So, you’ve started a business and things are going well. You’ve chosen a name for your business and have an idea of what it will sell or do. You also have a Brand Logo, which may be the most important thing of all (at least for us design geeks).
Congrats! Getting a (really cool) Brand Logo is a big step toward running a business or being an entrepreneur.
When you look at your image on your computer screen and see how sleek, bright, and well-designed it is, you probably feel a lot of joy. But you probably also feel a little bit of “WTF” when you hear “I have a new Brand Logo…” “Wow, that’s really cool, but what am I expected to do with it?”
Don’t worry, DsgnStory can help you figure out exactly what to do with your logo once the design process is over. Because having a great image is great, but what you decide to do with it is what will really affect your business.
Take the appropriate logo files
Let’s talk about what having a Brand logo really means. Because having a designer make something cool and then sending you a JPEG file won’t do.
When you have a brand image made, you should ask your artist for several different forms and styles. For different things in your business, you’ll need different kinds of files.
For example, you’ll need to give a print company a different file to make your business swag than you’ll need to give your web creator to put it in the top of your website. And trust me, you don’t want to miss out on a job or date because you didn’t have the right image style.
Once you’ve accepted your logo design, ask your artist for:
A sample for the web (JPG or PNG)
A file that can be changed (often an Adobe Illustrator or EPS file)
A vector file (usually an Adobe Illustrator or EPS file) with both CMYK (for printing) and RGB (for computer screens) colors.
- A sample for the web (JPG or PNG)
- A file that can be changed (often an Adobe Illustrator or EPS file)
- A vector file (usually an Adobe Illustrator or EPS file) with both CMYK (for printing) and RGB (for computer screens) colors.
If your logo is an image, you might also want to think about getting a version without the text.
Getting all the files and forms you need from the start will save you a lot of time, energy, and problems in the future. By asking for all the files up front, you’ll always be sure to have precisely what you need for yet you decide to use your brand.
What to do with your brand logo?
Now that you have all the files and forms you need, let’s talk about where you can use your awesome new brand logo.
Think of your brand as the face of your company. It’s the first thing you want your target market to know about you, and you want these individuals to see it repeatedly until they think of you and your goods or services whenever they see the logo.
Or, in other words, the more you use your logo, the more people will start to know it.
Let’s look at a few places where you’ll want to make sure your logo is seen.
Digital
The Internet is the second place you’ll want to show off your brand’s new image. Because let’s face it, most people will connect with your business in the digital space these days.
1. Website
Put your image in the middle of your site.
Include your image in the header, and if it works with the rest of your design, think about asking your web designer to make a sticky header. Even if a visitor moves down your website, your logo will stay with them.
2. App
If your company has an app, use your Brand logo as the icon. So, your viewers will actually see your brand each time they stare at their phones.
3. Social Media
All of your social media accounts should have your logo.
People spend way too much time on social media—the average smartphone user sees the Facebook app or website more than 13 times a day—so you want to make sure that they see your brand every time they look through their feed.
You’ll also want to put your brand on every piece of paper you print.
1. Business cards
Most of the time, a business card is the first thing a possible client, customer, or coworker remembers about you and your business.
Make sure your business card has your name on it so that it’s the first thing people see when they want to contact you.
2. Posters
Posters are a great way to advertise, and you should make sure that the thing you’re selling has your logo on it.
3. Stationery
By putting your logo on your business stationery, you can make sure that all of your interactions are branded, even the old-fashioned ones like snail mail.
4. Marketing brochures
Marketing brochures are an excellent means to give your audience more information about your business.
By putting your brand logo on the front and in the sides of each page, you’re also getting people used to your brand.
The moral of the story is that your brand should be on everything you print. Print products are a way to receive your company into the hands of the people who are most likely to buy from you. Make the most of the chance to build your brand that print gives you by displaying off your awesome logo.
5. Logo on the wall
Get a big sticker made with your logo and put it in the lobby of your office. Or get one made for your car and drive around town advertising for free!
6. Swag
Where are the goodie bags? Now, this won’t work for everyone, but based on your business plan, special things can be a great way to build reputation and client base (and who doesn’t like free stuff?).
You can put your logo on almost anything you think your audience would like as a gift, like pens, coffee mugs, race bags, T-shirts, stickers, and phone cases. If you can think of it, there’s a good chance you can brand it.
If you’re looking to save cash, you should buy in bulk. With sites like Zazzle, Discount Mugs, and Custom Ink that let you make your own stuff, the price usually goes down as you order more things. And the more money you save, the more money you have to buy cool stuff with your logo on it.
7. Banners
Pull-up banners are great for big events or expos because they really get people’s attention.
Get your Brand Logo out there
Step one is to work with an artist to come up with a great image. But if you want that logo you spent so much time, thought, and planning on to have the most effect, you have to use it.
Put that brand anywhere you can. The more you use your brand, the more it will work for you and attract the right people to your audience. So get the word out!