Choose a Logo to use for ecommerce Eight Examples of Tips to Avoid

Whether you're just starting an online business or are considering an overhaul one of the primary aspects of the process is establishing a high-quality, eye-catching logo to communicate your brand's message. But before you start brainstorming your ideas, think about what goes into the design of a successful logo and which design style is ideal for your brand and your target customers.

In this article, we'll explore the significance of logos and the various types of logos, plus certain aspects that are practical such as the best methods for creating logos, options in software to create them, as well as strategies for outsourcing design.

What is a logo?

We could get nitpicky about the definition of the word "logo", the phrase is typically used to refer to a simple layout comprised of images, words, or a combination of both for a logo or an organization.

Logos and their importance

Your logo can help people quickly and effortlessly recognize your brand whether they're looking at your advertisements and posts on social media, browsing results from a search engine or comparing items on an online marketplace or shopping directly on your website.

If you want your ecommerce firm to stand out from your competitors, having a strong logo is vital. There are a lot of online companies competing for the attention of customers it is essential to have an attractive, distinctive iconic logo that's a clear reflection of your brand.

A well-crafted logo is also instrumental in establishing credibility. Think of your favorite brand names that you trust. Their logos are probably the first thing that comes to the forefront. Just looking at a certain design or color might bring back memories of an image.

Your logo will be an investment in your company's success, so take the time and effort to develop one that truly is representative of your business and communicates to the people you want to reach.

The logos are of eight different types.

Logos usually fall into 8 different kinds:

• Wordmarks, logotypes,
• Brand mark, logomark, or pictorial
• Mark of combination
• Dynamic logo
• Emblems
• Letterforms
• Lettermark, monogram
• Mascots

Wordmark/logotype

"Wordmark" as well as "logotype" are basically the same and refer to"logotype" and "wordmark". They refer to a logo that is designed using the use of typography typically the company name or a portion of the company's name. The logos of these types often employ customized typography. This makes the logo distinctive for the particular brand.

One of the most famous examples of a wordmark logo is Coca-Cola. The Coca-Cola logo can be instantly recognized, thanks to its iconic typography that has changed minimally over the last 130 years. L'oreal as well as eBay's logos are another example of logotypes, or wordmarks.

Logomark, brand mark, or a pictorial

"Brand mark," "logomark," and "pictorial" are terms used to describe a graphic element in a logo that can also contain letters or words in the same way, but which does not include the brand's name. These marks can be symbolic for example, as in the apple bird, and shell marks of Apple, Twitter, and Shell Oil, or they can be more abstract like the Atari and Dropbox marks.

The Atari logo hints at an A-shape without actually being it. The Dropbox branding uses a series of strategically placed diamonds to create an abstract appearance of boxes.

Combination mark

A combination mark can be described as the company name combined with an image-based mark. A lot of times, companies will utilize the combination mark for all situations, but it may also utilize its wordmark and brand mark separately depending on the scenario.

Dynamic logos

Dynamic logos are flexible contemporary logos that change their elements in accordance with what the company wants to communicate for a particular use case. Google is the most famous example of this, with the Google Doodles. Logos that are dynamic can be animated, static or even interactive.

Google puts all three types to use in the Google Doodles series. The only thing that generally remains the same in each Doodle is that the brand name "Google" is featured in some way. Everything else about the logo could alter.

For most brands, the Google strategy could not be the ideal choice, especially for those just seeking to make a name for themselves. It could be challenging for prospective customers to have multiple variations of your logo's design that have drastically different style.

Remember that Google does not apply this similar flexibility to every use of its logo. Google Doodle is a trademark that can only be used on the Google Doodle is specifically used to advertise Google's Google Search landing page. Elsewhere, they stick to their official wordmark and brand mark.

If you're trying to develop an engaging logo, then you could consider thinking more in the direction of MTV.

In the majority of use instances, MTV uses the same logo shape, but applies various color variants and it even co-brands with other companies. The logo is still clearly recognizable as MTV however the variations in pattern and color could help people associate MTV with different concepts, ideology, and brands that evoke different feelings and continuously re-engage the viewers.

Emblems

The word "emblem" refers to a logo design that uses words and images to make an integral, single logo. Emblems are often reminiscent of badges or crests. You see this type of style most frequently in schools, teams of athletes as well as automotive firms However, a lot of firms use emblems to create their logos. Some companies such as Starbucks, Warner Bros. and Stella Artois all have emblem logos.

Letterforms

The letterforms are the first letters (or sometimes, the initials, of a company to make an easy brand logo. Though they're generally less complicated than a monogram logo, the letterform could also be monogram, as in the image above. New York Yankees letterform/monogram.

Lettermarks/monograms

Lettermark or monogram logos use the initials of the business or acronym for the entire or a portion of the design. The letters often overlap in a pattern, or may be inset against a background.

