1. Understand what makes a good logo
Your job is to get people to connect and recognize your website and your brand as soon as they see your logo. If that happens, your marketing efforts will be much more effective. The fact is, most people make an emotional connection with brands that they have had positive experiences with, based on their history and personality.
The next time they think of something related to your niche, your domain name and your logo should be the first images that come to mind.
Your audience should be able to differentiate your logo from a series of different brand logos on a shelf and choose your product by associating it with quality, profitability, or any other characteristic you want to be known for.
2. Discover the principles of an effective logo
To successfully create a logo, you need to know some principles. As a beginner in the world of logo design, you will need to train your mind so that it can adopt a creative thought process that will allow you to create unique designs.
You should be able to do this if you understand the following principles:
Simplicity is key
Designers always overdo it when it comes to logos. However, the most popular logos are striking in their simplicity. Nike and Apple are good examples: everyone on the planet recognizes these logos and their currencies. It's obvious that there's a fine line between excess and inadequacy, and that's perhaps your biggest challenge when designing a logo.
It should be unique
In a sea of businesses, the last thing you need is a generic logo that looks like everyone else's. Sure, there are popular design features for any niche, but you need a logo that is uniquely styled and has characteristics that people associate specifically with your brand.
It should be recognizable
The logo should stand out and be easy to recognize, even from a distance. Obviously, a lot of research is needed on this subject, but it's well worth it. The evolution of the Apple logo is an excellent example of this principle.
Flexibility is very important
The logo must be recognizable regardless of its size or the medium on which it is represented. It should work just as well in color as in black and white, on billboards and business cards, in the corner of a web page viewed from a smartphone, and on keychains and mugs. Logos that are too complex don't translate well in small formats.
It should reflect the personality of the company
It is possible to create a Great logo who does not have the right mind. A great example would be using playful colors and a cartoonish font to create the logo of a serious law firm - that's a big no-no. However, there are a lot of different mistakes you can make in this process that are not as obvious, which is why it is very important for you to clearly define your business.
3. Learn what type of logos can be created
Now that you know the basics, it's time to learn about the types of logos that exist so you can get familiar with your options.
Different types of logos can help you achieve maximum personalization and find the right tone.
- Wordmarks - logos created from text. It can be a combination of fonts that have been changed into a single graphic.
- Lettermarks - logos composed only of letters, usually monograms.
- Trade marks - logos that represent an entire brand. It is usually a graph that shows a unique characteristic of the brand in question.
- Combined brands - a combination of logos and texts that make up a single logo.
- Emblems - a traditional type of logo; it contains a font inside a symbol.
4. Get inspired and check out the competition
Even professionals sometimes have trouble finding inspiration when they start working on a new logo for a client. It's not surprising that you, as a beginner, are also having trouble deciding where to start.
One of the easiest ways to get started is by watching your competitors. Do a Google search for similar websites, and see what type of logo they have. Look at their icons, font types, and try to understand what color combination was used to achieve a specific effect on the logo.
When you find something you like, try looking for similar images and see what the masses have used. However, remember that you are only looking for inspiration - don't try to copy any of your competitors. Not only do you risk looking ridiculous, but you can also get in trouble for stealing someone else's design.
5. Review logo design rules used by professionals
To the inexperienced eye, a logo may seem like a simple little image that no one cares about. However, the truth is quite different. Although often small in size, a logo can be a complex project before becoming a simple “icon.” To make it simple and recognizable, you need to follow a few rules.
- The logo should reflect your business : Make sure that the image you create really has meaning and a connection to your business. Don't add an image of an animal just because you think it's cool, unless it really makes sense.
- Keep it simple : Avoid cluttering your logo. The fewer elements there are, the better the logo will be.
- Make it scalable : a professional logo should be available in all sizes. Professionals use vectors that allow them to scale logos from a few pixels to what is needed to print them on billboards.
- Use your brand color palette : The general rule is to have a lighter color, a darker color, a neutral shade, and an accent color. You can use a free service like Colorors to find matching colors.
6. Choosing a logo design tool or service
It exists numerous user-friendly tools and cost-effective services that you can use to create a logo, depending on your needs, budget, and skill level.
Even if you don't have any logo design experience, you can create sketches that will give a professional designer a good starting point. Here are the three most popular routes you can take.
Free tools
If you have time ahead of you and want to create a logo by yourself, the following three tools will be very useful. Each of them is a great tool, very effective, and most importantly, free to use.
Makr logo
LogoMakr is a free online logo maker created for people who need a professional logo in minutes.
The service is very simple and welcomes you with a blank canvas that can quickly turn into your dream logo. It offers over a million graphics and comes with several tools that will allow you to manipulate logo elements as you wish.
You can also save your work and continue at any time from any computer.
Tailor Brands
Tailor Brands is one of the leading manufacturers of logos available online today.
They use machine learning and artificial intelligence technologies to create a unique and beautiful logo tailored to your business.
Tailor Brands takes your logo to the next level by automatically incorporating it into social media posts, business cards, templates, and more.
Logaster
Logaster will allow you to browse several hundred logos until you find the one that's perfect for you. After entering your business name and selecting the type of business you are engaged in, you can begin your search. Once you have selected a logo, Logoaster will offer you a series of options, such as adding text or changing colors, to personalize it. Now all you have to do is download it and you can do it in raster and vector formats. But first you need to know the difference between these two formats.
Paid services
For those who want a custom design based on their own ideas and research, and who are willing to pay a reasonable price for it, there are a number of excellent freelancing websites where you can find graphic designers of various skill levels.
