A logo is most people’s first introduction to their main home business and you want it to be something that people find interesting enough to stick with them. This is your identity, it is what sets you apart, and this is not the time to try to save money because it is what your future clients will remember you for.
When done correctly, your logo will instill a good first impression on your customers and ultimately build brand loyalty. Gives your new home business the look of a genuine, established business!
There are three main types of logos:
· Logos that represent what the company does – a house painter might show a paintbrush, a dog trainer might show a dog on a leash, a real estate agent would certainly show a house
· Font-based logos – Think IBM, Sony, Microsoft, Bic, Honda, Ford
· abstract graphics – like Adidas, Apple, Chevrolet and Nike.
Until you’ve made your small business a “household name,” it’s best to stick with a font-based logo or a logo that represents what you do. An abstract graphic means nothing until you’ve built brand recognition through a combination of graphics and fonts.
How to start:
Before you start designing your logo, make sure you have your mission statement clearly in mind. Your logo will ideally epitomize what you are doing in business.
· Take a look at the logos of companies similar to yours. Research your competitors and see how you want your home based business to stand out from theirs.
· Send a clear message. You already know how important your message is. What message do you want to send with your logo?
It should be crisp and clean. Your logo should look good on websites, on the side of a truck, on business cards, on faxes, on your letterhead, etc. Create a logo that looks both in color and in black and white.
· Let your work from local business name drive the design. If you are an artist, you may want your fountain to flourish more than if you had an electricity business.
· Your key benefit could be a good logo. For example, if you have a company focused on guiding people to success, a compass might make a good logo.
· Stay away from clip art. Original art will make a better impression and set your core business apart from the competition.
· Avoid fashion looks. It may seem tempting, but if you need to change your logo every year to keep up with the latest trends, your customers will be confused about your product or service.
Now that you have an idea of what you want, I suggest you outsource the actual creation of your design to the professionals. We have used rent-a-coder, elance, odesk, and WOW, just to name a few.
Creating your logo should be fun. For little money you can have several designs to choose from in just a few days. Once you have the logo right, your primary home business can begin to build a reputation, brand loyalty, and following that will help you whether you are working full or part time trying to earn extra money from home.