Choose a Logo for eCommerce Eight Examples of Tips to Avoid
Whether you're just starting an eCommerce business, or thinking about the possibility of a brand rebranding, one of the most important parts of this process is to create a high-quality, eye-catching logo that conveys your brand's message. But before you start brainstorming concepts, it is important to consider what factors go into an effective logo design and what logo style will be the best fit for both your company's brand as well as your prospective clients.
In this piece we'll discuss the importance of logos, the various kinds of logos and some of the practical aspects including the most effective practices to design logos, the various software choices for creating them, and design outsourcing tips.
What is a logo?
Although we can be a bit nutty about the meaning of "logo", the term is used most often to refer to a simple layout comprised of imagery, words or a mix of both in order to symbolize a brand or organization.
Why logos are important
Your logo can help people quickly and easily recognize your brand whether they're looking at your advertisements and posts on social media platforms, looking through results on search engines and comparing different products on an online marketplace, or even shopping on your site.
If you're looking for your e-commerce firm to stand out from your competition, the right logo is crucial. There are many online businesses competing for the attention of customers You'll need to choose an impressive, distinctive iconic logo that's a clear representation of your company's brand.
An attractive logo can be instrumental in establishing credibility. Take a look at your top brand names that you trust. Their logos are probably the first thing that comes to your mind. Just looking at a certain design or color might cause an image.
Your logo is an investment in your brand's development, so invest the time and effort to create a logo that communicates your company's image and appeals to your target audience.
Eight types of logos
Logos usually fall into eight different types:
- Wordmarks, logotypes,
- Brand mark, logomark or graphic
- Combination mark
- Dynamic logo
- Emblems
- Letterforms
- Lettermark, monogram
- Mascots
Wordmark/logotype
"Wordmark" as well as "logotype" are basically synonymous and both refer to the same style that employs the use of typography generally the business name, or at least a part of the company's name. These logos often use custom typography, making it unique to the company's brand.
A renowned and famous examples of a wordmark logo is Coca-Cola. The Coca-Cola logo is instantly recognizable due to its recognizable typography that has changed minimally over the last 130 years. L'oreal as well as eBay's logos are other examples of wordmarks or logotypes.
Brand mark, logomark, or pictorial
"Brand mark," "logomark," and "pictorial" are terms used to describe a graphic element in a logo that can also contain words or letters in the same way, but which does not include the brand's name. These marks can be symbolic, like the apple, bird and the shell marks from Apple, Twitter, and Shell Oil, or they may be more abstract as those of the Atari as well as the Dropbox trademarks.
The Atari logo hints at an A-shape without actually being a letter and the Dropbox branding uses a series of strategically placed diamonds to create an abstract look of a box.
The combination mark
A combination mark is your company's name paired with the image-based brand mark. A lot of times, companies will utilize the combination mark for all situations, but it may also utilize the wordmark of its brand and independently, depending on the situation.
Dynamic logos
Dynamic logos can be flexible contemporary logos that change their elements in accordance with what the branding wants to portray in a specific use. Google is perhaps the most well-known instance of this with its Google Doodles. Dynamic logos may be static, animated, or interactive.
Google utilizes all three kinds to use in the Google Doodles series. One thing that stays the same throughout every Doodle is the fact that the company name "Google" appears in some way. All other aspects of the logo may alter.
The Google strategy could not be the ideal choice, especially for those just looking to establish themselves. It may be difficult for customers who are looking to see multiple iterations of your brand's logo that have drastically different style.
Keep in mind that Google doesn't apply the similar flexibility to all uses of its logo. The Google Doodle is specifically used for Google's Google Search landing page. Otherwhere else, they adhere to their official wordmark and brand mark.
If you're trying to develop an exciting logo, then you could consider thinking more in the direction of MTV.
In most instances, MTV uses the same logo shape, but applies various color variants and may even include co-branding alongside other businesses. The logo is still easily identifiable as MTV However, the variance in the color and design can help viewers associate MTV to other ideas, ideology, and brands that evoke different feelings and continually re-engage viewers.