The following three platforms connect freelancers and employers. So you can expect to work with designers from different corners of the world. Their work will require appropriate monetary compensation, but it is possible to negotiate.
Freelancer
While a lot of people don't like Freelancer's user interface, you can't really argue with the fact that this platform has a lot to offer. You can be specific about the type of logo you want, describe it perfectly, select the price range you're willing to work in, and simply wait for the highest bidder. However, you shouldn't expect much from the Freelancer support team if something goes wrong.
Upwork
Similar to Freelancer, UpWork is a platform that connects employers with freelancers and allows them to establish a professional relationship. Today, more than 30 million freelancers are registered on their platform. There's plenty of room for clear two-way communication, so you can give feedback on early drafts and later versions of the logo until the final idea is crystallized.
Placeit
For only $39.95 (or half the price if you have a monthly subscription), you can get a high-quality logo using Placeit's easy to use logo maker. With over 4500 logo templates designed by professionals, you'll be spoilt for choice, regardless of your industry. So if you're looking for a logo that's affordable, unique, and high profile, Placeit and its easy to use logo creation tool could be a great option for you.
Crowdsourcing websites
When it comes to platforms based on crowdsourcing, the following three are the best. They all have an interesting employer-creator relationship and allow you to select the best option from a number of unique designs submitted by a variety of talented designers.
99Designs
The advantage of 99Designs is that it can be very affordable. If you are strapped for cash, you can simply submit the price you are willing to pay for designing a logo and receive ideas from designers who are ready to work for that award. Several designers will send you their logos and you can choose the one that best reflects your brand. You get a logo; one person gets paid; it's pretty simple. However, be aware that establishing a long-term professional relationship is not what people do here. You will receive a logo in a.jpeg or.eps file and that's it. You should also do some research on these file types, to find out what your best option is.
Designhill
For those who want to create a logo on their own but lack the necessary skills, Designhill's AI-based logo maker is probably one of the best options. Simply enter a few details about the company, select their design preferences, and based on those preferences, you'll receive a variety of logos to choose from.
DesignCrowd
DesignCrowd gives you access to over 500,000 designers from around the world, with logo projects starting at just $99. In addition to having an amazing gallery with a significant number of exceptional logos, they also have a great team that can polish your design and make it ready for product applications. DesignCrowd is synonymous with quality (not just quantity), so you should take these into consideration for your future project.
7. Create a logo with LogoMakr for free
A lot of the free tools can be quite complicated. However, LogoMakr is not following this trend, as it is very easy to learn and understand. It won't waste your time, but will only give you the tools you need to help you create your logo.
So how do you create your first logo with LogoMakr?
- See you on the LogoMakr official site.
- Click on the “Create a new design” button in the pop-up window.
- Watch the how-to video or simply close the window.
- Find a graphic you like and click an icon to add it to the canvas.
Once the graphic is placed on the canvas, you can start editing it. To move the icon on the screen, simply type it in with the cursor and move it until it is perfectly positioned.
To resize the chart, hover over one of the corners, click on it, and move the cursor up and down until you get the correct size.
The options at the top of each chart will allow you to:
- Replace the selected chart with a new one.
- Copy, paste, duplicate, and more.
- Remove.
If you look at the left side of the screen, you'll find some interesting tools that will allow you to add more elements to your logo:
- Text - click on the icon to place a text box where you can write what you want.
- Shapes - insert circles, triangles, squares, etc.
- Paint bucket - choose this icon, then select your favorite color. Then, click on the object to change its color.
- Cancel - If you make a mistake, click on this icon (or press CTRL+Z) to return to the last step.
If you look at the right side of the screen, you'll see other options. For this option to work, you need to select one of the graphics or elements placed on the canvas by clicking on it. Once you've selected it, you'll be able to:
- Change the color of the selected item.
- Change the opacity and make the element more or less transparent.
- Work with layers - move items one above the other.
8. Integrate your logo into your brand
Once the design process is complete, it's time to save the logo so you can integrate it into your brand and display it on your site:
- In the top right corner of your site, click the Save icon.
- Download a low resolution file for free or subscribe to get the full resolution files.
After saving the logo, you can now add it to your website, social media accounts, banners, and anything else you want.
How to add a logo to your WordPress website
A logo is a small image that represents your website. While you could theoretically have a website without a logo, that's not a good practice. A simple logo will make your site recognizable and more believable for a random visitor.
So let's quickly upload your new logo to the website:
- Log in to your WordPress website.
- Go to Appearance -> Customize.
- Choose “Site Identity.”
- Click on the “Select Logo” button at the top, and download the image you saved from LogoMakr.
- Save the changes.
That's it, it's done. Your logo has been successfully added to your site, and all visitors will be able to see it. Please note that the position of the logo on your site may change depending on the theme you use, but most WordPress themes have options that allow you to manage logos the way you want.
FAQs
How do I create my own logo?
Modern services offer free logo makers that will help you create your custom logo without using professional designers. Just choose one of the logo creators we've described, open the site, and start adding graphics, elements, and text until you get the logo you like.
How do I create a professional logo?
Until recent years, only professional designers were able to create professional logos. Luckily, there are now dozens of free logo design services that allow you to play with graphics and create a custom logo that everyone will love.
What is the best free logo maker?
There are dozens of great free logo creators out there, but we prefer LogoMakr. It's completely free, easy to use, and comes with the right tools that will help you design your professional logo. However, feel free to take a look at the full list of logo creators we've included in this tutorial, and find the one that best suits your needs.
