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Answer Upon - Logos: Price, Process and Pitfalls
Advertising is the life blood of any business, no matter how big or how small. So, the problem is how to make ones advertising dollar get the most bang for the buck. It's not enough to advertise. Your advertising must be effective. Check out the following ways to advertise for little or no cost.Having a Website - The age of the internet has expanded the possibility of owning your own business to an almost unlimited number of people. It also has expanded the advertising audience to a tremendous amount of new people, world wide, who otherwise you would never have been able to reach. Things like link exchanges and article submissions allow you to get exposure to your website with no cost except for your time. The advantage of a website is that it centralizes all your business and products into one central location. It gives you somewhere to send people so that you don't have to do as much selling because you let your website do the selling for you.Advertising coop- Many businesses, especially work at home businesses, offer advertising coops. They will
Assuming you have requested a brand identity and not just a logo, your designer will also include additional coordinating colors, fonts, proprietary patterns, and decorative elements, all of which are designed to integrate well with your logo. These are delivered to you in a variety of sizes and digital formats.
Section 3: Pulling it all Tog
Whether you are working at home or in the office, your desk is a major key to reducing stress and improving productivity. Make sure that it is not only a place you can function efficiently, but just as important, a place you like to be! A functional desk that is ugly can be as much of a deterrent to productivity as a beautiful desk that is not functional. I have spent nearly twenty years with people at their desks. One thing has become vehemently clear. Your desk can be your greatest enemy or your best friend. Take a good look at your desk. How does it make you feel? Are you comfortable there? Can you do what you need to do there easily? How does it look to other people? Does it reflect the message you want to give to the world about your work and your values? Analyze the kinds of activities you need or want to do at your desk. If you use a computer, an L-shape desk is usually the best option. Use the short end of the “L” for your computer, and the long end for desk accessories, your telephone, and spreading out papers while you are working.One of the majo
If you want a great logo, versus a mediocre one, you need to acquire a general understanding of what's involved in the process of designing one. You also need to know a thing or two about whom you're trying to sell to. Finally, you need to be able to trust your designer's instincts.
First, some basic terminology:
Icon: a symbol or brandmark. Think Nike's "swoosh."
Wordmark: graphic representation of the name of a brand. i.e. letters only (e.g. GAP, Coca Cola)
Brand Slogan/Tagline: phrase that supports the identity of a service/product over a lengthy period.
Logo: A combination of any/all of the above.
Trademark: a logo that has been registered to protect against imitation. (e.g. Coca Cola)
Brand Identity: a combination of all of the above, plus additional integrating graphical (and sometimes multi-sensory) elements arranged in a variety of flexible systems for use across multiple media.
How long will it take?
Most logos take 4 to 8 weeks from initial consult to final delivery. Some happen quickly, some don't. Since there’s no way of predicting at the outset, it's best to plan on 8 weeks. A longer lead time allows for more time to mull it over and the results are generally better. The best time of year to call a designer is mid-winter, from December 15 and March 15, when business is seasonally slow. The worst time is mid-summer to late Fall.
How much will it cost?
That depends on 1) the designer's hourly rate, 2) how quickly they are able to grasp your needs, 3) how quickly they work and 4) how many versions you require before you are satisfied.
It also depends on whether you want a logo, or a complete brand identity. Most ethical designers will not agree to "just a logo" because they know very well that you’ll need more than that. You'll need colors and fonts and layouts that integrate seamlessly with the look of the logo, so that the website, the business cards, the packaging, the storefront, the advertising, the uniforms, etc all meld into one seamless entity. Otherwise you’ll look like an amateur, and a cheap one, at that. Would you hire a chef to cook the food for a dinner party, but not pay for him to arrange the food on the plates?
Most designers will give you a minimum price, and an accurate estimate after an initial consult. You will quickly find there is a broad spectrum of prices, ranging from $500.00 to $50,000.00+ (for major corporations who require a lot of hand-holding, meetings, big presentations, etc). To complicate matters, you are shopping for something that doesn't yet exist. So there's no way to know in advance who will do the best job for you. You just have to do your research and then go with your gut.
