Getting a logo? Think carefully before you begin.

 

 

As I mentioned yesterday, I’m undertaking the creation of a logo for Eyecube. This is a guest post from Ben Johnson of Logoinn, a custom logo design service provider based in UK.  I’ve teamed up wtih Logoinn in a non-monetary partnership for this project.

How much should your Logo Cost?

There are three types of people: 1) Those who can afford to buy expensive branded suits and buys them, 2) Those who can afford expensive branded suits but don’t buy them, and 3) Those who wish to get branded suits but can’t afford to buy them at all.

Same is the case with business owners, they fall under different categories. Some are big businesses and can afford high priced logo designers, either having their own ad/design agencies in-house or working with top design companies that have a bunch of highly professional logo designers. Then there are business owners who can afford to pay exorbitant prices for getting their logos designed by highly professional designers but they don’t, since they think spending too much on a logo is a complete waste of money.

However, there is another type of businessmen who run small businesses with low budgets, they wish to get hands on an expensive, high class designer-made logos but they simply can’t afford to have one. So, which category do you fall in?

Reality bites, but who doesn’t want the best of everything, even when it’s a logo. Many people underestimate the value of an instantly recognizable logo. However, they should be aware of the fact, that a logo is the visual face of any business and represents it everywhere among the masses and your competitors. Think of your competitor having an incredibly eye-catching logo. It may be equal in everything else but definitely has an edge over your logo.

Years ago, Nike got its initial logo designed for $35 which is very cheap if you think of the popularity it has gained over the years.  Today if anyone can claim to provide such a classic logo for this amount, I would get my logo done from there. But not everyone’s that fortunate to have a logo like Nike’s for only $35. It is true that whenever someone talks about buying sportswear, Nike comes to my mind immediately, though Adidas too is Europe’s leading supplier of athletic shoes and apparel and comes second worldwide, after Nike. My point is: Why do we instantly think of Nike and not Adidas? In large part because of Nike’s branding strategies; the Nike logo has played a huge role in uplifting its brand image.

It was in 1971, Carolyn Davidson, a graphic design student at Portland State University was approached by Phil Knight. She was a freelancer then and was working for a company named Blue Ribbon Sports, who needed a new brand for a new line of athletic footwear. She charged $2 per hour and created the now-famous ‘Swoosh’ for a total of $35, and in the process created one of the most popular logos in the world.

But trust me not everyone’s luck shines like Phil Knight. There are logo design companies and freelance logo designers who will offer five logo design concepts at a price of $50 only, which means $10 a logo. The logo design industry has become so saturated that you can easily get a logo at a minimum of $5 as well, but can anyone guarantee the quality of it?

You can get your logo designed for $10, $50, $100, $500, $1000 and so on. No matter how expensive your logo is, it should pay off in the end as an instantly recognizable logo and should play a major role in creating brand identity for your business or product. Then only is it worth the price of thousands of dollars. On the other hand, having your logo designed for $10 or $50, doesn’t mean you should be unconcerned if it doesn’t do the job for you just because it was inexpensive. After all, it’s your brand and your logo needs to work for you, regardless of cost .

I would say if you are a small business, do a little research on online logo design companies. Beware the amateur freelance logo designers, who might charge you pennies for a logo but deliver only a second-rate logo for your business. In addition to inferior quality, your logo could be a copy of some other logo; which could cause problems far greater than the cost of a first-rate logo. You can be sued by that other company for legal rights infringement.

A good, professional design company will ensure such issues are be taken care of. There’s a huge difference between professionals and non-professionals and that becomes even more obvious when you hire an experienced logo design company.

It is a general rule, the more you pay, the better quality you get. You just need to evaluate the importance of a logo to your business. Remember, great logos get noticed and can aid in generating interest in the minds of your customers, so better invest in it.

Let me know your thoughts in the comments section. I would love to hear from you. Cheers!