• As a new business or a small business owner, you may be wondering if you really need a logo. But the truth is, a good logo design is a powerful identity marker for your business.
• Your logo design represents your brand, your values and differentiates you from your competitors. This is why it's important to get it right.
• You generally have two options when it comes to logo design: hiring a logo designer or DIY. In this article, we explore both options to help you make the right decision.

Small business logo design can be a difficult avenue to go down. Although it might seem as simple as just asking a designer and them coming up with the perfect idea, hat’s not always the case.

Even if you design the logo yourself, you might need to think twice before going ahead and using it. What looks good to you, might not necessarily appeal to others.

How do I design a logo for my business?

You have two main options when it comes to designing a logo for your business:

1. Hiring a logo designer
2. Design your own logo

1. Hire a logo designer

Designing a business logo is not a task that should be taken lightly. When you decide which designer to use, make sure you take a look at their previous work and see if you like the kind of things they are designing.

All designers will typically have a portfolio or website with samples of their work and, you’ll be able to make a good decision based on their existing designs.

After choosing the designer, you’ll want to contact them first and tell them what your company image and brand should represent; they’ll definitely be able to come up with a few good ideas.

2. Design your own logo

If you are wondering how to make a business logo for yourself, look to create something simple, easy to read and timeless; the basics of logo design.

If you are unfamiliar with colour schemes and how to use them, try to visit a site such as kuler.com, which has a number of great colour schemes to give you ideas in your design.

It’s also a great idea to look at a few other small business logo design options too for ideas; there are a number of sites online with large amounts of existing logos to take a look at.

Look at the kinds of colours they use; what things come to mind when you see that image? These are all important elements and should give you some great ideas.

How to ask for logo design feedback

Once you have a few ideas or samples, it’s a good idea to try and get an opinion from those you trust to improve the design.Here are a few ideas:

1. Ask friends and family

When designing a business logo, you may reach out to family and friends for an opinion. Although asking friends and family can sometimes give a skewed response (for example your design against professional designers), it can still be a great idea to get a general opinion on a logo.

2. Ask your customers

If you are an already established company, why not show your small business logo design to customers or clients and see what they think, this could be done in a survey.

The best way I could suggest is through online channels, with social media being so accessible, it’s also a great idea to do this on your companies Facebook page (alternatively on your website).

The first thing you should do is narrow it down to 3 or 4 choices, and then see which ones they like best, perhaps even offer someone who chose the winner a gift as part of a prize draw.

3. Ask your staff

Your staff can be a really great resource: no one knows your brand ideals better than them as they are dealing with the customers each day.

Designing a business logo is not something that comes naturally to everyone, but your staff will at least be able to offer you an honest and truthful opinion on any design that you may have already short-listed.

They can look at the logo ideas you have and give good feedback on whether it represents the brand or not and how they feel about it. In fact, why not ask them for some ideas on colours and fonts, then you could have a vote on which ones are best.

You may even find that you have a few budding designers among them.

Keeping these ideas in mind, it won’t be too long before you have the perfect logo.