If you are looking for some guidance on designing an awesome logo for your website or having one signed for you, then this article is for you.
Logo & Favicon
Your logo is one of the most important images on your website (along with photos). We all know what a logo is, but what is a favicon?
A favicon (also called a site icon) is a simplified version of your logo with square dimensions.
Your favicon appears in the tab of a visitor’s website browser. The most used internet browser is Chrome, but others include Safari, Microsoft Edge, and Firefox.
Here are some favicons of some other well-known websites
I’ll talk more about what makes a good favicon later, but for now, I just want you to know:
- What a favicon is
- That you need one
4 Things That Make a Great Small Business Logo
The best small business logos are:
- Descriptive
- Small
- Simple
- Stylish
Descriptive Logos
A descriptive logo tells potential clients about the key service you offer. It can do this using the:
- Visual image; and/or
- Words included
Examples of descriptive logos include …
Examples of non-descriptive logos include …
A study published in the Harvard Business Review revealed that descriptive tends to be better for small businesses. They:
- Help potential clients understand your brand and core service more quickly
- Appear more authentic to your prospective clients
- Lead to more sales
There are some exceptions. For example, McDonald’s is so large and well-known that we all recognise it and know what it offers.
But for small, service-based businesses targeting Mackay locals, choose a descriptive logo.
Small Logos
I’m talking about website logos, but all logos should be small compared to other surrounding elements.
Why? Let’s stick with website logos to keep things simple. The main thing:
- Your website visitors want is to find what they are after quickly
- You want is to help them do this, so they become a customer
For example:
- Do you offer the general and specific service they are after?
- What action do you want them to take? Call you?
These are the things that need to stand out! Your logo should be there, but not as something that stands out on the page.
Stylish Logos
Even though it should be small, your logo still needs to look good. And it should reflect the personality of your brand.
Simple Logos
Think of some iconic logos. Perhaps, Target, Shell, Adidas, and Mercedes come to mind.
What do they all have in common? They are simple designs.
Simple designs tend to be better because:
- People recognise and remember them more easily
- They are easier to adjust for different backgrounds and situations (e.g. favicons)
- Better at sparking emotions
And they still look good when they are small.
Make Sure Your Logo is a Vector File
A vector file is a digital drawing (vector file), not a photo (image file). With a vector file, you can:
- Alter it or parts of it as needed
- Make it as big or as small as you want (billboards vs business cards)
Graphic designers create a vector file when they design your logo. But they often turn it into an image file before they give it to you. If your file ends in:
- .jpg, .webp or .png, it is an image file
- .svg, .eps or .ai, it is a vector file
Always make sure you:
- Are given vector files of your logo
- Give your web designer vector files of your logo
Then, your website designer can then easily adjust them as needed.
What About Favicons
Favicons, or the little brand images that appear in your browser tab:
- Are tiny
- Have square dimensions
So:
- In rare instances, your logo may be a good favicon
- In most cases, you need an altered version of your logo