Monograms were initially used in early Greece as identification marks on coins to indicate the city the coins were issued by. They were later used as signatures for those who had the most power and wealth, as well as by craftsmen and artists.

Monogram logos have a lengthy time of history, and are commonly utilized by beauty and fashion brands to express a sense of sophistication and heritage. But monograms are not only used by these industries. Just about every category of business has made the use of monograms. They're a space-efficient and time-tested approach to design the logo of your choice, 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 stylized alien Snoo as well as KFC's Colonel Sanders, and Wendy's character, Wendy Thomas, are the most well-known examples of mascots used to create a logo for a company.

Mascots can highlight a brand personality, and make the brand more relatable and casual. They can also be used in creative ways in your marketing. But using a mascot in an image can be a challenge since it's difficult to replace your mascot (see: Ronald McDonald) however it is it is difficult to get them out of the minds of consumers.

You'll have to think about your mascot, and be sure it's on-brand and scalable in the direction you plan to take your company.

Seven ideas for designing an effective logo

Your logo is often the first interaction a customer experiences with your business. The logo should be memorable, recognizable, and represent your brand identity, but there are some proven best practices for the design of your logo that you'll need to take into consideration when selecting your logo.

Just because your logo is eye-catching and unique, that does not mean it is a good design. Some of the most renowned names have seen some unreliable logo launches which led to negative media attention.

Some businesses go by the old-fashioned adage that "any publicity is great publicity." But, unless your business is attempting to be controversial, you should stick to some tried-and-true strategies for designing to prevent ending up on a blog post that discusses the worst logos of all time.

Simple is best.

You may have heard the phrase "less can be more" which was that was coined by minimalist architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe in 1947. It gets thrown around frequently in business jargon and is sometimes used as an excuse for simple design tasks. But the principle of "less means more" does not mean to keep the design simple and boring.

It's a philosophy that values both aesthetic and function. 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.

It is a crucial element in logo design because you want your design to be simple for a viewer to comprehend. You should be able to use it with backgrounds using diverse textures and colors. configure it for different spaces and aspect ratios and utilize it in various dimensions, without making it difficult or complicated.

It doesn't mean you have to go with a minimalist logo design or anything else. The concept can be used to any logo style - modern, traditional, vintage, or any new trendy design style.

Make sure that your style reflects your brand as well as your intended audience

If you run a business that makes antique or old-fashioned items You might wish to choose design elements that are retro and recalls the past that your company represents.

In particular, Big Chill appliances use a vintage-styled typographic logo that evokes vintage appliance emblems from the 1930s-1960s.

Trader Joe's logo has the look of tiki art from the 1960s as does Ben and Jerry's. The logo brand has a lively and playful 1970s vibe that is in line with their style. Altoids' serif font logo that has a gold embossed design along the edges provides it with an elegant and timeless look.

Jack Daniels whiskey has not significantly altered its logo since 1947 and it remains very similar to its pre-Prohibition era logo. Contrary to brands like Levi Strauss that massively changed their brand identities over time, Jack Daniels has only minor changes to their logo over time, bringing back to people of the brand's extensive time of existence.

If your company sells software as a service (SaaS), offers technology-based products, or prefers a logo that's clean, uncomplicated, and modern, you might want an approach that is more minimal. These companies use sleek, modern designs.

Some of them include logo marks. Others are purely type-based and use unique letterforms to convey their identity, while others have a badge or an emblem-like appearance.

If your ecommerce shop has a focus on niche customers, you'll want to select the right logo to resonate with the target audience. It doesn't matter if it's organic foods, toys, comic books, women's apparel, or hunting equipment, you'll be able to achieve an effective, genre-targeted logo, without going over the world of childish and cheesy.

A few examples of niche-specific audience logos are Walt's Comic Shop, Nelson Rare Books, KiwiCo, and Chewy.

Walt's Comic Shop makes use of a mascot style design however employs simplified lines and two colors, as well as the clean sans serif font. The design is fun and evokes the industry, but it's not too cartoonish and the typography and graphic elements are a good match both in isolation.

Nelson Rare Books uses an elaborate illuminated initial on their logo. It's like the one could be found at the first chapter in an old book. Contrasting with the embellished serif initial, they utilize an uncluttered, broad sans-serif font in the uppercase letters of their name. It provides a visual balance and reflects the essence of the brand's image as an online retailer of unique and old-fashioned books, as well as the shop is built on modern technologies and organization systems.

KiwiCo offers science and arts kits for children as a subscription service. The company has chosen a contemporary, minimalist logo design, yet made it playful by using a kiwi-themed mascot as well as a the serif font that is chunky. The logo's simplicity lets them expand their brand in different ways without needing to redesign the logo when they do so.

