Logos are more than just a beautiful image; it’s the point of recognition for your business and serves as the foundation for your branding strategy. While it should be periodically updated, the investment you make in a unique logo will outweigh any other marketing asset’s cost. If done correctly, it can pay you back tenfold.
A professionally designed logo is an efficient way to convey to potential customers that your business is professional, trustworthy, and provides quality goods or services. So what happens when your potential client sees a logo that is similar to yours?
It misses the point of branding entirely
Your logo needs to convey the purpose, tone, and mission of the brand. Your brand is so much more than a logo, but it should encompass your brand. Branding takes serious time and energy, and at the core of it is the messaging. How it resonates with your target clientele and establishing your voice all play into that.
When you start with the visual component of branding first, it’s like trying to fit a square peg into a round hole. Your logo should be the last step on your branding journey.
Pre-Made Logos have little variation
There is no limit to the number of customers who can purchase the same pre-made logo. Meaning someone in your industry, hundreds, and maybe even thousands of other businesses, are using a logo or brand identity that is nearly identical to yours. How would you feel, knowing that the business you have spent all your time, energy, and creativity into establishing shared the same messaging as another company? Or worse, what if that rival company was in the same business as you?
These pre-made logos don’t take into account your voice, mission, or goals.
You can’t trademark it
A Trademark ™ is a type of intellectual property consisting of a recognizable sign, design, or expression that identifies a particular company’s products or services. A pre-made logo can not be trademarked, leaving you vulnerable.
Trademarking your business name and logo is vital to protecting the business you’ve worked so hard to build. Without a trademark, anyone can set up a similar business in your market and trade with the same name and branding assets.
They are not worth the investment
“The Bitterness of Poor Quality Remains Long After the Sweetness of Low Price is Forgotten” – Benjamin Franklin
Logos should withstand your company’s lifetime, with alterations on it as time passes to keep it fresh and relevant. Premade designs will never wholly fit your company`s ideology. You will have to compromise on color, design elements, hidden messages, etc. Additionally, they are a one-size-fits-all solution; you will likely require an update down the line.
Do you keep the previous logo, or do you start from scratch with a professional brand? Will you lose your brand recognition? How much money, time and effort will you lose
Lack of Alternative Sizing
A logo should have enough versions that you can use on the web, in print, and on the packaging of your product(s). Unfortunately, most pre-made logos come in one shape and size, with very little thought on how to use it. We’ve all seen the logos that are stretched, squashed, and cropped. With repeated misuse, some of these become pixelated. They are nearly illegible, which makes them useless. When this happens, customers lose faith in the brand. If your business branding is shoddy, then how is the quality of the product?
Ready to invest in your logo?
A customized logo is the best option to portray an authentic version of its ideology and motives. After reading this post, I’m sure you can see now why pre-made logos are not the right solution for your business. To conclude, choose a professional web and graphic designer, like us here at B-Web Services, and invest in a tailored-made branding solution.
