Hello,

How did you go about getting your logo for your business cards, letterhead, and other paper products, which I assume you then used on your website?

1. Did you hire a graphic designer?

2. Use a free site? I've seen logoease mentioned here. Those who have used this, are you happy with it? I don't know if it's against forum policy to ask for links to see the logos made from this site, if you know it is against policy please don't post links, as I don't want you nor I to get in trouble.

Admin or moderator, could someone answer whether or not it's against forum policy for posting links to a site that has a logoease made logo before someone answers?.

3. Buy a premade one? I've been looking at these on different sites and I've seen them range from cheap - expensive. I don't think I can talk $ amounts but what should I watch out for? I would think there has to be a "catch" on the cheap ones.

4. Design it yourself using a software program? I wouldn't be able to do this but it may give someone else who has this experience a new resource.

Thanks for your suggestions,
Dana

Dana,

If you are just starting out, logomaker is an inexpensive program you can purchase at Staples. It was $30 when I started but I think it is $20 now. It is very easy to work with and they have templates you can use. It might be a good way to start out until you can either pay a designer to make your logo or make one yourself using a higher-end program.

Janine

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WRITE FAB RFP PROPOSALS & land THE VA job. WinningRFP unveils soon! SignUp www.WinningRFP.com

I used a free logo program to come up with mine. And I love it.
http://www.logoease.com/

I know you can also make one in microsoft publisher however I don't think that one you can download to your computer and use it when needed (unless I am wrong).

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Sheena M Cooper, VAA
Sheena's Virtual Solutions

Thank you Janine and Sheena for your quick replies and help. I appreciate it.

Janine, yes I am in the beginning stages, therefore, I will check out logomaker from Staples. Sounds great!

Sheena, as soon as I'm through typing this I'm off to see your website to see your logo if you don't mind. I don't have Microsoft Publisher yet, so that wouldn't be an option for me, but it might help someone else out.

Dana

Icons?

We tend to make our own. My husband has his as something he drew himself (the sanskrit symbol for water). Mine is a kanji symbol (a japanese character) -- I have no idea how I got mine, where I got it as that was a long, long time ago (8 years ago). I do not remember drawing it, but...I might have. Since we have to have just one.....we agreed on the kanji symbol.

A trick my husband thought of? We made up 6 different business cards. We had various icons, and even various business names! We showed them to lay people. Meaning, we showed the checker at Nob Hill grocery, our friends at the gym who are in totally different lines of work. It was people like that who picked our business name. And you know what? To this day? People LOVE our business cards. Hmmmmm.......pretty sneaky, huh? Its great that they love it as it draws them in.

Software?

We use iWorks (for the Mac) lately cause it is far cheaper than Illustrator, and then save it as a PDF and take it to a print shop. Or, we use the 30 day version of Illustrator which is more than enough time to whip out an a business card, etc.

Icons are very important. I am glad you are asking so many questions about them.

My advice? (from having gone to school and learned about icons?)

Pick something that you can make big, or really small, and have it look good. In other words, the Disney black ears does great when you scale it down, or when you make it big. Target has a classic bulls eye and it does great on a small business card, or on a huge lit up sign. A complicated piece (ie: like some Aztec piece?) will not likely do so well. (my father in law wanted an Aztec drawing....it did not work!)

Have it be something versatile. What I mean by that is this. You might do so well someday that you branch out in other areas. Do not narrow yourself down. (ie: Target's bulls eye icon does not limit them) Try and stay away from buzz words, or buzz graphics that you will look back on and say "wow....that was soooo 80's". (you know, like the PacMan font?) With that said, I really like the stuff that is soooo old that its cool!

But above all else? Be happy with what you pick. If its not right the first time? Keep trying. I know it took me 3 tries before I liked a domain name for a separate business I have. Who cares if I bought two other domains before the final one? At least, I do not care -- as I will have to live with it for a long, long time.

Perhaps this is just me....but, if you end up using stock images or photos? Hunt high and low for a unique piece. I see a lot of stock photos that are common on lots of webpages. Stand apart from everyone else -- however you see fit. It certainly can't hurt, can it? Especially with an ICON! Make it your own.

If you are not into drawing your own icon? I would hire someone....but, have an idea of what you want first. A star? A top hat? A sand dollar? Seashell? Pencils in a pencil holder? A rubberband ball? A pair of scissors? A paper clip?.....those are all things I would like associated with office work. I also like old fashioned typewriters. : )

Think classic. You will likely find that in 20 years is still looks fabulous.

Those are my thoughts.
As always, take what you like and leave the rest. : )

Lesley -

This isn't my post but your thoughts on icons and how to come up with one is great! You have given me many things to think about that I think I was taking for grated.

Thank you!

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Jessica

I created my own in paint.net (www.paint.net). I started with a photograph of a statue, converted it to a pen drawing, then took out the gazing ball in her hand and added a laptop. The hardest part was deciding what I wanted my logo to look like!





(Sorry, I can't seem to make Urania's picture any smaller)

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Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

I designed the logo myself and scanned my picture to a design company called logoloft. They gave me exactly what I wanted but it took 3 tries to get it. I wish I would have known about the other softwares mentioned on this site. I probably could have done it myself. You live and learn!

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LaTosha Johnson
http://www.targetstars.com

Thank you everyone for such great information! I have no idea what I want my logo to be like, but at least I've got some programs to start working with.

And Lesley, I love the idea of showing the designs to a variety of people and see how they respond. I'll have to use that - and suggest it to clients as well!

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Gladys Strickland
GS Business Resources

I used logo maker from Staples too. It was relatively easy to use and you are able to export the logo in several different file types depending on what it will be used for. My husband and I created a logo for his new business too.

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Angie
Blue Water Business Services