Section 2: The Process
Designers have different methods of creating logos and brand identities. Most start with a free initial consultation. This usually lasts about an hour. The more information you can provide, the more help they can give you, and the more accurate your estimate will be.
A day or so later, both parties sign a contract which outlines inclusions, costs and copyright agreements. This prevents many a misunderstanding down the road.
Then the designer prepares a series of rough sketches, followed by digital renderings in a variety of fonts. At this stage, all work should be in shades of black and white (grayscale) only, so as to keep the focus on the design. If you like the final design in black and white, you'll love it in color. However, if color is introduced too early, it only confuses the process, as it is a very subjective element. A good designer will pre-edit the choices for you, to keep the process streamlined. (This is the part about trusting your designer’s instincts. You don’t really want to see all 58 versions, do you?)
Assuming you have requested a brand identity and not just a logo, your designer will also include additional coordinating colors, fonts, proprietary patterns, and decorative elements, all of which are designed to integrate well with your logo. These are delivered to you in a variety of sizes and digital formats.
Section 3: Pulling it all Toge
Technical support offered by MBS depends on the region. For North America (NA), support is available to both partners and customers who availed of the support plan. In Asia Pacific (AP), Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) though, support is only available to partners.Unfortunately, not every customer in North America can avail of support from their vendor. Some who opted not to renew their annual enhancement plans are orphaned from their vendors and do not receive free upgrades. If they need immediate support, they can contact the MBS Support Team directly but they are charged a higher premium. In this case, it is best to get support from partners such as Alba Spectrum Technologies or the like instead of directly from MBS.Below are some questions and answers that the MBS Support Team (Asia and EMEA) receive:Q1. Will Microsoft Great Plains run on operating systems other than Microsoft Windows?A1. Microsoft Great Plains was first developed to support both Microsoft and Mac operating systems. However, later versions of Great Plains do
How long will it take?
Most logos take 4 to 8 weeks from initial consult to final delivery. Some happen quickly, some don't. Since there’s no way of predicting at the outset, it's best to plan on 8 weeks. A longer lead time allows for more time to mull it over and the results are generally better. The best time of year to call a designer is mid-winter, from December 15 and March 15, when business is seasonally slow. The worst time is mid-summer to late Fall.
How much will it cost?
That depends on 1) the designer's hourly rate, 2) how quickly they are able to grasp your needs, 3) how quickly they work and 4) how many versions you require before you are satisfied.
It also depends on whether you want a logo, or a complete brand identity. Most ethical designers will not agree to "just a logo" because they know very well that you’ll need more than that. You'll need colors and fonts and layouts that integrate seamlessly with the look of the logo, so that the website, the business cards, the packaging, the storefront, the advertising, the uniforms, etc all meld into one seamless entity. Otherwise you’ll look like an amateur, and a cheap one, at that. Would you hire a chef to cook the food for a dinner party, but not pay for him to arrange the food on the plates?
Most designers will give you a minimum price, and an accurate estimate after an initial consult. You will quickly find there is a broad spectrum of prices, ranging from $500.00 to $50,000.00+ (for major corporations who require a lot of hand-holding, meetings, big presentations, etc). To complicate matters, you are shopping for something that doesn't yet exist. So there's no way to know in advance who will do the best job for you. You just have to do your research and then go with your gut.
Section 2: The Process
Designers have different methods of creating logos and brand identities. Most start with a free initial consultation. This usually lasts about an hour. The more information you can provide, the more help they can give you, and the more accurate your estimate will be.
A day or so later, both parties sign a contract which outlines inclusions, costs and copyright agreements. This prevents many a misunderstanding down the road.
Then the designer prepares a series of rough sketches, followed by digital renderings in a variety of fonts. At this stage, all work should be in shades of black and white (grayscale) only, so as to keep the focus on the design. If you like the final design in black and white, you'll love it in color. However, if color is introduced too early, it only confuses the process, as it is a very subjective element. A good designer will pre-edit the choices for you, to keep the process streamlined. (This is the part about trusting your designer’s instincts. You don’t really want to see all 58 versions, do you?)
