Why You Shouldn’t DIY Your Logo …!

Creating a logo for your business is a BIG DEAL! It’s not just about the shapes, colours and fonts … this is the face of everything to come. This is the very first thing people see and will remember you by for (hopefully) years to come. It might not seem substantial when you’re thinking about the bigger picture. But trust me … you don’t want to let any unwise decisions slip through the cracks.

When you think it the importance of a logo, it is narrowed down to three basic functions; building a corporate identity, enhancing branding and making marketing/advertising easier. A logo is not forever, it too must evolve with time, but they are the very first thing you customer will see.

Time and of course financials are always in the forefront when you’re just starting off as a business owner. So, what do you do? Start looking at different areas of your business plan where you feel you might be able to “cut costs” or “DIY” (do-it-yourself). Some business owners feel that doing things themselves rather than paying a professional designer or going without is their best option. But in the end, this could be hurting your business more than you may realize.

Yes, designing your own logo may say you a few bucks, but think about how much it’s going to cost you in the long run …?

Designing a logo is just as much a science as it is an art form. If you choose the wrong logo it can very much hurt your bigger picture or perhaps even put your company at risk.

Your logo should be way more than just some coloured graphics filling up space on your business card or Facebook profile. It is a visual representation of your company and its values. It represents everything you stand for as an entrepreneur.

I fear asking this, but after reading this, are you still tempted to try DIYing your logo?

Yes, you may have a striking artistic side and feel that your experience is enough to allow you to come up with an award-winning logo design. But before you get started, let’s take a quick peak at some of the most common mistakes entrepreneurs make with a DIY design …

• Bad Font Choices:
  Fonts are a lot like graphics in a way. Choosing the wrong one will either make or break you in the eyes of your target market You yourself might be fun and playful with a demon-ish edge but does this style represent your company, it’s products and/or services and its values? Every element within your logo must work together as a team to represent your company as a whole.
  
  
• Irrelevant Colour Choices:
  Most DIY colour choices are made based on personal preference but when designing a logo there is a lot more to consider. For starters, you already know from one of my previous blog posts (“Does Colour Really Matter”) about colour that they have strong psychological associations so colour representation in your business is not to be taken lightly.
  
  
• Amateur Design:
  Your logo must be professional and something you can be proud of to associate with everything your business stands for. Having something amateur or copies off Google images could result in lawsuit or just plain ‘ol bad business. This is something you don’t need when you are just starting off. An amateur design could seriously break your business before it even has a chance to take off.
  
  
• Wrong Message:
  At a glance, your logo must let your viewers know what you stand for and what your company is all about. This includes the messaging that the logo perceives or the tagline (def. a catchphrase or slogan) that follows suit.

The key to a successful logo it to know ahead of time what you want and how you want to be perceived as a business. Now, of course, this doesn’t mean you need to micromanage the entire design process (this will drive your graphic designer crazy) but it’s best to keep an open mind. If possible, brainstorm some ideas and prepare detailed information to supply to your designer before you get started. If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to brainstorming your bigger picture, take a peak at this amazingly detailed online Mind Map resource (brought to you by Mindomo) to get you started.

In conclusion, every brand can be unique – in its own way, but your logo should represent everything that your logo about your business, your values, your products and/or services and the industry in which this all lives. Please try not to attempt a DIY logo. Hire a professional graphic designer to help you get your message across in a clear and conscious manner. This could be a serious difference between success and failure.