Does Your Business Need A Logo?

From the biggest of corporations to the smallest of mom-and-pop shops, all businesses need a logo. It’s not just about a fun image that you can put all over your signage, pamphlets, and uniforms. A logo is an important part of your brand identity! Opting to go without one could potentially hurt your recognizability in the eyes of your customers.

Think about all the logos that you know. You might not even be aware of how they’re fixed in your mind: the Target bullseye, the Nike swoosh, the Starbucks mermaid, and even the Apple apple. Even if you don’t see the business name, you recognize what business is being represented. 

Now think about some of the smaller businesses you know right in your local community. Do they have logos you recognize? They should! And if you’re a small-business owner yourself, then you should definitely have a logo too!

Consider the benefits your business gets from having a logo:

A logo gives your business image a boost.

Having a recognizable logo makes your business look good. And no, that doesn’t mean that people just like the way that your logo looks — having a good logo reflects well on your business. It makes you look more serious. People are more likely to regard your business more highly because they perceive you to have a greater edge of professionalism.

That’s important because customers are more likely to patronize a business that they perceive as serious. Even if you deliver a great product or service, and even if you’ve successfully been in business for many years, it’s the logo that will make some people stop and say, “Wow, this is a real business.”

But that impression goes further than just a first impression. People tend to be more loyal to what is recognizable and comfortable. The more consistency you give your brand, the more confidence you give your customers. If you represent yourself with the same visual over and over again, instead of some different image you choose on a whim, people will instinctively trust you more. Eventually, their brand loyalty becomes even stronger.

Visuals have a strong impact.

You’ve got a great business name and maybe even a memorable slogan. But visuals can convey what words alone can’t. What kind of feeling does your logo convey? Your logo might be able to reflect whether your brand is sophisticated and elegant, fun and kid-friendly, earthy and natural, or hip and boho. From the moment they see your logo, they should have a sense of who your ideal customer is, what sets your brand apart from others in your industry, and how your product or service will make them feel.

Besides, visuals tend to appeal to people more than plain text. If they see your business name, they might read it — but put an attractive image in front of them, and it will definitely catch their attention.

Logos are better for more purposes than names.

Remember how I mentioned images can convey more than simply your business name and slogan can? It’s also true that images can fit better in certain places. If people recognize your business by your logo, then you no longer have to spell out your name on things like the breast pocket of your uniform shirts, for example. This will make it even easier for people to recognize your uniforms because we tend to process images faster than we process text.

Even if you recognize the importance of a logo, you might be wondering to yourself how you get one. After all, it’s not going to do you any good to just pull some generic stock clip art that will make you look the same as everybody else. But maybe you don’t have that much faith in yourself as an artist either.

Find a reliable graphic designer who has experience designing logos.

Our team can help you create your design or we can even introduce you to outside graphic designers to help. Whoever you choose, it is important to discuss what you’re trying to convey with your logo, and remember to be as specific as possible while remaining open-minded. Your graphic designer might have ideas that you wouldn’t come up with on your own.

Remember, your logo might change with the times, and that’s okay. As long as your logo retains some of the same look, and each iteration stays around long enough to gain recognizability, a change in your logo will help you instead of hurt you — it keeps up with the changing times and the aesthetics that modern consumers want. For proof, go ahead and look at the way logos of major brands have changed over the years. Although you can trace an evolution where they all have similar characteristics, each version of the logo reflects the sensibilities of the decade when it was used.

Start using your logo and you’ll be impressed by the way your customers respond, likely in very unexpected ways!

Need more ideas for improving brand recognition of your business? The team at Ann’s Social Media & Marketing can help. Reach out today by calling 443-679-4916 or emailing ann@asmmdigital.com.