I think I'd better start off by saying - if you've already procured a cheap logo and are happy with it, then God bless you. Logo design is such a hard market to corner when it comes to being a graphic designer. Unless your name is on the Nike Swish, you probably won't be able to run an entire business based solely off logo design. The profit margin is incredibly small for larger companies and usually used to entice you into buying their other products, and for a sole proprietor - you may make more money working at McDonald's.
Logo Design is actually just another branch of branding. Something that needs to happen, but usually doesn't until you realize you need business cards, letterheads, and/or a website. Hopefully you haven't found yourself staring at your delivery van and wondering if you should get a logo before putting up vinyl lettering to advertise your business - but who's judging...?
When it comes down to getting your logo developed, it's usually good to have it put together by the same company or individual doing your other marketing products for branding consistency. The one thing you will want to watch out for is - if the company you've hired to layout your brochure or website isn't familiar with making logos. Why is this important? From personal experience, since I free-hand paint entire wall murals, if your marketing company isn't familiar with logo/creative work, then usually your brochures and web sites will suffer for it. Web design and print design is just as much art as it is coding, development, and layout, which is why many major web companies employ "coders" and "designers" that work together to bring your website to life.
But you may find yourself satisfied with the quality product you have, right? I mean, a friend of a friend, or "cheaplogos.com" did it for you and you're good to go. Again, like I said above, God bless you. If you're happy with it, I certainly hope everyone else will be too. However, if you look at your logo and think, "I'm just not sure if it strikes the right tone".... you may be on the way towards self-recovery.
To us at ZakGraphix, logos are an extension of not just your business, but of you and your employees (if you're lucky enough to have them!). It's something you should be proud of - from wearing it on a t-shirt to displaying it on your business card. Sure you can take Helvetica and Times New Roman and arrange them nicely with a cute swish, but will it really set you apart? Will it really make you a house hold name?
Before you start re-thinking about buying a logo or spending more money on a re-designs - give us a call. We'd love to offer you advice and direction, getting you the best possible answer to your logo/design needs. Contact us today.
ZakGraphix - "Raising the Standard of Design, One Website at a Time."
Micah Zak
St. Louis Web Design - ZakGraphix.com