Impact of Professional Logo Design on Small Tampa Businesses

No matter what kind of business you own, the importance of logo design cannot be understated. This is especially true of businesses in competitive markets like Tampa where logo design has a profound impact on how potential customers perceive your brand and business. While there are plenty of budget-friendly options out there, these don’t stack up to the thought and care needed to create a logo that truly reflects the heart and soul of your brand.

Why is a logo important for branding Tampa businesses?

A lot of times, entrepreneurs tend to think of brands and logos as one in the same. This isn’t really the case, however, and not distinguishing the two leads to some confusion as well as costly problems down the road. Either way, the logo is a critical element of the brand. 

What’s the difference between a brand and a logo?

Understanding this distinction is an important milestone for any business owner. The fact is, your brand serves as the foundational cornerstone of your company, while the logo serves as a visual representation that allows the customer to recall your brand quickly and easily. Both of these elements work together. A strong logo and concrete brand effectively communicate a consistent brand message.

Why is branded logo design so critical?

A logo design that takes into consideration your brand purpose, brand voice, and your customer’s desires is crucial to ensuring cohesion across all of your brand elements. This is one reason why professional logo design is always more effective than having a logo done on the fly. Yes, that freelancer may be handy with photoshop, but cut-rate designers don’t necessarily have the insight, experience, and wisdom to ensure it is properly communicating the essence of your brand. 

Why is logo design especially valuable in the Tampa market?

The truth is, logo design is important anywhere you go, but in growing, competitive markets like Tampa they’re especially crucial. When you’re swimming in a sea of competitors, standing out above the crowd can be difficult. A professional logo design can not only immediately set you apart, but it can help evoke an emotional response to the brand it represents. Additionally, the quality of your logo and brand will determine what local complementary brands will be willing to associate with you.

Professional logo design versus freelance logo design

As we briefly discussed, there is a big difference between someone who can make a cool logo, and someone who intentionally designs a logo to reinforce and complement a brand. 

What's the main difference between a professional logo and a freelance design?

This varies depending on the source of the original logo, but the biggest differences we tend to see are in how the design reflects the established brand as well as the overall quality of the work. We see it all the time when clients reach out to us to fix a logo they had designed by a friend or on a freelance site. They realize, sometimes too late, that their chosen design didn’t properly reinforce their brand, or that the quality itself countered this effect.

Why shouldn’t I just get a logo designed on a freelance site?

This is definitely an option, but the truth is, if you’re looking to create an intentional, high quality brand that will grow with your business, you’re far better off investing in a quality design from the start. Remember: your logo is a shortcut to your brand in the mind of customers, so beginning this relationship early on is vital. It can save you a lot of headaches (and money) down the road when you consider the cost of replacing all of your other brand elements like business cards, letterhead, apparel, etc.

What other advantages are there with starting with a professional logo design?

When you get a design done by an agency like Grove Brands you get more bang for your buck. Not only will your design be higher quality, but you’ll receive additional logo variations, different color schemes for use on dark or light backgrounds, and other brand elements that enhance your overall brand. This is on top of the attention to detail we bring when tailoring the logo to your brand.

How logo design can help your small Tampa business

If you’re starting a business in Tampa, you’ll benefit from working with a local business who is in tune with the culture, lore, and geography of the Tampa Bay Area. 

How does logo design influence customer acquisition?

Have you ever seen a logo for the first time and instantly felt connected to it? Perhaps you just felt it was a witty design, the colors evoked a specific feeling, or it made you smile? As designers, this happens to us more often than it does to other entrepreneurs, but this is a phenomenon that you’ve experienced. It may have even encouraged you to learn more about the business, or pop in to browse their products, services, or menu. Now imagine that happening to your ideal customer. That initial positive exposure to your brand can easily turn them into customers.

What effect does logo design have on pricing?

Far more than you might realize. Let’s put it this way: would you be willing to pay a premium for a product that used comic sans as its logo font? No. While this may be an oversimplified example, it doesn’t make it any less true. The fact is, design has a huge influence on consumer purchasing behavior. Higher quality products that are backed by strong brands with high quality design elements command higher prices. So if you start a painting company in Tampa that commands higher prices, not only should your work BE high quality, but your brand––and the logo that represents it––should be, too.

What other ways do quality logo designs influence business growth?

A good logo does more than just represent your business, it reinforces the brand message and purpose. This has profound effects down the line, from the quality of employees you attract, the partnerships and complementary branding opportunities that arise, and future franchising or selling opportunities.

What are some important logo design considerations for Tampa brands?

We love this part: the challenge of creating a brand from the ground up is full of opportunities. There are, however, some important things we consider when we’re getting started to help along the way. Color and applications are a good place to start, but these are just a small handful of things we consider. 

What are application considerations when designing a logo?

There are many reasons to consider where your logo will be utilized. Will it be used on billboards, printed materials, and a website? Or is it strictly to be used for a fully digital company? Do you plan on putting it on shirts? A design meant for printing and online will likely require more careful planning than one ONLY meant for the web. This has an impact on things like what colors are chosen. 

Consider, for instance, a company that sells gear for scuba divers. Would it be wise to use red as the core color for the brand, considering that this is the first color that “disappears” at around 15’ of depth? Probably not. These are the things professional designers consider for their clients.

Why is color so important? 

Aside from its impact on application decisions, color plays a huge role in the psychological representations of your brand. You didn’t think food brands love to use red and yellow just because they look nice, did you? These colors impact your hunger responses, making you more likely to associate them with food. Blues create a sense of dependability and trust. Orange evokes creativity, success, and encouragement––perfect for a Tampa based agency focused on helping brands creatively grow their businesses.

What if I haven’t defined my brand yet?

A logo design is just one element of a brand that a branding company is able to create. If you’re in need of a total brand identity from the ground up, you should definitely work with an agency. They help you define your brand, create all design elements that reinforce and enhance it, and cultivate your brand personality, tone of voice, typography, and more.

Whether you’re starting a business in Tampa, or are looking to grow your business, investing in a high quality brand and logo design is a critical step to building a solid foundation on which to ensure your long term success.

If you’re looking for a branded logo design for your business in Tampa and beyond, or a full brand creation for your new business, we’d love to work with you. Contact us today if you’re in need of more information.