Assuming you have requested a brand identity and not just a logo, your designer will also include additional coordinating colors, fonts, proprietary patterns, and decorative elements, all of which are designed to integrate well with your logo. These are delivered to you in a variety of sizes and digital formats.
Section 3: Pulling it all Tog
Real Estate is one of the oldest forms of investing known to man.
Real Estate investing is easy and fortunes are made in a simple manner. For example, and investor decides that a desert area will eventually become an industrial development. He purchases a number of acres at a very low price. If his guess turns out to be correct, ten years later he sells the land hundred times more than what he paid for it.This can happen in any part of the country and is not an exceptional case.
As the population keeps growing in the U.S., land prices continue to raise and it means that Real Estate will continue to offer one of the best investment opportunities in the country.
Compared to most forms of investment, Real Estate offers greater profit potential. Of course, not every piece of land will turn out to be a winner, and despite the great potential rewards in some cases risks are involved, so the necessity of careful study before invest.
One of the problem of Real Estate is his lack of liquidity. Liquid assists are those easily converted into
Most designers will give you a minimum price, and an accurate estimate after an initial consult. You will quickly find there is a broad spectrum of prices, ranging from $500.00 to $50,000.00+ (for major corporations who require a lot of hand-holding, meetings, big presentations, etc). To complicate matters, you are shopping for something that doesn't yet exist. So there's no way to know in advance who will do the best job for you. You just have to do your research and then go with your gut.
Section 2: The Process
Designers have different methods of creating logos and brand identities. Most start with a free initial consultation. This usually lasts about an hour. The more information you can provide, the more help they can give you, and the more accurate your estimate will be.
A day or so later, both parties sign a contract which outlines inclusions, costs and copyright agreements. This prevents many a misunderstanding down the road.
Then the designer prepares a series of rough sketches, followed by digital renderings in a variety of fonts. At this stage, all work should be in shades of black and white (grayscale) only, so as to keep the focus on the design. If you like the final design in black and white, you'll love it in color. However, if color is introduced too early, it only confuses the process, as it is a very subjective element. A good designer will pre-edit the choices for you, to keep the process streamlined. (This is the part about trusting your designer’s instincts. You don’t really want to see all 58 versions, do you?)
Assuming you have requested a brand identity and not just a logo, your designer will also include additional coordinating colors, fonts, proprietary patterns, and decorative elements, all of which are designed to integrate well with your logo. These are delivered to you in a variety of sizes and digital formats.
Section 3: Pulling it all Tog
The most important aspect of any business is selling the product or service. Without sales, you are not generating any income and your business will not survive. All sales begin with effective and powerful advertisements. To build sales the ad must get the buyer to act. The ad writer must know what he or she wants the buyer to do.All ads are written with a basic formula, which is:1. Attract the attention of your prospect.2. Interest your prospect in your product/service.3. Cause your prospect to "desire" your product.4. Demand "action" from the prospect.Never forget the basic rules of copywriting.
If the ad is not read, it won't generate a sale.
If the ad is not seen it won't be read.
If the ad does not command the attention of the reader, it will not be seen!Lastly, longer isn't always better. If you can say what you need to say with fewer words then do so. People are rushed these days and they don't have time or patience to read a long and wordy advertisement. Sales are the lifeblood of any business.
Section 2: The Process
Designers have different methods of creating logos and brand identities. Most start with a free initial consultation. This usually lasts about an hour. The more information you can provide, the more help they can give you, and the more accurate your estimate will be.
A day or so later, both parties sign a contract which outlines inclusions, costs and copyright agreements. This prevents many a misunderstanding down the road.
Then the designer prepares a series of rough sketches, followed by digital renderings in a variety of fonts. At this stage, all work should be in shades of black and white (grayscale) only, so as to keep the focus on the design. If you like the final design in black and white, you'll love it in color. However, if color is introduced too early, it only confuses the process, as it is a very subjective element. A good designer will pre-edit the choices for you, to keep the process streamlined. (This is the part about trusting your designer’s instincts. You don’t really want to see all 58 versions, do you?)
