Unique Logos for the Small Biz Entrepreneur
The following is a guest post from the guys at Logo Inn. At the end, I’m going to announce how one lucky reader can get a free logo designed by their professional logo design team.
Contrary to conventional belief, in times of recession, when marketing budgets are slashed, it makes even more sense to spend on acquiring new customers, who are “now” looking for affordable alternatives. Hence recession actually is not such a bad news for small business owners.
In a time when the Big Guys are looking out for more affordable and effective vendors to cut down costs, it’s the time to rightly position your small business and benefit from the situation. No matter how many times you have heard it, it cannot be stressed enough that your business needs a unique identity, a voice of its own.
Once you have found your identity, all your marketing and branding activities should follow course. Your logo should closely reflect the unique positioning of your business. Following up with your website, your copy, in short all your marketing collateral should be focused around your unique business identity.
Experts all around stress a lot on having a unique logo. Why? Being as a small business owner, you don’t have mass advertising budgets to begin with and so, benefiting from every single small opportunity you get to bring forward your brand should be utilized to the fullest.
A well-designed logo also reflects the investment that has been made in the company. Such a logo shows that management has strong commitments to quality and professionalism. On other hand, a badly designed logo or the lack of one is often associated with organizations that are undercapitalized and poorly organized.
An easy to recognize logo gives you an advantage over your competition because it builds customer recognition. Just think how easy it is to visualize the company logos of McDonalds, Starbucks and Intel.
Lastly, a logo makes your brochures, ads, letterheads and envelops stand out from the crowd. Lack of marketing budget could be covered by having a unique logo as it helps small businesses to be identified by people at a glance, which means your company name will not be easily forgotten.
Giveaway: If you’re in the market for a new logo, please leave a short message in the comments. One lucky commenter will receive a free logo from Logo Inn. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited, and all that jazz.
Jonathan Kleimar on February 23rd, 2009 2:44 pm
Great post. I have been thinking a lot about getting a new logo for my business.
I know my site (Probook) needs a new logo, but I am afraid to pay somebody to make a new one, because once I tried and I ended up keeping the old one.
I hope you pick me for your super exciting contest =)
Howard Horwitz on February 23rd, 2009 3:21 pm
This is actually weird that I came across your blog. I just got my company’s name approved by the state and now I am needing to create that perfect, professional logo that will just let everyone know who we are. Until I get that logo accomplished, I am stuck.
I started this company because I was laid off 11 months ago and have had yet to find a position that paid me what I use to make. So I am taking control of my family’s future and going into business for myself. At the same time I will even be creating additional jobs – this whole thing is an incredible feeling. When you hear what my business is you will see that it will take just the right logo to make this company successful.
Thanks and hope you help me in this time of need. . . .it would be just the thing I need to help me get my feet back on the ground.
Sweeties Sweeps on February 23rd, 2009 3:39 pm
I’ve been following your blog for month’s. I love all of the interesting ideas you find for and about businesses. I have a wholesale business selling our own line of lavender products and now I find myself in a unique business – the business of blogging.
My blog, Sweeties Sweeps, at http://www.sweetiessweeps.com, has now turned into a business. I am at a loss as to how to come up with a logo for it so I can brand the site. Winning a logo from Logo Inn would sure help me.
When is the giveaway over? Wendy
Avonelle Lovhaug on February 23rd, 2009 4:00 pm
(Waves hand around wildly) Pick me! Pick me!
Okay, now I’ll calm down. Love the blog (even those guest bloggers!) And I think most of agree that the right logo is important. So now, like the other potential candidates, I’ll hope I get the opportunity to find out first hand how much of a difference that new logo can make!
Steven on February 23rd, 2009 4:21 pm
Hmm… I am anticipating a site redesign, and could use a new logo.
JJ Thomas on February 23rd, 2009 4:32 pm
Dear Logo Design Winner Picker Person (It’s a real title!):
I am in desperate need of an identity and brand, aka logo, for my business idea, Magic City Market. My business will be online and, therefore, a logo will be the storefront for my business. Since we all know the importance of curb appeal, I would love for mine to look professional, welcoming and memorable!
Magic City Market is basically going to be a mini-etsy only for aspiring and practicing local artists and creative folk in or around Birmingham, Alabama. I am creating an online store the allows these individuals to post their creations for free and the business will take a reasonable percentage only upon a successful sale.
Thanks for the opportunity!
Michael on February 23rd, 2009 6:03 pm
That is a cool site. Thanks for that. Regardless of if I win or not I’m sure that I will be going back to the site soon in the near future.
Keep up the good work.
Johnny on February 23rd, 2009 6:06 pm
man..i wasn’t going to leave a comment after reading some of the other comments left..but hey..i thought i’d give it a shot.
i don’t have a logo for my website. i just used some fonts i found online and then in photoshop did some kind of dropshadow. it’s quite sad actually. haha. heck..i even tried to look for those free abstract logos but can’t even make them look good on my site.
thanks for the consideration!
Steve on February 23rd, 2009 6:59 pm
THANKS FOR THE GREAT POSTS! PICK ME, PLEASE!
Ginger Hatchings on February 23rd, 2009 7:00 pm
Please count me in for the contest.
Dennis on February 23rd, 2009 7:08 pm
Great marketing idea :-)
I am launching a membership-only website based on this platform (http://www.onlinegroups.com?DennisPrice)
My site is up – not running, and I relegated my current logo to the footer. Need something dynamic, retail, marketing, people – and including the pantone colour 166U.
I am easy to work with, and if you do, you can boast a client on the other side of the world! (Isn’t the internet wonderful?)
Pick me, pick me , pick me.