Emblems
The term "emblem" is a reference to the design of a logo that incorporates images and letters to form an integrated logo. Emblems typically look similar to emblems, badges or emblems. This kind of design most often with university teams, sports teams and automobile companies, but plenty of other firms use emblems to create their logos. Companies such as Starbucks, Warner Bros., as well as Stella Artois all have emblem logos.
Letterforms
The letterforms are the first letters and sometimes the initials, of a brand to create a simple brand mark. Though they're generally less complicated than a monogram logo, a letterform can also be a monogram, like the above pictured New York Yankees letterform/monogram.
Lettermarks/monograms
Logos with monograms or letters use the initials of the business or acronym for the entire or a portion or all of the emblem. Sometimes, the letters are overlapping to create a pattern. They also may be inset against a background.
Monograms were initially used in early Greece to identify coins. They indicated the city it was issued by. Later, they were used as signatures by those with wealth and power and by craftsmen and artists.
Monogram logos have a long history and are often used by fashion and beauty companies to communicate an air of sophistication and tradition. But monograms are not exclusively employed by these sectors. Nearly every type of industry has made use of monograms. They're an efficient and space-saving method of creating a logo, and are appropriate for virtually any business.
Mascot logos
Mascot logos use famous characters to represent the business. Lacoste's alligator, Cheetos' Chester Cheetah, Reddit's mascot-like exoplanet Snoo, KFC's Colonel Sanders, and Wendy's character, Wendy Thomas, are all famous examples of mascots used as part of the corporate logo.
Mascots will highlight the brand's personality, and make the brand more relatable and casual. It is also possible to use them to create unique ways of advertising. The use of a mascot within an image can be a challenge since it's easy to outgrow your mascot (see: Ronald McDonald) However, it can be it is difficult to get them out of the minds of consumers.
You'll have to consider your mascot and make sure it's in line according to the direction that you're planning in expanding your business.
Seven tips for designing an appealing logo
The logo you choose to use is usually the first interaction a customer has with your business. We've already established it must be memorable, easily identifiable as well as represent your brand image, however there are established best practices in the design of your logo that you'll need to think about when deciding on your logo.
If your logo's design is striking and distinct, that does not necessarily mean that it's a great design. Some of the most renowned companies have experienced certain doubtful logo launch events that led to criticism from the media.
Some businesses go by the old-fashioned adage that "any publicity is great publicity." If your company's name is controversial, you should follow a few tried and true techniques to ensure that you don't end up on a blog post on the most sloppy logo designs of all time.
Make it easy
You may have heard the saying "less is more" which was that was coined by minimalist designer Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1947. It is tossed around a lot in corporate jargon and is sometimes used as an excuse for minimal effort design. The idea behind "less can be more" does not mean to keep the design simple and boring.
It's a philosophy that values functionality as well as aesthetic. Ultimately, the goal is to use as few elements as are necessary to convey the intended message and supply the required function, while simultaneously creating an aesthetically-pleasing appearance.
This is an essential aspect in logo design because the design should be simple for viewers to understand. The design should allow you to use it with backgrounds using diverse textures and colors. make it adaptable to various spaces and aspect ratios, and use it in many different sizes without it becoming complicated or confusing.
It doesn't mean it is necessary to choose simple logo designs or anything else. It can be applied to any logo style that is traditional, contemporary, vintage, or any other style of design that is trendy and modern.
Make sure that your style reflects your company's image and the target viewers
If your company makes vintage or antique items You might wish to choose design elements that are retro and hearkens back to the era that your company represents.
For instance, Big Chill appliances use the look of a typographic style which evokes the look of vintage appliances from the 1930s-1960s.
Trader Joe's logo has the look of tiki art from the 1960s while Ben and Jerry's brand has a lively and playful 1970s style that matches their style. Altoids Serif font logo that has a gold embossed design around the edges gives it an elegant and timeless appearance.
