
Articles for Entrepreneurs
Tips to Developing Your Business Logo
and Company Colors
There
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.
Red |
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 |
Green means “go.” When “all systems are green,” it
means everything is in order. Green is a healing color, the color
of nature. |
Blue |
If you are “true blue,” you are loyal and faithful.
The first prize gets a blue ribbon. |
Purple |
Purple is a royal color. Purple robes are an emblem of authority
and rank. |
Yellow |
A yellow ribbon is a sign of support for soldiers at the front.
To holistic healers, yellow is the color of peace. |
Orange |
Orange combines the energy of red and the happiness of yellow.
It is associated with joy, sunshine, and the tropics. |
Black |
Black is associated with power, elegance, formality, death, evil,
and mystery. |
White |
White is associated with light, goodness, innocence, and purity.
It is considered to be the color of perfection. |
top
© 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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