Tuesday Tip: When possible, don't skimp on budget with a stock logo

While talking with a friend the other day she asked me what I thought about her template logo she'd chosen to represent her business association. I hesitated to be truthful as I knew she wasn't excited about the prospect of hiring a professional designer, but the truth is, many times, this is worth the cost. Besides just the basic aesthetic quality, there are some unexpected reasons why a professional logo design can be beneficial to an organization. Let's review them in this week's Tuesday Tip.

Inkbot Design shared a post via Medium that talks through the pros and cons of ready made logos. To keep this post tip-worthy, I'm going to point you right to their conclusion:

"It is strongly recommended that each company should acquire the services of a branding professional, who is experienced and know the importance of a visual identity for a brand."

So why consider spending money on a professional logo?

1. You lessen the risk of issues down the road.

If you choose a template logo (one that you don't have exclusive rights to) there's a high chance someone else has chosen it too. With this, you risk looking unoriginal, possibly going through a trademark battle or having to change your logo. If you choose the last option, there are several hidden costs, such as a lack of recognizability and the time it takes to start over. 

2. You are investing in something that will last. 

Similar to how a reliable car will last you longer that the cheapest used pick in the lot, a well-designed logo is a long-term investment. For a logo to last and be useful in all the scenarios for which it will be used, it needs scalability, originality and longevity. A quality designer knows how to deliver a logo that encapsulates these traits so you don't have to go back to the drawing board in 3 years. 

3. You gain brand identity.

With a professional designer, you talk through your business values and how you want them to be represented visually. The designer conceptualizes, researches and presents these ideas to you. Going through this process not only results in a more authentic, original logo design, but it also helps you as a businessperson to understand your company. This can then carry through the rest of your branding and design work. 

I hope this helps as you consider your logo design options. If all you can afford is a stock or ready made logo, be sure to do your research on what types of logo designs last and which resources are most reliable. Also consider getting your logo trademarked. 

That's all for now! Sign up for next week's tip below.