Jack Daniels whiskey has not significantly altered their logo since 1947, and it still looks very similar to its earlier logo from the time of Prohibition. In contrast to brands such as Levi Strauss that massively changed their branding identities throughout the years, Jack Daniels has only made small updates to their logo over time, bringing back to consumers of the brand's long time of existence.
If your company is a provider of software as a Service (SaaS) and offers tech-based products, or would prefer a logo that's clean easy to read and simple You may want to go with something that's more minimalist. The following companies all use sleek, modern designs.
A few of them have logo marks. Others solely type-based, and employ distinctive letterforms that represent their message, whereas some have badges or emblem-style appearance.
If the shop you're running is targeted at niche consumers it is important to choose an image that resonates with this particular customer base. Whether it's organic food and toys, comic books, toy stores, women's apparel, or hunting gear, it's possible to achieve an effective, genre-targeted logo, without going over the realm of childish or silly.
A few examples of niche-specific audience logos include Walt's Comic Shop, Nelson Rare Books, KiwiCo, and Chewy.
Walt's Comic Shop makes use of a mascot style design however makes use of simplified lines as well as a two-color palette along with a clean, sans-serif font. It's fun and references the industry, but it's not cartoonish, and graphic elements and typography can be used together or separately.
Nelson Rare Books uses an intricately illuminated initial within their logo. This is similar to what is found in the opening chapter of an antique book. In contrast to the decorated serif initial, they utilize an uncluttered, broad sans-serif font that is used in the uppercase letters of the company's name. This creates a sense of balance visually and expresses the nature of their brand's identity as both the seller of rare or antique books and a shop that uses the latest technology and systems for organization.
KiwiCo offers science and arts kits for children as a subscription service. They've picked a modern and clean logo, but they've kept it fun by using a kiwi-themed mascot as well as a the serif font that is chunky. The logo's simplicity allows them to grow their business in various ways without needing to redesign the logo when they do so.
Chewy is a pet supply delivery service for pet owners. It is evident that their logo isn't comprised of any imagery and only uses type. They've used a rounded sans-serif style that's mixed up, giving it the playfulness that we associate with pets.
Do not use clip art
If you think you can choose a logo from a clip art free site - think again. Technically, you are able to make use of clip art whenever you'd like, but the chances are lots of other companies have utilized the technique. It is possible that people will recognize it and think it is a different brand's logo or might give an unprofessional impression.
Also, not all clip art can be considered to be publicly available. Just because you find it online isn't a guarantee that it's available to use. It's not a good idea to end up the subject of a lawsuit!
This doesn't mean you can't use a pre-designed graphic for an element of your branding. It is possible to use royalty-free images from photo marketplaces like iStock Photo or Creative Market that you can get higher-quality pre-made graphic elements that you can use to create your own logos. Or, completely designed logos. All you need to do is substitute the placeholder in the design by putting your name on it.
If you do use a pre-designed element in your logo, keep your eyes open for the possibility that others could be using the same element in theirs as well. Also make sure you're using the correct license for the purpose you intend to use it for. Many stock image sites offer several types of licenses which you can buy for various purposes, such as printing, web and editorial use.
Avoid overused and cliche images and fonts
A search of "worst logo fonts" as well as "worst logo design" will give you a few suggestions on what not to do. You should be sure to check sure your image elements as well as typography aren't being employed by any other company. This will not only help keep your brand from being confused, but it can also help encourage you to create a more innovative and unique design you can be proud of.
It's not always the wrong decision to choose a standard symbol or image for your logo design when it's relevant to your industry. Veterinary logos are a great illustration of this. What are the most common veterinarian logos that use a combination of either cats or dogs with a paw print an medical + symbol as well as a heart?
Probably most of them. It doesn't mean it's impossible to utilize this kind of image It's simply that it's a lot more challenging to think of something unique while using common subjects.
