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Title: Why Small Businesses Need Both a Logo and An Identity System... Written By: Erin Ferree
Web Site: http://www.Elf-Design.com
© 2008 Erin Ferree, Elf-Design.com
Experts urge small business owners to brand their business - to use a logo and a set of consistent marketing materials. But, they rarely go into the reasons behind this advice. Here's a list of some of the benefits to having a professionally designed logo and marketing package:
Not to look so small - Home printed business cards with perforated edges, or cards printed with standard designs available through Microsoft software or online business card vendors (like Vistaprint) scream, small-time vendor! to your potential clients and you'll be similarly compensated.
To increase your chance of getting venture capital or selling a business - If you present a thorough business package, including marketing materials and graphics, your business will look more complete.
To attract more clients - Some clients look for a well-defined company look-and-feel as part of their qualifiers for making a purchasing decision.
To brand yourself - If you're a consultant, you need a logo in order to build an image and a brand that's bigger than just yourself.
To convey that you are established - A logo and professionally printed materials show that you are committed to both your business and your clients.
To give clients a sense of stability - You may not have been in business since 1908, but if you've invested in an identity, you're much less likely to fold in the eyes of your customers. It goes a long way toward building the all-important trust factor.
To be more memorable - Forty percent of people better remember what they see better than what they hear or read. So having graphics associated with your business and having consistent graphics on your business materials make you more likely to come to the forefront of potential clients minds when they have a need for your goods or services.
To explain your company name - If your company name contains a little-known word or an acronym, the logo gives visual clues to its meaning.
To endear your company name to your clients - A difficult-to-pronounce-or-remember company name may make it difficult for your clients to hire you. When potential clients have the need for your services, they can't recall who you are! But if you reinforce the name with interesting, compelling graphics, they're more likely to remember that hard-to-recall name, and to pick up the phone and hire you.
To explain an unusual line of business - If your business is nontraditional, or in a hard-to-explain industry, a logo can help to explain exactly what it is that you do.
To show what practices differentiate you from your competition - A well designed logo can have many subtle meanings, and it can begin to tell the story of how you do business, what special practices make you stand apart from the competition.
To stand out in your field - A well-designed logo and an identity system can put you far above the competition, especially if they are paired with a strong marketing program.
In some industries, a logo is just expected - In the creative services industry, especially, having a logo is an industry standard.
Lastly, do it for yourself! - To show your commitment and for the sense of personal pride it will add to your practice.
These are just some of the benefits of having a professionally designed logo. If your business could use the kind of boost that having a logo provides, then contact us today for a free estimate!
About the Author
Erin Ferree is a logo, print, and web designer who has been making it easy for small businesses to stand out and to be visible, credible, and memorable for the past nine years. http://www.elf-design.com
Today's article was orginally received for publication in February 2005. The author has given full permission to publish it electronically, free of charge, in its entirety, as long as the article content remains unchanged as is published here today, that the authors copyright with resource box are included, and that you send the author a courtesy copy of your publication or a link to the online publication. However print publication is by a permission basis only. A ready for print copy has been made available by autoresponder. To request your free copy, obtain the authors email to send a courtesy copy, a link to any online publications or to request print permission, send a blank email to... business-identity-systems@thePhantomWriters.com
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