Have you just finished designing your company logo? Congratulations! Developing a business logo is a significant milestone in marketing and branding your business.
But what’s the next step? Well, the answer depends on the type of small business you’re operating.
A consultant will use the logo on his website and business cards, while a restaurant owner will display it on the menu, staff uniforms, and the store’s signage.
As such, you want to think about places where your customers will see the logo and then find ways that make the most sense to reach them.
Here are some ideas and other ways you can use the logo:
Trademark the Logo
The first and most significant step after finishing the logo is to trademark it. A trademark protects it from people who may want to steal the design and make it theirs.
This is a pretty common practice among designers who don’t want to put in the work.
A trademark protects all your creations, including your business slogan, business name, custom colors, symbols, and fonts. The filing process is simple, costing a couple of hundred dollars.
Update Your Online Platforms with the Logo
Many customers will interact with your products or services online, hence the need to update all the platforms with your logo.
Unlike traditional advertising, social media allows you to interact with customers directly, creating a more personal relationship.
You could begin with the company website, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Pinterest pages.
For the company website, place the logo in front, center and on the header. You could also ask your designer to create a sticky header if it works with your overall design.
Then, update online directories like Angie’s List, Yelp, and industry-specific directories like Houzz. Your target audience will likely interact with your products and services on all such platforms, so you must not overlook them. If you have an app, use the logo as the app’s icon to ensure your audience sees it every time they use their mobile device.
You could look for user-friendly logo makers to help you use social media-friendly logo sizes.
Social media platforms have varying requirements for logo sizes, hence the need to look for a tool or a professional conversant in this area.
Use the Right Files
The next step is to choose the logo file. Logo files come in varying sizes and shapes, each for a different purpose.
Social media pages like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, for example, have varying logo sizes when uploading a logo.
Similarly, you’ll need a different logo file when printing it on t-shirts, business cards, and print ads.
That’s why logos come with downloadable files in varying shapes, formats, and sizes for each scenario. Understanding the file types is necessary:
- EPS (Encapsulated PostScript): This file type is suitable for printing logos on business cards, brochures, and stickers because it’s easy to change and can be scaled for printing
- PNG (Portable Network Graphic): This file type is used on digital platforms like social media, websites, online stores, and blogs. It can display all colors well and has a transparent background, which is ideal for these platforms
- PDF (Portable Document Format): This logo file is used on manuals, documents, and leaflets because it’s easy to share, and the formatting remains consistent
- SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics): This file type maintains good quality when scales and can be altered easily. Thus, it’s ideal for printing physical logo branding, car decals, clothing, and signage
Define Brand Guidelines
You want to keep the branding consistent in all the spaces, and the best way to do it is to define your brand guidelines.
They ensure everyone communicates the same way and follows brand design principles. Here’s what to include in the guidelines:
- Updated copy of the company logo, highlighting where it should be placed on the marketing materials
- Type of background to use. Most brands use different background images, leaving their target audience uncertain
- The fonts on the brand: Typography plays a critical role on your brand’s tone and character, hence the need to ensure it’s consistent across different platforms
Update Print Materials with the Logo
Printed materials like t-shirts, brochures, business cards, and signage should display the new logo.
Although they are part of traditional advertising, they play a critical role in enhancing brand awareness.
Business cards, for example, represent the brand to customers, helping them to find your business.
You also want to showcase your logo on stationery and documents like letters, pens, invoices, notepads, and envelopes.
Not only does it increase visibility but it also shows that your brand means business. Clothing and bags also showcase your brand, especially during trade fairs.
Your staff could wear T-shirts, sweatshirts, and pants during such events to increase brand awareness. Be sure to use high-quality fabric and use colours that best contrast against your logo.
Include it in Your Email Signature
Consider adding the logo to your email signature to reinforce your brand’s identity.
Your customers can learn who you are and what you stand for as a company or individual, strengthening the overall perception they have about your brand.
When adding a logo to email signatures, consider the following:
- Use your brand’s colours when adding any decorative aspects, and avoid using more than two colours
- Using a clear font and spacing the letters to make it easy to read
- Optimizing the signature for mobile devices because your email provider will likely resize the signature on them
Use the Logo on Packaging Items
If you’re operating a retail business or e-commerce store, consider using it on the packaging to increase brand recognition.
Packaging items like boxes, paper bags, stickers, wrapping paper, and postcards help put your brand out there.
You can start with utility packaging like stamps, stickers, and blank boxes and upgrade to custom-printed bags when your business is more established.
The Bottom Line
And there you have it- 7 unique ways to showcase your logo to the world. Begin by trademarking your logo, then choose the correct file type and define the brand guidelines. Then, update your social media platforms and print materials.
Be sure to leverage the right tools when adding the logo to social media platforms to create a consistent brand image across the platforms. Consistency is critical to developing brand loyalty and trust. Talk to us today for more tips or help designing or adding the logo to different spaces.