Chewy is a pet product delivery service for pet owners. You'll note that their logo doesn't contain any image elements and only uses type. They've employed a sans-serif rounded style that's jumbled, lending it a fun-loving look we usually associate with our pets.

Don't use clip art

If you believe you can simply pick a logo of a clipart free website, think twice. Ok, technically you are able to use clip art if you'd like, but the it is likely that many other companies have employed this technique. People may recognize it and think it is a different brand's logo or could give an unprofessional appearance.

In addition, not all clip art is in the public domain. Just because you find it online does not mean it's legal to use. You don't want to be the target of a lawsuit!

It doesn't mean you shouldn't use a pre-designed graphic as the basis of your branding. There are royalty-free stock photo marketplaces like the iStock photo as well as Creative Market which are where you can get higher-quality already-designed graphic elements that you can use to create your own logos. Or, completely designed logos. All you need to do is replace your placeholder with the name of your business.

If you decide to utilize a pre-designed feature for your logo, you should keep in mind that other people may be using that exact identical element on their own logos also. 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 you can purchase for different uses, like printing, web and editorial use.

Do not use cliche or overused designs and fonts

Searching for "worst logo typefaces" as well as "worst logo design" should give you some suggestions on what not to do. But you should also be sure to check certain that your logo elements as well as typography aren't being used by other companies. Not only will this help avoid brand confusion, it will also inspire you to develop a innovative and unique design you can be proud of.

It's never a bad choice to use a common symbol or image in your logo design when it's appropriate to your business. The logos for veterinarians are a wonderful illustration of this. How many veterinarians use some combination of cats or dogs, a paw print, a medical + symbol, as well as a heart?

Perhaps the majority. It doesn't mean you're not allowed to use that type of imagery - it's just means it's much more difficult to come up with something unique while using common subjects.

Here are some great examples of common logo image selections that have been well executed:

In the case of Aurora Veterinary Hospital, the designer employed a limited palette with a somewhat abstract image of the dog... or maybe it's the cat. It's broad enough to depict both species. It's cute without being cartoonish. It's contemporary, sleek, and easy to read, while being an unique interpretation of the common themes of cats and dogs as a logo for veterinary use.

Advanced Vet Care Center's logo is really original, with hints 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 a more corporate-feeling mark while still speaking to the industry it represents. This logo has a different meaning as Aurora the Veterinary Hospital's logo. It's much more abstract and minimalist while making use of the most common designs.

The creation of your own typeface, or modifying the appearance of a font in a way to match your brand's branding, could be an effective method of creating a unique and effective logo. But, if graphic design and typography are not something you have a background, it is advisable to read up on basic typographic principles before beginning work to create custom fonts or changing existing fonts.

Be careful not to go overboard with color or visual effects

Try to limit yourself to one to four color choices. If your logo requires more than four colors, you should try to keep the colors to one graphic element in the logo.

As an example for instance, the NBC logo has the theme of rainbows for their peacock symbol, but the text on their logo is black. The elements are easy to see independently. The simple colors and the tiniest number of shapes keep the peacock's element in view even though it has a variety of colors.

If you begin adding different colors to each alphabet, the logo will begin to fade in impression. If you add drops shadows, rainbow gradients, and glow effects, the logo begins to appear chaotic. This is definitely unique, however it's pretty painful to look at.

Make sure your design is easily readable in all applications

For an ecommerce store it is essential to ensure that your logo is attractive and is easily readable on your website particularly on mobile. You'll need to make sure it looks good in print, can translate well to both horizontal and vertical layouts and has color variations for different texture and colors for your background.

Be careful not to distort or squish the proportions of your logo in order to accommodate a certain area. It is possible to rearrange the logo elements or make it smaller or larger while keeping its aspect ratio, but stretching or squeezing your logo will make it less easy to read and less professional.

Utilize a vector-based design software to create your own logo

There are two different types of images you could make using design software: both raster and vector. Vector pictures are designed by mathematical formulas that allow them to scale without losing their clarity or getting blurred.

Images in the form of raster however comprise an undetermined amount of pixels. Once you scale the image, you can't scale it back up again without losing image quality or distorting the image in some way.

As your logo is likely to be utilized in a range of settings and contexts on your marketing material, you'll want to make certain that the logo is able to grow without losing its the quality. Utilizing a vector-based design lets you edit your logo later much easier and helps to maintain the image's quality regardless of how many times you reduce or expand the size of the logo.

Also, you should save versions of your logo in multiple vector (ai pdf, eps, and pdf) file formats as and export high-resolution raster files (png, tiff, jpg) and lower resolution web-optimized files like webp.

Do you want to learn more about the different types of logo files? The Mean Creative has a handy guide.

Logo design software

Are you looking for the perfect software to create an awesome logo? With the many options available there, it's hard to figure out where to start. If you already have some knowledge of graphic design, you might want to make use of a desktop or online design application that gives you complete freedom to design your logo for your business.

