Do you need to invest in getting a professionally designed logo right now?
It all depends on which stage of your business you’re in, but also on why you want a logo in the first place.
There are many reasons why we want to have a logo:
It will make us look more professional. It will make us look more experienced. Everyone that is a big name has a logo, right?
On top of that, designing a logo it’s a fun, creative process…
…and we all could do with a bit more fun in our business.
But we can also want to have a logo for the wrong reasons.
3 Wrong reasons to invest in a logo.
When I started my first business venture, a consultancy on healthy and environmentally sustainable architecture, I spent lots of time and effort in the visual elements of my brand.
As a logo, I designed a double pyramid which came to me in a meditation.
I carefully chose my color palette in alignment with my values of Nature and Health.
For the name, “Hogar Holístitco” (Holistic Home in English) I took into consideration both the sound of it, to make it more memorable, and also its energetic vibration based on numerology.
You’d think that nothing could go wrong with such a carefully crafted brand design, do you?
Well, I learned this lesson the hard way:
If you want a logo to cover up for our own insecurities because you are new to business, –as I was back then– or because you feel uncomfortable putting yourself out there, –anyone else?– and you think a logo will give you the credibility and put-together look of a seasoned professional…
Think twice.
No matter how much time, effort and money you put into creating your brand -especially the visual aspects of it- if there aren’t enough people interested in your service no amount of branding will keep your business alive.
Do you really need a logo in the first place?
A logo is just another way of saying to your clients: “This is what I do and what I stand for”, in a visual format.
If you still don’t have clarity around your message, how will you be able to communicate that? You still don’t have enough information to create a logo that will stand the test of time.
You’d be doing it for the wrong reasons, and at the wrong time.
My advice to you?
Don’t spend your money on a professionally designed logo, just yet.
Because at this stage, you can do with a DIY version of it.
There is this psychological principle: “The more confident you are in your ability to help others, the less you’ll feel the need to prove it to them that you can.” So question your own motivations for wanting a logo before committing time and money into creating one.
Ideas Into Action: How to design your own logo.
So you think you need a logo.
You want to look good, and be professional.
Or maybe you are more advanced and it’s time to get one.
I understand.
This is how you craft a logo the DIY way:
- Describe in a few words the type of transformation you currently provide, as you understand it.
- Think of images that represent the journey you take your clients through or the end result they get from working with you. (Hint: Type your words on Pinterest for more ideas. Use a timer, though. 15 minutes will be enough, so you don’t get caught down the “browsing rabbit hole”).
- Alternatively, you could create a “word logo”. This is the easiest by far. Use your business name, arrange it in a visually appealing way with a nice free font, and a couple of colors.
- Sleep on it. Let your unconscious help you with this process. Come back refreshed in a few days and see if you still like it or need to tweak something.
That’s it. You have your logo.
Keep it simple. Don’t overthink it. And don’t get too attached to it, because it will evolve.
My perfectly designed brand only took me that far.
I should have tested the viability of my business instead of wasting my time designing my logo.
Yes, I got many comments on how beautiful my business cards were, but only a few clients. nowhere enough to be financially sustainable. And a few months later I had to shut it down.
Now it’s your turn, which symbol best represents: “This is who I am and this is what I do for my clients” for your work?
Please let me know in the comments below.