Your logo should inspire brand loyalty. People should be able to distinguish your logo from other logos and they should be able to  relate to it. The best logos are simple, memorable and protruding. The logos should also be relevant and original as well as timeless and adaptable. Lastly, they should be legible and attractive. Below are the nine common features.

Logo symbols

A logo symbol is an icon or a graphical based design. It is a recognizable image like an animal or a camera. The examples are below

Abstract logo marks

Unlike logo symbols which have a recognizable image, abstract logo marks have a conceptual image that represents your business. A few famous examples include the following;

Mascot logos

These type of logos are usually colorful, sometimes in  a form of a cartoon. The mascot logo is a great way to create your very own brand spokesperson. Here are the examples;

Lettermark logo

A letter-mark is a typography-based logo that’s comprised of a few letters, usually a company’s initials. The letter-mark is all about simplicity.

Wordmark logo

A wordmark logo is a font-based logo that focuses on a business’ name alone.

The combination mark

A combination mark is a combination of  a logo symbol, abstract mark, or mascot and a wordmark or lettermark.

Emblem logo

An emblem logo has words or letters inside a symbol or an icon, for example,  seals, badges and crests.

There are a number values that you should follow to ensure that your logo is effective. A good logo should be unique, appropriate, useful, clear, and simple. It should also bear the intended message.

It should be appropriate

Your logo should be appropriate for its intended purpose. For instance, if you are designing a logo for a religious organization, it would be appropriate to use a religious scheme. But, you cannot do the same for a consultancy firm. Furthermore, a logo  does not necessarily need to state what a company is offering or selling. For example, the Telecel logo does not have a phone on it neither does  Delta beverages have a beverage on it.

Make it simple

Easy recognition comes along with a simple logo. A simple logo is also versatile and memorable, hence it stands a greater chance of achieving enduring quality.  Apple and Google are large companies but their logos are simple thus easier to recognize.

Aim for endurance

A good logo should be timeless. You should ask yourself if it will last for ages. Econet wireless has used the same logo ever since and it has given the company the brand identity that they have today.

Memorable

Your logo should be one that onlookers will remember after just one quick glance. Think about the logos that you remember most when you just decide to draw a logo. Your logo should be one that is remembered the instant your stakeholders see it the next time.

Focus on adaptability

An effective logo should be able to work across different platforms. The logo should be useful for everyone. For this reason a logo should be designed in a format that is scaleble to any size. The logo should be able to work both in horizontal and vertical formats.

Red

Red is the color of passion, anger, love, confidence, energy, action, ambition and determination.

Blue

Blue is associated with water, tranquility, trust, power, calm and stability

Green

Green represents the environment, nature, fertility, balance, cleanliness.

Purple

Purple is associated with nobility, power, elegance, wisdom, royalty and wealth.

Black

Black shows exclusivity, modern, power, sophistication, mystery.

Orange

Orange is  the color for youthfulness, cheer, warmth, hunger.

Grey

Grey represents neutral, sophistication, balance, wisdom.

Brown

Brown is for earth, stability, tradition and nature.

Yellow

Brown is associated with sunshine, happiness, energy, optimism.

It’s common practice amongst big businesses to have a logo. Take a look at the image above. Even if the brand names are not integrated into the logo design, i’m sure you could recognise and name the brand for some of the images represent. That is the power of a custom logo – recognition and domination in your industry. Here are a few more reasons why having a logo is important:

1. It reveals your identity

I remember visiting my grandfather’s farm while growing up. The cattle would be rounded up and a red hot piece of iron was used to put a mark on the side of each cow. They did it to mark ownership. That is what a logo should do (without the pain of a red hot branding iron). The logo should be on your products, your business cards, your website and everything. Why? Because your logo communicates ownership. It tells the world and potential customers who you are, what type of product or service you sell, or what benefit you offer to consumers.

2. It invites new customers to get to know you

People are naturally drawn to interesting design and colour. The logo that marks your package or shows your storefront should be designed to draw interest and raise the curiosity of your potential customers, prompting them to at least look, and hopefully purchase your product.

3. It distinguishes you from the competition

There are certain symbols that come to represent particular industries or products. For example, how many pizza places have you seen with a logo that features an Italian, mustachioed chef with a tall white hat and a wide grin? Maybe holding a ridiculously huge pizza? A good logo reflects who you are, but it should also distinguish you from everybody else. A good logo should dare to be different. Most real estate logos feature an almost the same image of a house making it difficult to distinguish who is who. Make your logo daring and different.

4. It facilitates brand loyalty

From time to time, a company will redesign their logo, perhaps to update their look or reflect some other corporate change. As a marketer, I get this. As a consumer, I hate it. When I’ve become accustomed to my favourite brands’ logo and they change it, I feel a little betrayed. Now I’ve got to retrain my brain to look for something new. Brand loyalty is huge and something every business needs to foster. A recognisable and familiar logo goes a long way toward building brand loyalty.

5. Can be everywhere

Placing your logo on all of your marketing, packaging, products, social media, website, etc. is a way to advertise your brand and your message consistently, whether it’s in the store, in your customers’ homes, online, i.e., everywhere you want to be. If you’ve developed your brand message and successfully tied it to your logo, everything you do and create becomes associated with the logo and the brand.

These logos transition from signage to merchandise to mobile marketing with ease. A simple logo is best if it’s to reside on a variety of materials or be displayed on different media.