What makes a WordPress blog unique? You can say your content. But even if you have the best content in the world on your blog, you want to make sure people know your site is unique. I am sure you have seen sites that use one of those free WordPress themes that do not even come with a graphical logo. There is really nothing wrong with starting that way. After all, buying a custom made theme could be a bit costly, and creating a logo could be expensive too, right? Wrong!
I have mentioned in the past that you can buy premium themes for as low as $20. But what I haven’t mentioned is how you can create your very own logo for cheap as well. Many start-ups are using the very same services to develop their logos, and there is no reason you shouldn’t.
There are three ways to go about creating your very own logo, depending on your budget:
- Custom Logo Design: you can always pay a designer to create a unique logo for you. You want to keep in mind that this option can cost you anything between $100 to $5000. It really depends on who you work with, and what you ask of them. Large companies do pay thousands of dollars for their design projects, but everyone can afford that kind of design work.
- Self-Service Logo Design: this is my favorite option. You can design logos yourself, using online services available. You can grab images, change color, change shapes, and get creative. The cost is anywhere between $20 to $200, which is affordable to most folks.
- Hybrid Design: you can always use the second option to create a concept and then ask a logo company to enhance your concept and create a unique logo for you. This option often costs $200-500, but it allows you to get a unique logo done without having to break the bank.
Depending on your budget, you should go with the option that gives you the biggest bang for the buck. If you are just starting with blogging, you don’t need to have an expensive logo. A lot of experts may even tell you not to invest in a logo early on. I firmly believe that you should get started with your branding as soon as you can. You can’t wait around for a year or two and then get your logo. It’s just too late. You may want to keep your $200 and spend it later, but I would think of it as a long-term investment. The sooner you have a logo, the sooner you can get started with your branding process (mugs, t-shirts, business cards, …).
In the second part of this series, I am going to talk about some of the popular logo solutions that you can use to create your very own logo fast. It’s not that hard. Stay tuned.