Here are some great examples of common logo image options that are well-executed:
In the case of Aurora Veterinary Hospital, the artist used a simple palette, with an almost abstract representation of a dog... or maybe it's an animal. It's wide enough to be able to convey both species. It's adorable without appearing cartoonish. It's modern, clean and easy to read while also being an original representation of the theme of dog and cat as a logo for veterinary use.
Advanced The logo of Veterinary Care Center is extremely creative, pointing towards a tail-like cat, as well as using the standard medical + symbol to make the form of the letter A to indicate "Advanced." It's symbolic of a corporate image, but remaining true to the field they represent. This logo has a different meaning than Aurora the logo of Veterinary Hospital. It's much more abstract and minimalist while making use of typical themes.
The creation of your own typeface, or altering a font's look in a way to match your brand's image, is the best way to design an effective and unique logo. If the design of typography and graphic design are not something you have a background in, you'll want to learn about basic typographic principles before you start working in creating your own custom fonts, or changing existing fonts.
Be careful not to go overboard with color or visual effects
Try to limit yourself only to a minimum of four colors. If your logo calls for more than four colors, you should try to limit the colors to a single graphic element within the logo.
In this case, for instance for instance, the NBC logo has the theme of rainbows in their peacock logo, but their text is in black. Every element can be read independently. The simple colors and the tiniest variety of shapes makes the peacock's shape readable, even though it has a variety of shades.
If you begin adding different colors to each word, your logo starts losing its impact. When you further apply drops shadows, rainbow gradients and glow effects it becomes chaotic. It's certainly unique, but it's pretty painful to look at.
You must ensure that the design you choose to use can be easily read on all devices.
For an ecommerce store, you'll definitely want to ensure that your logo looks great and can be easy to read on your site particularly on mobile. You'll need to be sure that your logo looks great on paper, and can be translated well to both horizontal and vertical layouts and has color variations for different backgrounds and textures.
Don't squish or distort the dimensions of your logo in order to make it fit into a specific area. The logo can be rearranged elements or make your logo smaller or larger while keeping its aspect ratio, but stretching or squishing your logo's design will cause it to be less easy to read and feel less professional.
Utilize a vector-based design software to design your brand logo
There are two different types of images you could develop using design software, the raster and vector. Images that are vector-based are created by mathematical formulas that permit them to be scaled without losing quality or becoming distorted.
The images in a raster format, on the other hand comprise a fixed quantity of pixels. When you reduce the size of the image, you can't scale it to the same size without losing quality or altering the image in any way.
As your logo is likely to be utilized in a range of contexts and sizes on your marketing material You'll need to be sure that your logo can scale without losing the quality. Utilizing a vector-based design makes editing your logo later much easier and helps to preserve the image quality regardless of the number of times you scale down or increase the size of the logo.
You should also save versions of your logos in various vector (ai, pdf, eps) file formats as and export high-resolution raster file formats (png or tiff), jpg,) and web-optimized lower resolution documents such as webp.
Are you interested in knowing more about different logo formats? The Mean Creative provides a useful guide.
Logo design software
Do you need the best software for creating a fantastic logo? With the many options available there, it's hard to figure out where to start. If you already have some graphic design experience, you might want to use a desktop or online design application that gives you complete freedom to create your company logo.
If you do not have a design background it's possible use an online design software. Even if you can't create a logo that is exactly what you're looking for It could prove to provide a useful start if you do decide to hire an artist.
If your logo design has a lot in common with what you're looking for and still requires some minor tweaks, you could save money by giving the freelance designer a logo that's 90% where you want it to be and requires only a couple of small changes.
Online and desktop design software alternatives
- ProsIllustrator is a market leading vector design software. Versions for iPad and Desktop are offered and feature-rich.
- Con:Illustrator uses a subscription-only system, which means it will have a continuous monthly fee. It can have a steep rate of learning, which means it may be suitable only for people who plan to complete a large amount of graphic design work.
