We put the word free in quotes, because some of the programs we’ll mention here aren’t actually free, but you already paid for them when you bought your PC and so there is no additional cost.

Microsoft Word

You may have thought that Word was just a word processor – great for bashing out letters, but not much use at making logos.

In fact, if you explore some of the drawing features in Word you can come up with a number of imaginative designs. Plus there’s a whole host of clipart that comes installed with the program.

Windows Paint

Ok so it’s not the worlds greatest drawing application, but the free Paint program that comes preinstalled on Windows PCs has it’s uses.

For example, try using the Print Screen key to copy existing screen elements to the ClipBoard, then pasting them into Paint to play around with. A little imagination can yield results.

Microsoft Excel

Looking for something with a mathematical edge? Excel has some great graphs and charts available, plus the WordArt features from Word are included. Put them together and you can come up with a variety of effects.

Summary

We’ve shown you just a few ideas for programs you can use to create a logo, without buying specialised software. There are plenty more – take a look around your PC and see what you can find. Unlock your imagination, and you could be surpised at what you can come up with in a short space of time.

Getting Started

Downloading the software is simple enough, and the installation just as easy. You can start off with the demo version of the software to get a feel for how it works. and then upgrade to the full package later on when you’re ready. There are versions for both Mac and PC (Windows).

Running the program for the first time, we were immediately presented with the option of a software walk-through so we could learn the main features. This complements the tutorials on the website. In fact, documentation and support is excellent throughout, and Laughing Bird are quick to respond to any issues you may have, but more on support later, let’s look at making some logos!

Logo Design

The program comes with a number of pre-made logo sets, which are basically templates from which you build your logo. Whilst this might at first sound restrictive – “Isn’t my logo going to look like everyone else’s?” being a question that immediately springs to mind – the package offers so many customisation options that in fact you can design pretty much anything you can think of.

The templates then, help you generate ideas and are a means to get some quick results, but as you delve further into the options, you really can create anything you want.

Starting with a basic template, you simply click on ay element, graphical or text, that you want to change, and change it. And oh how you can change it! The options are numerous; size, colour, gradients, embossing effects, blurring, drop shadows, outlining, orientation – everything you need to come up with something quite unique is here.

All of the fonts you have installed on your computer are supported, and there are all sorts of text effects available, including rotation and mirroring. On the graphical side, there are a good number of images supplied, and you can optionally purchase more. However, that’s probably unnecessary for most users as you can also import any image you like into the Logo Creator, and apply the full range of effects. The ability to add your own images makes the tool ultra flexible.

The colorful templates make for excellent website logos, but the program is also quite capable of producing some remarkably professional looking business style logos for use on letterheads and so on.

Beyond Design

Once you have your logo, you’ll want to be able to get it out of the program and into wherever you want to use it – be it a web page or a desktop publishing program, or directly to a printer. Using the export features, finished logos can be saved in all the usual formats (jpeg, gif, tiff, png) as well as PDF which is an interesting inclusion. Logos can be resized on export, for use in a variety of situations.

Logo Creator also has a business card and letter head generator built in – a single menu option will resize your logo and create a page with multiple copies spaced ready for printing.

Conclusion

Initially suspicious of the template format, we have to admit that we are highly impressed with the Logo Creator. It’s ease of use and supreme flexibility defy the – frankly – ridiculously low price of the package. Backed up with excellent documentation and support, plus a users forum for exchanging ideas and getting even more value from the program, the Logo Creator is a must-have for anyone who needs to create graphics. At under 30 bucks, even if you only need one new headline for a website, this software represents genuine value for money.

1. Hold a competition

Whether you run a business, club, or a website, you come into contact with other people through your activity. Some of those people will have creative design skills, so why not get them to design your logo for you? Hold a logo design competition!

You need to simply lay down some guidelines about your new logo, the message it should portray, the size, number of colors and so on, and set a start and finish date for the contest.

You can offer a prize from your stock, or maybe a discount voucher against a future purchase – in that way you’re logo won’t cost you a penny and you’ll get an extra sale into the bargain. If you run a website, why not offer some free advertising for the winner in some of your vacant ad spots.

2. Trade a service

Another way of tapping into the design abilities of your contacts to obtain a free company logo, is to barter a service,

For example, someone who runs a fast food take-out could offer to trade advertising space on their paper bags in return for a professionally designed new logo.

