LimeChilli Design Blog   •   June 24, 2017

Should you use Logo maker software?

What is a logo and why do I need one?

Your logo represents your company, your brand, and ultimately your value proposition to your clients. Many make the mistake of thinking that branding starts with a logo. It doesn’t. Branding is what you represent. Your logo should demonstrate who you are, rather than how you look.

A logo is not decorative, it works as an icon and so it needs to clearly represent your company.

Additionally, a logo can play various roles within your business, such as:

• Providing a visual expression of your company’s brand.
• Providing ‘personality’ to a faceless corporation.
• Being a visual representative of the product/service you offer.

Logos: The Good

Below are some instantly recognisable logos. They are not merely a product of good colour choices and font choices, but rather represent their respective company’s identity.

Logos: The Bad

Not everyone gets it right however. Here are a few disastrous rebranding efforts, alongside how much they cost:

In October 2010 Gap decided to redesign their logo, a move that was met with such public mockery that it was reversed in only one week!

Estimated Cost:  $100 million

In 2002, Royal Mail rebranded itself as Conignia. Not only did they choose a name that meant nothing (what does Consignia even mean?), but it was also messing with a beloved British Brand (even if we do moan about it!)

Estimated Cost:  £1.5 million launch in January 2001, £1 million rebrand in February 2002.

In 2006 MasterCard introduced their new logo. When a logo has been recognisable for decades on shop doors for accepting your method of payment, it’s wise not to undertake such a major redesign.

Estimated Cost: Unknown, although thought to be in the tens of millions.

Logos: The humorous

Anyone can make a logo, right? Wrong. Don’t just take my word for it, check out these unfortunate logos, proof that even the ‘professionals’ get it wrong.

These logo’s have inspired the public to make their own improvements as to what the respective brands mean to them.

Still convinced free logo making software is for you?

If you’re still convinced that free logo making software is for you, then the following packages are a good place to start.

Free Logo Making Software: The options

The Logo Creator is free logo creation software that is provided for the price of a tweet.

It’s considered to be a fairly reliable piece of software, with good capabilities.

Logo Victory is a completely free logo design tool that lets you download a jpeg image. If you want other file formats, they have a small upgrade charge. They also offer paid services starting at $49. This was one of the only sites that offered a no-strings free logo.

Marketsplash requires registration to get started, but is entirely free.

It was actually built by HP so it’s not surprising that it’s relatively robust. Marketsplash allows you to download various versions of your logo.

Supalogo is perfect if you’re completely set on a quick turnaround (which I wouldn’t recommend). You simple enter your text, choose a few options and you’re ready to download. Additionally there are template samples that you can choose and edit for your own purposes.

CoolText as its name suggests, focusses upon stylising your text; Useful if you’re in a rush and you simple need your company name with a bit more life.

Need more than a free logo maker?

There are numerous important advantages to hiring a professional logo designer, here’s just a few:

• Your logo will look professional.
• Your logo will be unique and represent your brand clearly.
• You won’t have issues with reproducing it for various purposes (e.g. for business cards or Web use).
• You won’t need to redesign your logo anytime soon!

Just like I have helped hundreds of businesses with the perfect logo, I can help you too!

Get in touch today and let’s get started.

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Focus on The User

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LimeChilli Design Blog   •   June 2, 2017

What is a brand?

In the most basic terms, a brand is the promise you give to your customers. What do customers receive when they purchase your product or service? Your brand is more than your physical products or intangible services, it is an expectation.

Your brand incorporates everything that your prospective client thinks when they hear your company name. It’s factual (e.g. It’s packaged in pink tissue paper) as well as emotive (e.g. It’s cute).

What is a brand positioning strategy?

A brand positioning strategy is all about finding the place for your brand in the market, as well as your prospective customer’s mind. A consumer should be able to easily identify that your brand fulfils a given need; Failing to do this means that your company simple produces another product or service that is of no specific use to them.

For successful brand positioning you need to identify your target consumer, key competitors and point of difference with competitors (otherwise known as your USP).

Positioning strategy: Five examples

Find a Niche

A niche market is when a product/service focuses specifically on a smaller portion of a larger market with differing needs. For example a niche market within mobile telephone manufacture is that of the elderly market. Mobile’s within this niche may have louder ring tones and bigger buttons. Pinpointing a niche market that isn’t being satisfied is the ultimate goal.

What niche in your industry is missing in the market? Can your business fill these specialised needs? Find a way to distinguish yourself from the competition and build credibility.

Gain Niche Business Customers from Your Biggest Competitors

Now that you’ve identified a niche, you can gain customers from bigger competitors by becoming (and demonstrating) yourself as an expert. Your ultimate goal is to become a respected industry expert. As long as you show yourself to be more knowledgeable and engaged with the industry you’re in, the more your potential customers will trust your brand.

Gain dissatisfied Customers from industry ‘Giants’ by providing what they cannot

Every ‘Big Name’ company has many dissatisfied consumers that are positively open to other propositions. If you can demonstrate that your brand can fulfil (and improve) on the ‘Big Name’ proposition then you’re in line for some business.

One reason consumers may be dissatisfied with an industry ‘Giant’ may be because they are lacking in local know or personal relationships with their customers. Often consumers are attracted by low prices, but are put off by these factors, as well as poor customer service. If you can identify exactly why people are unhappy with a local ‘Big Name’ then you can offer an improved choice.

Never EVER Compete on Price

It may be tempting to offer a ‘We match any quote’ service or ‘Lowest price’ product but ultimately this leads to disloyal customers who are constantly searching out the lowest prices.

Rather than getting into a pricing battle, stand out from the crowd by:

• Forming personal relationships with your customers
• Offering expert advice (and demonstrate your knowledge)
• Offering a unique product or experiences
• Forming emotional attachments between your consumer and your product (an example of this would be Apple, whose iPhone customers are considered to be the most loyal in the world!)

Build an unforgettable Customer Experience

Provide a customer experience that your consumers won’t forget and which will be relayed to others. Provide small ‘extras’ that they don’t receive anywhere else. If your client’s come to see you then lay on a little treat in your reception like croissant’s and coffee. Exceed expectations and customers will keep coming back.

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Focus on The User

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