Do you need a new logo? If your answer isn’t a solid and affirmative “no!”, it’s possible that an update may be in the near future. Your logo represents your brand and serves as its public face. If it no longer represents the core of your business, it may be time for a logo refresh. Sometimes, brands simply outgrow their logos and there’s no other solution aside from giving it a makeover – or even an entirely new concept.
Here are five signs that a logo re-design may be necessary.
- Your logo is not complemented by modern media.
Even as little as a decade ago, logos were designed for storefronts and paper copy rather than for social media platforms. You may have noticed that your brand’s own logo looks great in person, but it doesn’t look great on social media. Your design should work well across platforms and have the potential for being sized up or down, or printed in black and white. Also ask yourself if the logo would look good on a mobile app button or used as an icon.
- Your logo doesn’t represent your brand or its mission.
If your brand has changed over the years, it’s possible that your logo no longer represents it. Perhaps your brand has grown to include new products and services, or maybe you’ve narrowed down your niche. Either way, ask yourself if a prospective customer would know what your company does just by looking at your logo.
- Your logo was created DIY-style at startup.
New business owners are often stretched financially, so they cut corners where possible. If this was the case for you, you may have designed your own logo or had a close friend or family member do the honors. Now that you are an established brand, you need a logo that is professional. Of course, if your DIY logo gets plenty of praise, you aren’t necessarily in need of a new one.
- Your logo lags behind your competitors’.
Take a look at your competition. What do their logos look like? If you feel that your logo doesn’t stack up to the competition, you may need an update. Your logo should be the best to you, and it should stand out compared to other company logos. Also take a look at how many fans and followers you have on social media compared to your competitors. It could be the lack of a good design at the core of low engagement.
- Your logo is an eyeful.
Today’s consumers prefer simple and minimal. It’s recommended that you use up to three colors and choose a flat matte look rather than something super colorful and flashy. Gradients and drop shadows used to be popular, but they aren’t anymore. A good indicator that your logo is up-to-date is whether it can be used in transparent form as a background and still be easy to identify. If so, you have a winner.