3. Use an employee

If you have staff, use them! Most people like a bit of variety in their work, and you never know who might be hiding a creative streak. Maybe the air-con engineer is a budding graphic artist just waiting to be discovered.

If motivation is an issue, use the competition idea and hold an internal contest for your new company logo. Announce the winner in your company newsletter. Involving your employees in this way is great for morale.

4. Offer testimonials

In our article about logo design and samples, we talk about the importance of reviewing sample logos and customer testimonials. Start-up creative agencies or web sites need to get those case studies and testimonials from somewhere, so why not get in touch and see if you can do a deal – a new logo in return for a glowing testimonial – provided the work is up to scratch of course!

New design businesses and websites start up every day of the week – just search around using Google, or your local printed business directory to find candidates to approach.

5. Do It Yourself

Finally, there is no reason why you can’t create a company logo for free yourself! You probably already have the required software on your PC to get started (see our article Free Programs To Create Logos).

A home made logo can easily see your business through its early years. As the cashflow improves, you can always hire an agency to tidy it up later as part of a “corportate branding exercise” – an excellent opportunity for some additional PR.

Watches bearing your company logo are a different prospect to other corporate branded items. Their higher perceived value makes them premium items, although in reality branded watches can be purchased for less than $5 a piece, making them remarkable value for money.

To get the maximum benefit from branded watches, they should be used carefully, emphasizing their premium value. Here are some ideas for using company logo watches to best effect:

- As internal rewards. For example, celebrate particular milestones or exceptional acheivment with a high quality watch gift.

- Motivational prizes. Offer watches as prizes for hitting sales targets or beating deadlines.

- High profile product launches, or new company launches. Give away watches at your launch event. A watch is looked at on average 30 times a day, which makes it the perfect vehicle for getting your logo in front of the eyes of journalists and reminding them about your new company or product.

- Customer bonuses. Use watches as bonus items for clients whose business exceeds a certain level. You’ll encourage your customers to spend that little bit more with you, and at the same time, put your logo on their wrist reminding them of what great service you offer (30 times a day!)

- Apology gifts. Everyone makes mistakes from time to time. If you’ve made an error, make it up to the customer by offering them a quality watch, branded of course, as a way of saying sorry. Not only will you be showing them you care, but you’ll be putting your corporate image on their wrist for years to come.

Commonly used by sports teams, branded attire can find a place in any business or enterprise. Any event held outside of the office is an ideal opportunity to get everyone togged out in company clothing and help put the image of the business in front of the eyeballs of the masses.

Of course branded items can be worn inside the office as well as out. If your dress code is formal, there is no reason why you can’t issue company logo shirts. If you’re more the laid back type of outfit, t-shirts and hats are the order of the day.

Logo clothing doesn’t need to be limited to your own employees, to really maximize it’s benefit, you need to get it out of the office and being worn by as many people as possible. Again, sports teams have a natural advantage here with supporters being only to keen to display their interest to the world. But other companies can profit from the same effect by giving away corporate t-shirts or hats to customers, suppliers, or as competition prizes.

Finally, if your business is a premium brand, you can go one step further and sell your branded clothes.

They’re great for staff. Before you even start handing out your branded mugs to anyone else, give them to all your employees. It’s a simple gesture that on it’s own, will be appreciated, but more importantly, it’s a great way of building team spirit.

Some people will of course, decide to pinch a mug or two to add to their own collection at home, which is actually a bonus – free advertising!

They great for clients. Giving a gift to regular clients is a sure fire way to get them to remember your organisation. Many corporate gifts are pretty useless and get thrown away without a second though. The coffee mug on the other hand, will serve a useful purpose day in day out. Your logo will be right on the desks of the people that matter the most to you – your customers.

They’re cheap. Really amazingly cheap. Buy in bulk and the cost is negligable compared to the long term publicity they are worth. Advertising was never such great value.

They’re flexible. Got a new product launch coming up? Send out a special edition coffee mug with the press release. Just announced record results? Celebrate with a new mug!

Finally, why not take the concept one step further and get some company logo coffee mats at the same time? Print a calendar on them and send them to all your customers for the new year – another great way to get your logo on the desks of those who matter.

The word ‘free’ is often used by savvy online merchants to attract new business to their sites. Once you get there though, either the free offer you read about in the advertisement or the search engine listing doesn’t actually exist, or it’s loaded with conditions and clauses.

