The world of the internet can deliver news, information, social media and crazy videos right to you, wherever you are. It can also make hiring online freelance logo designers super easy to access for anyone with an internet connection. In the past, many businesses relied on public relations and advertising agencies to develop unique, professional logos that could be integrated into the look and feel of your business, non-profit, or other type of organization.
Please note that the key words in the previous sentence are “unique” and “professional”. Your logo, and everything you include it on, makes a statement about who you are, what you do and your professionalism. Your business may have competition and be similar to other businesses, but it is uniquely marked by your expertise and experience. Your logo should be a unique mark to represent whatever it is that you do, and that sets you apart in the marketplace.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at your options for online logo design and creation and compare the options based on what a logo should provide for you. There are four main, internet-based options, which include: freelance designers, studios and agencies, online logo design contest websites and online logo generators.
1. Online logo generators
The online logo generators are easy to use. That is definitely a pro for them. They have drag and drop elements that you can select, click on and drag into place. You have some choices of fonts and elements but not many. Because your choices are limited, you risk developing a logo yourself that may be very similar to the logo of another business. Since the purpose of a logo is to help your business stand out professionally, this con is important to consider. Here is a list of online logo generators: LogoAi.com, CoolText.com, LogotypeMaker.com,
LogoGarden.com, OnlineLogoMaker.com, Logaster.com, HipsterLogoGenerator.com, InstantLogoDesign.com
2. Freelance designers and studios
Freelance designers and studios / agencies and very similar so we will take a look at them together. With both, you will get a professional, unique, customized logo. You will also be able to explain to a professional what message you are trying to share with your target audience about your business. However, the cost is often quite high because they typically work on either an hourly rate or a rate that is determined by the project, which must cover the hourly rate of the designer the agency is using. Because of this, revisions may cost a lot. Some designers are also not concerned about copyright laws regarding clip art and may use clip art in your design—which could be costly for you down the road if your logo infringes on someone else’s copyright protection. You are also limited by the ideas of one designer. If that designer is not able to translate the look and feel of your business into your logo design, you are stuck with a logo that may not be effective, and, that you will not be happy using on all of your branding materials.
3. Logo design websites
Logo design crowdsource websites, like 99designs, designcrowd, and 48hourslogo are sites where the customer creates a logo contest or buys a set number of logo concepts from a number of designers for a fixed price. With Logo123.com, and these other sites, you get multiple logo concepts from many designers and only professional designers will be participating. These sites also have systems that catch designers who copy and use clipart. Designers who do this are fined and banned from the sites. Because you determine your budget, you determine the number of design concepts provided and you are able to get unlimited revisions to your chosen design. Sometimes, the structure, layout and rules of these sites can be confusing and difficult for first time users. (The site may be user friendly but understanding the whole logo design process can be overwhelming for some.) But, with these sites, you explain what you are trying to achieve and who your target audience is that you want to attract. You set your budget, the number of design concepts that you want to see and the live, professional designers take it from there. You then receive concepts to choose from and tweak the designs to customize them to fit your needs.
Summing up
Please refer to the chart below for an easy reference guide to your online logo design options.
Keep in mind with any of these options that you choose!
You, of course, should be happy with your logo, but the main point of a logo is to attract your target audience. It’s more important for it to be attractive to them that it is for it to be attractive to you. If it attracts them, it will help you brand, and, hopefully grow, your business.