8 Tips for Designing a Logo on a Budget

tips for designing a logo on a budget logos brand building graphic design branding

By now, you know how important branding your business and company is and logo design should be viewed as an investment for the business here. There is so much more to a logo than clever design and the way you represent your brand, how it looks, feels, and communicates will have a significant impact on your sales and public profile. Your logo is what your customers relate to and this is how they’ll identify you.

Over 95% of small businesses have poor logos and this affects their brand. Cheap logo designs will be easy, fast and not necessarily good. Cheap designers from online markets don’t really care for your business or the impression the logo makes.

You do get what you pay for and in this case, you can be sure that cheap will be expensive. However, you can still find a great logo on a budget and here is how to go about it.

Take a look at 8 of the savviest tips for designing a logo and the best way to go about it on a limited budget.


1. Start by Researching

By conducting in-depth research, you have a higher chance of successfully working with a good designer. You need to know what fonts, colors, and designs you would like to use for your brand will make the process easier. If you streamline the process, you’ll cut the number of times the logo is revised and hence the lower the budget.

More than anything else, you need to ensure that the logo can stand the test of time. Rebranding, once people get familiar with the brand, can be unsuccessful. Take GAP, for instance, they tried rebranding their logo but had to revert back after a few days because their customers wouldn't have it.

Ensure that it’ll grow with the business and stand the test of time.


2. Simplicity Is the Best Way

A simple logo design will definitely cost you less than a complicated one. The most expensive logo isn’t the best and some of the most iconic logos of all time are simple, yet very professional. A simple logo is also easier for customers to remember and recognize than that complex one.

As much as the logo needs to represent your brand, it needs to attract people so strive for a simple and clear design. Be very selective when it comes to colors, style, and fonts.


3. Stand out From Competitors

Before you come up with the perfect design, check out your direct competitors' logos and see if you can differentiate yours from them. All your marketing efforts could go to waste if customers mistake your brand for another.

Try to incorporate the values and aspects of your brand to the logo.


4. Get an Adaptable Logo Design

Your logo will be used for multiple purposes and you need to keep this in mind during the design, especially if you decide to do it yourself. The logo will not only be limited to the website as you’ll also use it on social media platforms, posters, flyers, and business cards.

Consider how the logo will appear on mobile browsers and apps without demeaning professionalism.


5. Get a Timeless Design

If you intend to grow your business and keep it for a long time, you need a logo that will grow with you. Avoid designs based on trends by all means because it’ll go out of fashion after a few months. Having a logo designed and redesigned over and over again never works out well for a brand.

This does not mean you need to eliminate complementary and modern designs. However, it should be as good a year or 10 from the initial design.


6. Find the Right Design Company

If you decide to have your logo designed professionally, try not to go to Fiver, Upwork, or 99Designs because you might get frustrated from it. Potentially cheap or unprofessional designers don’t go the extra mile to get to know a brand better before starting the design process. It's not their fault because they earn by churning out logos at a high volume, or they go out of business. You can’t usually get luxury brand logos from such places.

A professional, however, will try to know all the ins and outs of your business in order to come up with the most professional and unique logo. You also need to build a relationship with the designer, which will impact the growth of the business.


7. Go for Black and White

A powerful logo should look good in a colorless form so make sure it looks equally impressive. You’ll be using the colorless version of faxed documents, stationery, newspaper ads, and more. Should you decide to try the DIY method, even though you’ll save a lot on the designer fees, make sure you nail both the colored and colorless version right.

You can also crowdsource the design if you have a hard time doing it on your own, but still, find professional designers too expensive.


8. Don’t Use Stock Art

You may be on a tight budget, but using stock art is a bad idea. Most of these images have copyright issues and you might get in trouble if you incorporate them into your design. Besides, there are high chances that other people have used the same image you chose to download, so you can’t be sure your logo will be unique.

Uniqueness and originality are two things you should strive for, regardless of your budget. It’s not possible to pull off luxury brand designs with stock art materials anyway.


Tips for Designing a Logo on a Budget

These are 8 of the savvy tips for designing a logo on a budget. You may decide to get down and do it yourself, but you need to understand how important a logo is before you make that decision. Hiring a professional that can work side by side with you to come up with the best possible logo for the business is your best bet.

Go For A Great Logo

This is especially if you want luxury brand logos. Do some research and you’ll find professional logo designers within your budget. If you’d like some more tips about logo design and business branding, keep browsing our website. Read also about top logo design companies on medium.com/theymakedesign/logo-design-company-5ab1705e3332.

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