If you're not a design background it's possible use an online logo creation software. If you aren't able to create a logo that is the exact image you're after this could be a good starting point if you decide to hire an artist.

If the logo you've created matches the style you'd like and still requires some minor tweaks, you could make money by offering the designer you hired to create your logo which is 90% of what you want it to be and requires only a couple of minor modifications.

Design software for desktops and online options

    Adobe Illustrator  

• ProfessionalsIllustrator is a market leading vector design software. Desktop and iPad/Surface Pro versions are available and it's feature-rich.
• Pros:Illustrator uses a subscription-only model for its software, meaning that there will be a monthly fee. The software can come with a significant learning curve, so it may be suitable only for people who plan to perform a significant amount of graphic design work.

    CorelDraw  

• Advantages:It offers a one-time purchase option in addition to an available subscription plan. Additionally, there is a lower-cost version of Corel Vector online software with the option of a trial period of 15 days for free.
• Cons:The one-time purchase price exceeds $500. The online Vector software is subscription only. Like Illustrator however, the process of learning could be quite difficult for novices. Also, the CorelDraw iPad app has an average rating of 1 1/2 stars score on the Apple App Store.

    Canva  

• Advantages The Canva website offers a cost-free account so that you can create a logo and others designs for free. Canva also has an option to create a logo if you find you're not happy with the design you've created. Canva is a wildly loved and popular design software that simplifies the process designed for creative and non-designer pros, so you can be sure that it is well-supported with regular updates and new features. Additionally, it offers free access to some stock images from Getty as well as other content suppliers.
• Cons: Premium content and functions are only available to customers who have different pay-per-use accounts. The software is online-only. The search feature to search for images from stock, in particular the search function for stock photos, can be a little difficult and can make it difficult to locate exactly what you are searching for.

    Vectr  

• The pros: Vector is a basic, free vector design program that's easy to learn.
• Pros:It's online only and may be not enough simple, depending on what kind of work in design you'd like to accomplish. Additionally, it displays ads inside the application, which can cause annoyance.

Online logo creators

In addition to Canva's feature to create logos, which was mentioned previously There's also an online program which is focused on only automated logo creation.

The Looka and Smashing Logo Both offer low-cost customized logo creation tools. You can create for free any number of logos you'd like. However, if you want to download vector files as well as brand packs it is necessary to purchase one of their premium tiers.

Online logo creation software can be a great way to find a logo that will do the job with minimal costs, however you're likely to find the logo you want. Since these two platforms can be used for free and test, they could at the very most help you consider the direction of your design, think about what you do and don't like, then take your concept to a graphic artist or an agency for a beginning base.

Outsourcing logo design

Do you have no interest in designing your own logo or endlessly generating iterations in a logo creation program? It's sometimes ideal to work with an expert from the beginning.

Engaging a logo designer on a contract basis or an agency to design your logo is an excellent investment for the long-term success of your company. Professional designers will bring fresh perspectives that you might not otherwise have considered. They will be able to handle making all of the required design versions and file types.

But, it's equally crucial to know the risks of outsourcing logo design. It is important to choose a designer with experience designing logos for brands that are in your sector, with positive reviews from other clients, and who can stay within your budget.

There are some who have had success getting freelance designers via online marketplaces like Fiverr and Upwork. Some prefer working with local people or has been referred through a relative or colleague, or even a the local chamber of commerce. All of these are perfectly acceptable avenues to pursue when looking for a designer with.

If you're a customer, you'll be required to ensure you're ready to work with a graphic designer. It is important to conduct some research on logos you like, think about what you'd like to achieve with your logo, and clearly define your goals.

Designers thrive when given certain guidelines as well as some creative flexibility for their designs. If you're rigid about what you'd like your design to appear like, or you're too vague, it can result in the logo not meeting your expectations.

The final step in creating a logo with your graphic designer is like a conversation, and you may go around a couple of times with sketches until you arrive at a design that is perfect.

Put your logo to work

With these guidelines for designing your logo that you can use, it's the time to get creating and put your logo to the test. Study other logos. Find a logo color scheme and general aesthetic design.

Next, you must decide if would like to design your logo yourself, use the software to design your logo or employ a professional designer. When you've got a logo you like, be sure that you've got the correct formats for your web site as well as print before implementing the logo on your site and social media channels, as well as marketing channels, and products.

It's also recommended to examine your logo thoroughly and then run it through some reliable sources before the logo goes live. Keep in mind that your logo is an image of the company you work for. You may not get a consensus on whether or not your preferred logo is a great design, but you should at least avoid any glaring problems that would land it on blogs about the most unprofessional logos of all time.

It can be difficult to design a logo however, by focusing on your research, planning as well as the appropriate designers or tools for design You can design stunning, memorable logos which represents your business and creates trust and loyalty among your customers.