Dennis
(Pretty please)
Home Based Business on February 23rd, 2009 8:57 pm
Sounds like a great idea
cassy on February 23rd, 2009 11:24 pm
i agree! one of the success of being a entrepreneur in business is the logos,coz it attract customers if you have a unique logos, thanks for posting this great site.
Kevin on February 24th, 2009 6:28 am
My best friend and I are currently both working 9-5 jobs that we would desperately like to quit. Unfortunately, given the current economic state, that would be an incredibly stupid move on our part. We’ve decided that the only way out is to create a web-based company and start making enough ad revenue that we’ll be able to leave our dead end jobs for the entrepreneurial lifestyle =). We’ve got our domain name, our business plan, but we don’t have a logo. Neither of us are graphic designers by any means and having a professional logo would do wonders for helping us achieve our goal of leaving our dead end 9-5 jobs. We’d like to thank you in advance for considering us for the free logo.
Bastiaan J. Nagel on February 24th, 2009 7:08 am
In the time of crisis sometimes an idea can bring change.
For over 5 years I closed the door of my executive office life for an alternative way of living and working. In that period I looked how people can work and live more balanced, to stay away from traffic jams and the stress to be laid off (and logically job search).
The answer may sound simple, but for many people it is not reachable, in special in Europe.
Over this period I came up with a concept of “getting to my palm tree”, in short how to make your dreams come true; PalmQuest.
Without unrealistic ‘MLM dreams’, but real products that the world needs and make it actually a better place, real people, realistic income, …
I build a portfolio of unique simple but needed products related to ecologic/durable energy savings, energy production, energy storage, and one product to kill Malaria/Cholera/MRSA/…
The next weeks I’m launching my web site and go public with the whole plan after these years of preparation.
Any ideas and suggestions are welcome, as is a suitable logo !
Just wishing you all a wonderful day
Ben Munoz on February 24th, 2009 7:54 am
I’ve had the best luck with local designers on logos. Very difficult to offshore that, but if someone has a recommendation for offshore graphic designer, please let me know.
Susanna Haynie on February 24th, 2009 7:56 am
I started a Real Estate Investing Company and would love a new logo!
Jaclyn on February 24th, 2009 8:22 am
That was a very interesting post. And it is so important to have the right unique logo for your business. your logo say’s so much about your company and the people who work for it.
Logo Design Guru on February 24th, 2009 10:02 am
Logos are a great way to get a new business started. They create a trademark image that represents your company and helps it remain in one’s memory. It is something that all businesses should look into if they haven’t already.
Anthony on February 24th, 2009 3:29 pm
Did i win? I think I’ve won! did i win?… Only a really silly idea I had, to let you think that I thought that, or did i???
Marilize on February 26th, 2009 6:04 am
This mail comes aaaaal the way from South Africa where it was yesterday (only) announced we are also going into a recession… “humpf”.
My new venture REALLY can do with the CAN DO attitude and work of a US creative agency!
Paper stone scissors – a logo for me please!
Many thanks!!!
Ai Peng on February 26th, 2009 6:40 pm
Please count me in. Pick me! It would be really nice to get a logo for my business. Nevertheless, great job in your posts…
Chris on March 4th, 2009 8:36 am
Our current logo is proof that entrepreneurs may have to do all aspects of their business, but they may not do all of them as well as a profesional might!
Looking at other companies in the renewable energy space, I get logo envy. A professional and eye-catching logo is part of a business’ first impression, so it needs to be a good one! Please help.
Cory on March 4th, 2009 8:38 am
A new logo is something I’ve been struggling with. I’m happy with my logo, but would like it to be a little more “exciting”. It seems flat to me. Plus it doesn’t lend itself to many marketing options. It simply looks “cut & pasted” to any material I put it on.
With a little luck you might pick me and help with this problem.
Thanks!
Ron Reid on March 4th, 2009 9:21 am
7citylounge.com is more than a social network site its the future it will also bridge the gap between online social network and offline social events Ride The Wave Of The Future. And my company is in need of a unique logo for company reconigition and i know the importance of setting my company apart from the rest i sure hope i win oh and by the way great blog post i agree with the post in whole
Roberta Eastman on March 4th, 2009 10:25 am
Thank you for the post. It is a great reminder to stay focused, and move forward.
As I create a business to help others gain confidence they need to market themselves through their vision, passion and enthusiasm, I would welcome the opportunity to collaborate with Logo Inn.
A logo extends your reach, which in turn helps others identify their needs more quickly. Logos are efficient, cost-effective, differentiators in business.
Logo Inn can take my business vision from my mind and create that vision into an image, for the greater world to see. We could all use that expertise.
Thanks for all the insights you share through this blog, I look forward to future posts.
Maria on March 4th, 2009 3:38 pm
I am a service provider and quite good at being strategic in the C-suite space, however, when it comes to marketing, I lack creativity. So much so, that I am at a loss to come up with a great pitch on why I should win!
Thanks for thinking of me!
Sherry on March 5th, 2009 1:39 am
Firstly its a great post. Logo is a must for great Brand appeal and resonance. Based out of India my company deals with pure Luxury…From travel, to lifestyle to lots more. Would love it if can get professional help like yours to do our logo. Would be going virtual in few weeks hence Logo needed asap…
All the best for your venture :) Keep smiling
Kenya on March 5th, 2009 10:00 am
Logos are great ways a company can stand out in the consumers mind. This is a great article for marketing and to think about focusing on what you want your logo to project about your business. And I definitely need one!!!
Tiffany on March 30th, 2009 3:09 pm
Thanks for the article! Now is a daunting time to start a new business and we are very conscious about our budget – we would love to win the logo design!
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