What Makes a Great Logo?

Posted 17 September By Hanju Lee—Branding—No Comments

What Makes a Great Logo?

I get this question a lot… “What’s the difference between BRANDING and a LOGO?” I wanted to clarify it a bit for you.

As we said last time, a logo is a symbol for your brand. It can help people to remember you, using images, text, shapes, or a combination of all of those to depict the name and purpose of your business. BUT it should be more than just a way to identify you.

If you do it right, it can capture the whole story of your company in a meaningful way.

That’s all great, but one thing I’ve learned from the internet: if you really want people to hear what you have to say, it’s gotta be in a TOP 5 LIST. OK – you asked for it:

Top 5 Things a Logo can do for you:

Creates a positive first impression
Gives you a brand identity
Helps you stick out from competitors
Fosters brand loyalty
Makes you memorable

Now that you know why it’s valuable, what are the key elements of a logo? Here you go!

Top 5 Elements of a Logo:

Color – like the visual mood music of a logo.
Typography – a fancy designer way of saying “font.”
Image – as the saying goes, a picture is less boring than 1000 words.
Tagline – “Your slogan can change everything.” (according to people who write slogans).
Meaning – Hopefully all of the above reflects some deeper values of your company that will resonate with your target audience.

Awesome example: the Nike swoosh. When you see it, you don’t just think of Nike – you think of the grit and determination required to JUST DO IT (side note: if you haven’t seen this, it’s one of the best commercials ever)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA4dDs0T7sM).

One last question – how can we make a logo stand out? Yep, we’ve got a top-5 list for that too! Coming in at number 3 on our list of Logo-Related Top 5 lists…

Top 5 Ways to Make your Logo Stand Out:

Know your Audience – once again, branding is not what YOU say, it’s what THEY say.
Be Clear – don’t be like those weird personalized license plates that no one understands.
Be Unique – “You are totally unique, just like everyone else.” –Margaret Mead
Be Versatile – Scalable across any newfangled social media platform.
Last but not least: Be in touch with BOS Media Group.

The truth is, there are a ton of variables in the creative process, and it can all feel pretty subjective. Plus remember, the logo is just a small part in the big picture of your overall branding. If you think your branding and logo design could use a makeover, we would love to support you however we can – give us a call today!