The rest of us have decided that we'll go when all the tourists go home! I'm taking a 3 month 'road-trip' starting late August...backpack & laptop will travel! Starting with Alaska, Canada by train & Boston a week in September - then jump to Europe before making the loooong trip home - maybe. Hey, all work makes you drink lots of coffee - I could use a change!
Let's get right into some light-weight things this time. Start with your logo.
Many times we leave this little detail last, have someone else slap something together for us and then wonder What the hell was I thinking?! six months down the road when it makes us sick to look at it.
An article by Jared McCarthy from Marketing Profs gave a few tips in designing your new one:
Begin the design in black and white.
Why? Because it's easier to evaluate the quality of the design before you use it. You're going to put it on a business card or on a website but how is that widget going to look when you use it on a billboard or on your letterhead? Using color first can hide a flaw that you might miss after you pay for the design.
Shape and style really matter more than color.
Have you seen a logo that made you scratch your head and go huh? Yeah, we all have. When your design is complicated, change it so the main element is clearly recognizable in a split second.
Check other logos....Nike, Coke, Microsoft - When you see it, your brain names it. There's nothing to distract your eyes. Fleur-de-lis designs may look great on your craft projects but for your business logo - it sucks. Got that! Good.
Go easy on the color. Ok, politically correctness is going right out the window here so if you're sensitive, leave. Some of you can't mix colors worth a damn! Many of you have colors on your websites, letterhead and promo products that are just plain butt ugly.
No, Grasshopper - purple and orange with red letters do not play well together. If the colors are fighting each other for attention - keep them away from your business logo! Don't pick a color simply because it's your favorite or because it's the 'hot' color this season either.
You are going to use your logo colors in everything related to your business. Keep it simple enough to be consistent and that can be accurately reproduced on your websites, business cards, letter head or anywhere else. With a simple, clean design and the right color choice, you’re on your way to a logo you can live with.
Here are a couple I found online that had some unique and really nice designs:
Logo Design Pros
Logo Jeez
The Logo Company
My Corporate Logo
Check around because you may save some money by having it done locally. There are some great logo designs out there, find a graphics person you can work with and get that ugly logo fixed.
These online resources can help in operating your solo business or give you a couple ideas.
1. Socrates
Good resource where you can find legal forms online. Getting a quickie divorce? Bet they have them too! Search the complete library of human resource forms, contractor forms and business software.
2. Complete Landlord
Are you looking for tips on getting the maximum from your rental property without becoming a slum lord? Then this resource can be very useful for do-it yourself landlords, rental owners and managers. Get the information, keys and tools you need to build wealth with rental property.
Not happy with the potential for privacy online or offline? Want to keep what you do on your computer and when or if you do it - your business? Then these next resources may be of interest.
Find Not
With identity theft and nosey folks running rampant through the streets, it's time to give this some serious thought. If you're ready to stop hackers, prevent identity theft and more from invading your privacy, then I can highly recommend you start here.
Evidence Eraser and Window Washer
By now you know that hitting 'delete doesn't get rid of where you've been online or what you've been up to on your computer. You did watch that episode of CSI Miami didn't you?!
Either of these programs can give you a bit more personal security and frustrate the hell out of anyone looking to make you their next victim.
That's it for now and I leave you with this
We are here on earth to do good for others. What the others are here for, I don't know. - W.H. Auden
