How to Design a Logo for Yourself on a Tight Budget
Designing Your Business Communication
In today’s competitive business marketplace, branding your company and its products is vital to success. One great way to make your company’s brand both visible and memorable is with a striking logo. But, what if your marketing budget is just too tight to hire a professional advertising company to create that logo for you? Don’t despair. Here’s how to design a logo for yourself on a tight budget.
- Create your own! – If you’ve got a bit of artistry in your soul, you can use a simple online program like GIMP to create your own logo. You can start with a photo and retouch or manipulate it, or you can use GIMP’s paint brush feature to create a one-of-a-kind figure or symbol. Just remember to keep it simple. To really stand out, your logo needs to be clear and crisp and easily recognizable.
- Hire an amateur artist – There are literally thousands of promising young graphic artists on the Internet who are eager to show their talent to the world. One might be willing to design your logo for a small fee or even for free in return for attribution on your site or the chance to add your logo to their growing portfolio. You can find amateur artists looking for work on sites like ODesk and Guru.com.
- Find a copyright-free image – Many artists and photographers have put their work out on the Internet for others to use for free. Google the terms “free use images” or “public domain images” and you will find thousands of photos and images that you can use however you want.
- Use quality paper – If you’ve ever compared something printed on 20 pound paper to the same text on 24 pound, you know the difference is startling; quality paper makes print jump off the page. When using your new logo, use the best paper you can afford.
An engaging logo is an essential part of your marketing plan, but it doesn’t have to break the bank. Follow the steps above and you can create a world-class, low-cost logo. Once you’re pleased with your new logo design, remember to use it everywhere: on your letterhead, you website and your emails. You want customers to see that logo and automatically think of you. And, if you’re looking for quality paper, cardstock or envelopes, visit PaperDirect, where it’s fun and easy to shop for all your office needs.