can still avoid it by planning ahead.
You will want to place your logo on all channels related to your business, for example on the homepage of your website or on product packaging, business cards, brochures, etc. However, many people proceed to place their logo everywhere without thinking ahead of what it will look like – which is clearly a mistake.
For example, the top left corner of the website is the ideal location for your logo, while on a business card, we'll put the logo in the middle. If you do the opposite of that rule, the logo will look weird and not maximize its effectiveness.
Before launching your logo, try placing it in different positions and layouts, resize it to see if it looks good, then make a final decision.
9. Lack of consistency
If you've finished designing a logo and are starting to use it, you want to test out some new styles by changing a few elements…
So please don't do it!
Did you notice that we don't use images to illustrate this advice? This is just one example of inconsistency – and we know it's annoying! Once you start building your brand with a logo, you need to stick with it. When customers start to know you, they will rely on your logo to associate your business and find you. Not only that, but they will trust that you will provide what they need, as your logo is a measure of your company's credibility.
So don't start playing around with colors or change the fonts according to the mood. Trust us – your customers will appreciate consistency in the long run.
It's your turn!
We know we will learn a lot from our mistakes, but in order to have a logo design that stands out, try to avoid them as much as possible. Now that you know what not to do, read on for our guide on how to create a logo and let's get to the design!
Contact ZALO/ HOTLINE: 0911 295 102 for advice, design and build a professional brand for your business today!
