starting a business
CHOOSING A COMPANY NAME
Make sure your name stands out and is original. Before you commit to a name, make sure it isn't already owned by someone else by searching for it on Companies House.
Choose a name that will stand the test of time, so as your build your company and brand identity over the years, the name will still remain relevant.
CHOOSE A CATCHY WEBSITE ADDRESS
Before you commit to a company name, make sure there's also a similar website address you can purchase. Select a website address that's catchy, that people can remember and type it easily. Keep in mind too that shorter website addresses take up less room on any printed material, like business cards or brochures.
TIP! Never let a designer purchase a domain name for you! Make sure you own it, so you always have control of your site.
ALWAYS KEEP YOUR CUSTOMER IN MIND
Your business name and logo should connect with your target customer. If you love the black goth look, but your business is for children you may want to tone it down a little. Likewise if your business is a florist, you may want to add much more colour and flare to your site.
CHOOSE A GOOD COLOUR
When I design a website or logo, I take into account the colours you like but I also consider the right colour to use to represent your business. Get the colour right, as you'll use this throughout the rest of your marketing to build up your brand.
My first business logo was a rich pink colour. I realised after a year that it was too feminine and swiftly changed it to a gender neutral design.
Appropriate - If I'm designing a logo for a nursery, I want to use the appropriate font and colour scheme, which may be totally different from a beauticians. It is also important to remember that a logo doesn’t need to show what a business sells or offers as a service. e.g. a florists logo doesn't need to show flowers, accountant logos don’t need to show calculators! Out of the top 50 brands of the world – 94% of the logos don't describe what the company does.
Simple – I think logos that stand out and last the test of time are simple in their design, which also allows it to be more versatile. Good logos feature something unique without being overdrawn. Simple logos are often easily recognised and will catch the attention of a viewer much quicker.
Memorable – An effective logo design should be memorable and this is achieved by having a simple, yet, appropriate logo. I'm sure if I mention McDonald's you can easily think of their logo!
Versatile – An effective logo should work across a variety of mediums - on your website design and social media pages and on printed materials too.
Timeless – An effective logo should be timeless – so as your business grows the logo still looks relevant. The best example of a timeless logo is Coca-Cola. If you compare it to the Pepsi logo which has changed 11 times over the years, you can see just how effective creating a timeless logo can be. The Coca Cola logo has barely changed since 1885!
Why not give me a call!
I'm happy to chat to anyone who's even in the very early stages of starting their own business. I'm excited to work with new and small businesses to help them grow and stand out.