Assuming you have requested a brand identity and not just a logo, your designer will also include additional coordinating colors, fonts, proprietary patterns, and decorative elements, all of which are designed to integrate well with your logo. These are delivered to you in a variety of sizes and digital formats.
Section 3: Pulling it all Tog
When you are starting a new business in Florida, you can set it up under sole proprietorship, a cooperative, or as a corporation. If you go with incorporating, it is the process of forming a new corporation, which can be set up as a business, a non-profit organization, or a new government of a new city or town.Setting up your business as a corporation in Florida reaps several legal benefits.A corporation is separate from your personal assets, meaning in the event of a lawsuit or filing for bankruptcy, creditors cannot go after you and claim your personal assets as compensation for the debt of your corporation. Your stockholders, directors, and officers are also protected from being held liable for the debts and obligations of the corporation. The maximum amount you or the other investors can lose is the amount you invested in the company and nothing more.The corporation is also protected from the investor?s losses as well. In the event that a stockholder incurs debt or goes bankrupt, corporate properties cannot be seized as compensation. Only
Assuming you have requested a brand identity and not just a logo, your designer will also include additional coordinating colors, fonts, proprietary patterns, and decorative elements, all of which are designed to integrate well with your logo. These are delivered to you in a variety of sizes and digital formats.
Section 3: Pulling it all Together
COMPOSITION
The reason most people hire a designer in the first place is that they have tried to do it themselves, only to be disappointed by the results. Software alone is not enough; what you need is someone with a trained eye, someone with the skills to create a balanced, original composition using the raw materials that you provide and the ideas that you agree upon in collaboration. This is an art, and one that only comes with practice and a passion for the task. It’s a bit like cooking: give the same ingredients to a skilled chef versus a beginner, and you’ll see completely different results.
Without balanced composition, a logo looks awkward, unfinished, or mediocre, despite heroic efforts on the part of the novice. More importantly, an unprofessional logo will not inspire confidence in your target market. Especially when compared to a more polished-looking competitor. Want proof? Try flipping through the yellow pages and ask yourself which ads attract you and which do not.
FONTS
Font(s) can make or break a logo. If a logo looks boring to you, it's probably because the fonts used are ones common to most computer systems. A good graphic designer will have more than 500 fonts at their disposal, all categorized by characteristics or personality. In addition to the font, the weight chosen (bold, roman, light, ultra light, etc) and the tracking, kerning and leading (space between each letter, each word, and each line) will affect the overall impression. There are certain conventions that apply as well: upper case (capital letters) are used to convey formality and stability, while lower case conveys informality and playful unpredictability. Imagine your bank or university name in all lower case… doesn't convey much authority, does it? Or a pre-school name in heavy capital letters? Yikes. That’s a little too much authority.
COLORS:
When it comes to choosing colors, resist the temptation to choose your favorite colors. Your logo should reflect your business and its clientele, not your personal preferences, unless the two coincide.
ICONS:
This may be the trickiest part of all. Humans are far better at retaining images than words. Having an icon certainly helps when selling to foreign markets where words may not translate, or may translate into something undesirable. (It has happened.)
When brainstorming an icon, there are two mistakes people often make that you, dear reader, will want to avoid:
1) they go with the first idea that pops into their head. This is generally a literal interpretation, or a cliched idea and the results are either corny or derivative of other brands
2) they go with an abstract concept. Logos that are abstract are either really boring (which means they are instantly forgotten) or just plain weird, because no-one can figure out what on earth they are. That's why the best logos incorporate a simple, immediately recognizable, everyday symbol.
A truly great logo conveys much more than the product; it establishes an emotional connection. This is most often achieved with an icon or mascot. Case in point: Kellog'gs Cornflakes. Sure, they could have gone with just the image of flakes in a bowl, but would anyone remember that? No. Instead, they added an instantly recognizable image, one that crosses all cultures and creeds: a rooster crowing
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