Articles for Entrepreneurs
Tips to Developing Your Business Logo
and Company ColorsThere is no substitute for professional marketing materials. Many new entrepreneurs attempt to skimp in this area and it shows. You will use your logo and company identity throughout your marketing materials, from your business card, letterhead, and envelopes to your brochures, website, packaging, magnetic car signs, e-mail signature, and professional company attire. It is not advisable to spend thousands of dollars setting up your business in an executive suite with brand new furniture and then hand out an easily forgotten business card. What you want is to attract your ideal clients with an impressive business identity.
Option 1: Professional
Expect to spend $350-$800 just for the logo and another $150-$550 for the layout and design. What you are paying for with this option is a professional graphic designer with experience and skill who will spend 8-10 hours on your logo alone. You will want to negotiate a price that includes the logo, business card layout (front and back), letterhead, and envelope. While art students are an inexpensive option, experienced designers are familiar with resolution, file format and color limitations during printing. Keep in mind that this expense is an investment in your company and should be amortized over the first few years of business operations.
I highly recommend the services of Art Guy Design.
Option 2: Student
Another option is to call your local community college and locate an artist who may be willing to design your logo at a reduced rate. Your designer should use color and imagination to produce a professional looking concept that you can use throughout your business. Your company name, logo, colors, and tagline should all work together to complete your professional identity.
Logo
A logo is a way for your target client to remember you more easily – by associating your company name with a logo you are creating a positive image with your clients. A good logo says “this is a professional company” and allows you to command the fees you are worth. Be clear with your designer regarding your target market so that the look and color are consistent. If you are a financial advisor for example, you will want to elicit trust and confidence, not an artistic and campy feeling.
Layout
It is not enough to use your professional logo on your marketing materials. Just plopping your logo on a business card will not complete the job. Your designer should also create a professional layout. This means utilizing your logo and a design format to showcase your brand by creating a design flow utilizing your logo and colors.
The Psychology of Color
The colors used in your logo and business card layout should work together to create a strong brand. It is not wise to use different colors for you business card and website. Try to maintain a consistent image across all your materials. Different colors mean different things to different people. When discussing color with your design professional, make sure he/she knows your preference.
You will need to understand the ramifications of using certain colors in your marketing materials. What appeals to your target client? Are you accidentally portraying a negative image for your business? In addition to the information in the chart below, I advise performing an internet search on the psychology of color to determine what suits your industry.
Because of its visibility, stop signs, stoplights, brake lights, and fire equipment are all painted red. Red is also “sexy”. Not an image you want to portray if you are an attorney. Green means “go.” When “all systems are green,” it means everything is in order. Green is a healing color, the color of nature. If you are “true blue,” you are loyal and faithful. The first prize gets a blue ribbon. Purple is a royal color. Purple robes are an emblem of authority and rank. A yellow ribbon is a sign of support for soldiers at the front. To holistic healers, yellow is the color of peace. Orange combines the energy of red and the happiness of yellow. It is associated with joy, sunshine, and the tropics. Black is associated with power, elegance, formality, death, evil, and mystery. White is associated with light, goodness, innocence, and purity. It is considered to be the color of perfection. © Copyright 2006-2007- Suzanne Muusers - All Rights Reserved
About the author
Suzanne Muusers is a Business Coach and Business Expert based in Scottsdale, Arizona. She has owned or managed a business every year for the past 25 years. She is a credentialed member of the International Coach Federation and works exclusively with entrepreneurs and financial advisors who want to leave behind their lives as business workers to become business owners earning six figures and above annually. Download her Free Report “Top 5 Business Mistakes Entrepreneurs Should Avoid” at http://www.prosperitycoaching.biz.
Copyright© 2004-2007, Suzanne Muusers | All Rights Reserved|
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