A logo design is normally the first impression your business makes and so it’s really important to get this right.

Designing a logo yourself without using a professional designer is not recommended. It can actually devalue your brand and give out the wrong impression.

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been sent a companies branding which is over complex, the sizing is incorrect or no vector version is available impacting the quality of print work required.

Here are 5 essential rules you can follow to improve your logo design.

1. Keep it simple

Simplicity is integral to a good logo design, make sure the company name is easy readible, recognisable and clear of any distracting shapes or complex objects.

Keep any shapes used within the branding simple, as the message the logo design conveys will be easier to remember.

2. Size does matter

Your logo design will need to be scalable to be used for multiple formats in the future. Therefore it needs to be designed to support print, web, vehicle graphics, stamps, embroidery, signs, transfers, promotional gifts, etc.

It needs to be enlarged & shrunken easily without the need for different layouts hence simplicity makes this an easier task.

3. Don’t use too many colours

I normally use a maximum of 3 colours, but generally it’s two. The more colours you have, the more money it may cost you when you print in certain colour methods. Too many colours within your logo can also distract from the messaging.

It’s also really important that you have reversible, transparent and black and white options so your logo design is as versatile as possible

4. Avoid lightweight fonts

Font which are lightweight will not show up when logo designs are printed in smaller formats similar to business cards, pens etc so use medium or thick versions of the font.

In a similar fashion, make sure your letter spacing is adequate enough to be able to read it clearly.

5. Use a suitable style

Your logo design should be unique but it should also reflect the industry you are in.

The symbol or shape used, should reflect your company or a defining characteristic you want people to remember about your business.

A good logo design is highly instrumental in establishing a business brand and creating a long lasting impression among its customers. It should be able to create a powerful impact on the viewers and successfully exude the nature and attitude of a business. Ideally, a company logo design should be able to communicate your company ethos, principles, mission and the nature of product/service offered, to the viewers.

A professional logo design would establish a professional image of your company and strengthen your brand. Actually, in most cases the consumer gets the first impression about the company through your logo. Your business logo should build a brand that is strong enough to give your consumer a visual imagery of your company. People should be able to identify your company on sight of your logo.

Trend shows, most of the good logos are simple and often text based. Think of the IBM, SONY or Microsoft logo, even if you view a part of it you will be able to recognize the company. It is extremely essential for a logo to be easy for people to remember.

This principle of simplicity applies in most cases, however, we often see exceptions in Government Organizations, Hotels and Luxury resorts etc because they want to put up a classical exclusive image. This again brings us to a very important point that should be considered for a good logo design – the nature of business.

While simplicity can be the basic principle for any logo design, the designs might vary widely depending on the nature of business. For example, a financial institution might like to use a bold face font to express solidarity and stableness where as a courier service or transport company might prefer italicized fonts to express the speed and movement involved in their business.

In addition, while specifying the design requirements for your logo you should consider the fact that you will probably have to use your logo on your fax cover and other places where it will be in black and white. You should ensure that your logo looks equally good and attractive in black and white.

I would also suggest avoiding a very trendy look for your logo if you are planning for a long-term business because what we concern “modern” today might be backdated tomorrow. It is very important that your logo designer knows how to maintain this balance.

While any professional logo designer should be able to create a custom logo design once you have provided them with your specifications, you should be careful to select an experienced designing company and not land up with some single designer start up venture.

Last but not the least important factor is price. You are paying for your logo – something that is going to be used to establish your brand and represent your business for years, so you should be ready to pay a decent amount while it is also not necessary to pay some large amount for a logo. With the online logo design firms coming into business, now you have a wide choice of price for your logos and it should not be difficult to find a logo designer that fits your budget. Some logo design sites would even allow you to quote your own price for your logo.