Your logo design is a visual representation of your company brand. When used to its maximum potential, it can create a sense of trustworthiness and familiarity in the hearts and minds of your consumers. Whether you are creating an entirely new logo or are revamping an old design for a fresh, modern look, there are some key factors to consider which will make the most of your branding strategies.

Is your logo appropriate?

Your logo design is going to be used in all sorts of marketing formats, from print media to company stationary, advertisement brochures, business cards, marketing flyers, door hangers, and numerous other types of graphic design. Make sure to choose symbols that truly represent the authenticity of your industry brand.

Keep it simple

Take a minimalist approach. Avoid trying to stuff too much information into the logo itself. A cluttered and confusing logo design can lead to a disconnect with your targeted audience, especially when used in a smaller scale on some of your marketing materials. Avoid images with lots of fine details or text. Keep the logo neat, orderly, and easily recognizable when used in a wide variety of formats.

Be clear and concise

Some of those fun and creative visual effects, like beveling, drop shadows, and excessive patterns, can actually take away from the overall graphic design of the logo. These types of branding subtleties can easily become distorted when the logo is reduced in size. Remember, keep it simple.

Pay attention to colors

Certain colors generate specific responses in the viewer. Be aware of the moods that certain colors create. For example, the colors of yellow and orange promote a feeling of energy and exuberance. Blues and grays inspire authority and trust. Intensity of color is also a factor. Pastel shades are often used in the health and beauty industry while neon colors can instill a sense of urgency and boldness.

Protect your branding strategies

After putting so much thought and hard work into your logo design, take the time to write up a short “how to” manual that will provide your staff, affiliates, and other third parties with the proper information regarding the uses and functions of your company logo. You might even go so far as to provide the specific RGB or CYMK details for each color in the logo as well as the proper requirements for the surrounding white spacing.

Don’t be afraid to test your logo on other people in the industry. Get feedback. And don’t put the logo into play until you are absolutely in love with it. Changing a logo after-the-fact can hurt your brand name recognition. You want to feel that sense of pride every time you look your final company logo design.