More likely however, is that you will find yourself offered the opportunity to create a logo for free, but you won’t be able to actually use it until you pay for it. The logo design services manage to pull that little trick by adding a watermark – a feint background image – to the finished logo so that you can’t simply copy and paste the grahpic from their website.

When you add up how much time you spend chasing those elusive free logos online, you may be surprised at the real cost. Incidentally, if you haven’t already calculated the cost per hour of your time, you really should. Knowing what your time is worth means you can more easily evaluate which tasks you should be outsourcing – tasks such as logo design for example!

So what is the best way to get a cool logo design on a budget? Well the chances are you probably have some software already on your PC that with a little help, can be used to create your logo – see our article How To Create Free Business Logos for more on that subject.

Alternatively, for as little as $30 you can purchase custom logo design programs which make creating your logo a snap – even for the most artisitically challenged! When you consider the time savings such programs can represent, they really are a bargain indeed.

DIY – Do It Yourself

With the proliferation of low cost software solutions and interactive design websites, the DIY logo design route is becoming more and more popular.

The advantages are clear – if it’s customisation you are after – nobody else will be able to create something as unique and representative of you than, well, you. And the cost of a DIY logo is often lower, although don’t forget to factor in your time spent on the project, which can quickly add up to a significant figure.

On the downside, if you are at all “creatively challenged”, doing it yourself might not be the quickest or simplest way to a bespoke logo.

YDI – You Do It!

It wasn’t long ago that logo design agencies were the preseve of larger organisations and their similarly large budgets. However, as with so many industries, the internet has lowered costs for design bureaus making them accessible to just about anyone.

Less than $300 can buy you a professionally designed logo tailored exactly to your requirements. A few more dollars will see that logo transformed into a full corporate identity with matching letterheads, business cards, and envelopes.

Any design agency worth their salt will present you with a number of initial concepts to work with. You choose the one that you like best, and then work with the designer to revise the logo to come up with exactly what you want. In this way you finish up with something completely unique, and of very high quality.

Aside from testimonials from other satisfied (or otherwise) customers, the most effective way to judge a logo designer is by viewing samples of their previous work

Through the magic of the internet, graphic designers can open up their portfolios to the world more easily than ever before. The prospective buyer can browse quickly through a number of competing sites, comparing the standard of work from a range of potential suppliers.

When viewing samples in this way, it is important to look carefully not only at the logo itself, but at the message it carries and how well that ties in with the company it represents. There is no shortage of talented creative types out there selling their services, what sets them apart is how, indeed if, they interpret the message a company wishes to portray in their logo. Keep in mind the big three logo design theories when looking at logo design samples, they should all be in evidence.

You should also take a moment to study the samples from a number of different industries, not just your own. You almost certainly will have more preconceived ideas about logos relating to your own area of expertise, so looking outside of your comfort zone will allow you to be more objective in assessing what you see.

Samples are only one way to find a designer for your new logo, testimonials and referrals can count for a huge amount too.

1. Logo Identity

The most important aspect of any logo is that it is easily identifiable. That is to say that with one quick glance, someone glimpsing a logo can read and interpret it.

That might sound obvious, but less obvious is that the logo should be identifiable when presented by a number of different media or in different conditions. What looks good on paper, might not necessarily work well on a cinema screen, or a fax, or etched onto a glass door for example.

Good logo designers will take this into account and will create something easily identifiable in varying forms of presentation, lighting conditions, and so on. Clearly the scope of use for the design will have an impact on what can and can’t be done.

2. Logo Memorability

Did you know that on average, you need to see a logo 45 times before you remember it? And that’s the average for a logo using only two colors. Add a third or even fourth color and that figure increases dramatically.

A good logo should be easily memorable, and the key to that is usually found in its simplicity. Simple design and effective use of minimal color will make for a quickly recognisable image. If you consider the logos of some of the biggest brands in the world – names like Microsoft, Coca-Cola, or Ford – you’ll see that no more than 2 colors are necessary to create a lasting impact.

3. Logo Aesthetics

This last of the big three logo design theories deals not only with visual aesthetics, but also the underlying concept of the design.

A logo should of course be visually pleasing. But equally importantly the design should have some harmony with the product or service it represents. The black horse of Ferarri subtly hints at power and beauty for example, whilst the letters “TV” scrawled across a large M in the logo of music channel MTV suggests a certain mischievous youth.

Logo design theories are just that – theories. Nobody can say that a logo is right or wrong. A good designer will though, be mindful of these three criteria, and anyone buying a logo should be as well.