Over the last few days, I have been seeing a lot of ads for cheap logo design. Everything from $5 “professionally” designed logos, to do-it-yourself online logo builders, filled with clip art. These ads got me thinking how little someone must value their business to put its fate in the hands of a $5 logo or a do-it-yourself kit. Honestly, it made me sad. Not so much because my team and I take great pride in the real design work that we do. No, I felt sad for people who think their business’ success or failure can be purchased for $5.
Don’t get me wrong. I am one of the cheapest guys on the block when it comes to my business. Being frugal, as a small business owner, is a must. But, where do you draw the line? Being wise with your money does not simply mean never spending it. Being frugal simply means that you aren’t going to go out and buy a BMW as a company vehicle as part of your business plan. However, if you want to succeed, you’ll still need to invest money, fair amounts of money, into your business.
Your logo design is one of the most important aspects of your business. It will set you apart and make you memorable or it will fade into the clutter of all the other unmemorable logos. A logo is not just a pretty design: it represents how you see yourself as a company. It gives people a little glimpse of your heart and soul. A good logo will tell your story before you ever give a sales presentation or before anyone ever walks into your establishment.
Here’s how I see it.
Price is a two-way street. As we all know, the price represents value. This brings us to the major issue with any of the cheap logo services out there. First and foremost, your logo is your identity. A cheap logo screams that you don’t have the self-confidence to believe that you’re going to be in business for very long, so why should I trust you? You apparently don’t even trust yourself. Secondly, someone who has to give their skills away for $5 must not be very skilled. It is simple supply and demand. People willing to take 5 bucks to design you a logo don’t have much demand for what they do.
We charge substantially more for our logo designs, but we take the time to capture the essence of what you are about and add that to your logo. Our clients often cry, literally, for joy when they see their new logo for the first time. Why? Because a good logo has emotion to it. It will speak to you. My point is not to highlight our services; I am merely trying to point out that your logo design should feel you with pride. It should represent your business well.
The biggest problem with the cheap logos is that even if someone could make a living selling $5 logos, they would have to do at least five a day just to pay their bills. A good logo will take at least 3-5 days to design, sometimes much longer. Do you really want your logo designed in 20 minutes? Cheap logo design may seem like a frugal option. But, there are just some things that should not be taken lightly; your logo is one of them.