- Advantages:It offers a one-time purchase option in addition to a subscription option. It also offers a cheaper version of Corel Vector online software with an initial trial of just 15 days.
- Pros:The one-time purchase price exceeds $500. The online Vector software is subscription only. As with Illustrator, the learning curve is a bit daunting for beginners. In addition CorelDraw iPad app CorelDraw iPad app has an average rating of 1 1/2 stars score on the Apple App Store.
- Pros: Canva includes a free account option so you can design a logo as well as others designs for free. Canva offers a logo generator if you're not satisfied with the design you've created. Canva is an incredibly popular simplified design software designed for creative and non-designer professionals, and you can be sure that it is well-supported with regular updates and innovative features. The program also provides free access to some of the stock images that are available from Getty and other stock content suppliers.
- Pros: Premium content and features are gated for users that have pay-per-use accounts. The software is online-only. Searching for stock photos, especially it's a bit clunky and it can be difficult to pinpoint precisely what you're trying to find.
- Advantages Vectr is a basic, free vector design program that's easy to use.
- Pros:It's online only and could be too basic, based on the type of work in design you'd like to do. The software also displays advertisements within the application, which can be annoying.
Online logo creators
In addition to Canva's feature to create logos, which we mentioned earlier There's also an online program that focuses exclusively on automatic logo design.
The Looka as well as Smashing Logo each offer low-cost automated logo creation services. The cost is free for creating as many logos as you'd like. However, in order to download vector files as well as brand packs, you'll need to pay for the premium level.
Online logo creation software can be a great option to locate a logo that will do the job with minimal cost, but you're not necessarily guaranteed to get exactly what you're hoping for. Since these two platforms can be used for free They can at least help you think about the direction of your design, think about your ideas about what you would like to prefer, and then present that concept to a graphic artist or an agency to get a start point.
Outsourcing logo design
Not interested in designing your own logo or endlessly generating iterations in the logo creator program? Sometimes it's just ideal to work with an expert from the beginning.
Employing a designer who is a freelancer or agency to create your logo can be a wise investment in the future of your business. Professional logo designers can bring fresh perspectives that you might not otherwise have considered. They are capable of generating all the necessary files and designs.
It's vital to consider the risks of outsourcing the design of your logo. Make sure to choose a designer with previous experience in designing logos for companies that are in your sector, with good reviews from previous customers, and who is able to meet your needs within your budget.
Some people have good success finding freelance designers through online marketplaces like Fiverr and Upwork. Some prefer working with local people or was recommended to them by a friend, colleague, or the local chamber of commerce. All of these are excellent options to consider in the search for a designer to work with.
If you're a customer, you'll also need to make sure that you're prepared to collaborate with a professional. It is important to conduct some research on logos you like, think about what you'd like to achieve by your brand, and be able to clearly convey your requirements.
Designers thrive when given the right guidelines and a bit of creativity in their designs. If you're too rigid in the way you'd like your logo to appear like, or you're too vague this could result in an unsatisfactory logo. the expectations you have set.
The final step in creating a logo in conjunction with your graphic designer is like a conversation that you can go around a couple of times with sketches until you arrive at a design that is perfect.
Put your logo to work
Now that you have some ideas for logo design to look up, it's time to get creating and get your logo the test. Research other logos. Come up with a brand colors and general concept.
Then, decide whether you would like to design your logo yourself, use an application to create logos or work with a professional designer. Once you have a logo that you like, ensure you have all the right formats for your web site as well as print before implementing it across your website and social media channels, as well as product marketing, and other channels.
It's also recommended to carefully review your logo and pass it by trusted sources for feedback before it goes live. Remember, your logo is the visual representation of your company. It's possible that you won't reach a agreement on whether the logo you prefer is a good design, but you should at least avoid any glaring problems that would be featured in blogs about the most unprofessional logo designs of all time.
Logo design may seem daunting, but by focusing on your research, planning and the best tool or designer You can design a beautiful, impactful logo which represents your business and inspires trust and loyalty among your customers.