Guidelines in Choosing Colors for Your Logo

On a visual level, possibly no other image represents a company more than its logo. Because of this, a business’s logo can often be linked to them forever, for better or worse. Whether it be with iconic brands like Coca-Cola and its red background and white script, or newer brands like Twitter with its little blue bird, the logo is often the first thing that pops into a consumer’s head when they think about a particular company. That’s why having a great logo at the outset of your business is incredibly important.

When talking about logo design, there are many factors that go into the equation. Things like whether or not to display the business’s name, the shape, and how big it should be are major considerations when planning a logo. But the most important factor might be what colors are used in its design. In a lot of cases, color is the first thing a person notices when looking at an image. And because of that, a business owner should think carefully about what colors they use in their logo design. The logo is, after all, representing their brand’s ideas and values.

So what are some good guidelines to follow when choosing colors for your logo?

 

1.  For the most part, less is more.

Yes, companies like Google have done well using a bunch of different colors (although their logo is still very simple), but in general it is a good idea to stick to two colors at the outset. For the most part, your logo is a device that’s used to communicate who you are to potential customers in a small window of time. The last thing you want to do is cloud that window with too much information.

 

2.  Figure out what emotions you want to give off about your brand, and pick colors that correspond.

Yes, colors do spur subconscious emotions, so it would be a good idea to know what those emotions are before you make this important choice. For example, the color red can give off the emotions of passion, power, and anger, while yellow tends to give off feelings of happiness.

 

3.  Study the colors of companies you are in competition with, and pick different ones.

A key to success in business is giving off a clear message that you provide things that your competitor does not. Picking a similar color to your competitor just signals to consumers that you are a follower. Pick the opposite colors and differentiate yourself!

 

4.  Think about how your logo will look on the web.

Nowadays, the web will probably be a main source of promotion for your business. But it also brings up some issues with regards to your logo. You must think of what color background your logo may often be displayed on. And if you want to use social media platforms to promote your business and interact with your customers (of course you do!), you may need an alternate version of your logo to fit in the small space they allow for your icon.

 

5.  Make sure you like your logo.

This logo is going to represent your business, which by extension means it will represent you. So make sure that it is something that you can be proud of in addition to just something that looks nice and shows off your brand. If you just despise certain colors, you probably don’t want to choose them to represent your company.

 

If you take the time to follow these guidelines, you will end up with a logo that becomes a huge asset to your business. And what business doesn’t want that?