Do I Need A Logo? 4 Ways to Craft Your Brand Identity
You don’t need a logo to get started.
In the digital age, a logo isn’t pulling a lot of weight, and there are many more facets to building brand recognition.
If you are holding back on building your social media presence, website or email list because you don’t have a brand, this message is for you. In this post, I’m sharing four elements your brand needs before a logo.
Do you need a logo? Nope!
In the early stages of your business, a logo isn’t doing much for you, so release the idea of needing one. I recommend just typing your name or business name using your header font and letting the investment in a brand system rest.
You and your ideas are legitimate, start sharing them, sans logo.
Free Resource
Access our Color Palette Library
Apply these colors to your brand system and create a consistent and earthy tone with these nature-inspired color palettes.
Here are the 4 things you can implement to create a consistent brand presence:
Color Palette
This is a great place to start when trying to subtly communicate and establish a brand culture. Color does a lot to convey the feeling of your work. They can feel soothing, energetic, mature, or even rebellious!
Consider the primary emotion you’d like to convey through your brand and begin to look at color through that lens. I recommend choosing 1–2 primary colors that your brand can be associated with. This way, when people are scrolling, they will begin to assign this specific color to your work. This brand recognition can build over time.
You can explore my library of nature-inspired color palettes to help you better visualize this idea. Which color stands out for your brand and what is the emotion behind it?
Font Combination Library & Type 101 Lesson
Apply these font systems to your brand and create a consistent and timeless aesthetic across your social and digital platforms.
Typography
I’m convinced that type is the most important visual element in your brand. Good typography can make or break your impression of the brand and reading experience. Fonts convey a lot of personality; how they are laid out and combined with other fonts can layer a subtle communication. Have a look at these three different type systems:
Beyond selecting good font combinations, it is the art of laying out type that makes it easy to read, skimmable and memorable. You want your message to actually be read.
The examples above are from our font combinations library.
Honest Photography
We are visual beings. We want to be immersed in good photography of you and your environment. Currently, unfiltered photography styles are popular because people are eager to engage with something real. Photo and video will almost always capture an audience’s attention over a graphic.
If possible, invest in a brand photography session. If you are product-based, this is essential. If you are a service-based business, people need to see you in order to build connection and trust.
If budget doesn’t allow for a brand photography investment, I recommend experimenting with self-portraits or creative angles from your perspective.
Most businesses have to source stock photography to supplement their photo bank. Here are a few tips for how you can find aligned images:
Source for emotion/feeling/inspiration rather than literal subject. Sure, you work at your computer, but that’s not really interesting. Rather, how do you feel when doing this work?
Source photos that reflect your audience, so they see themselves in it. Your brand is a world that you’re welcoming them into.
Be mindful of consistent lighting, coloring or effects across your photos. After you source, review the photos all together and take out the ones that don’t fit.
Photos shouldn’t compete or distract from your message, but elevate it.
Your Natural Voice
The most effortless and sustainable way to write is your natural voice. Don’t over complicated how you should sound. Just write. A “brand voice” emerges over time with lots of practice.
Writing your website copy, crafting a caption or typing out an email — you’ll find yourself writing a lot in your business. Practice saying what you want to aloud first, perhaps save a voice memo, then write and trim it down.
You are not alone if you are struggling with your messaging. It’s hard to capture the full emotion of your intentions, while being concise! Don’t put too much pressure on crafting the perfect tagline or manifesto. Simply, start by writing in your natural voice.
In case I haven’t convinced you yet, consider this: If you write in a force way and then meet someone in a personal interaction, you’ll either have to maintain the unnatural voice or risk confusion in their first impression.
Brand goes far beyond visuals.
Brand touches everything in your business — how you tell stories, your position in the industry, how to understand and speak to your ideal audience and more. Ground your ideas and yourself by developing your Brand Foundation.
START HERE
Brand Foundation Self-Discovery
Ground into your brand clarity and direction with these fundamentals.
Learn what brand is, how to tell your story, identity your position, connect with your ideal audience, conduct market research, tap into brand culture, craft compelling messaging and find a unique design style.
This self-discovery is packed with everything I wish people knew about the potential of brand.
