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Designing A Logo, Need Color Input
Posted By: tlandis* on 8/9/2004 8:04 AM (CST) 250 Points
My dilemma is this...my photo is on my business card. I don't like it on my card, though it's a good picture. I have done this for the past 5 years. I am in the mortgage business, I originate mortgages. I am making a shift into a mostly "new construction" type of lending and need to change my biz card. I want to lose the photo and replace it with a simple two color logo with text, "landis mortgage team." My goal is to separate myself from others, and I think by presenting the "team" approach and using a personal logo/brand will be a good start. My company logo is also on my card.

I have an idea of a stylized house with the text overlayed or in the logo, or beneath it...not sure.

Your opinion is requested on:
1. A photo on the card, shrewd marketing or cheesy?
2. Where can I get logo design help?
3. What colors should I choose to be attractive to home builders and new home customers (mainly household income earners of $60,000 and up, suburban to rural environment.

This is a great site, I'm glad I found it.

Thanks for your help,

Todd Landis
Harrisburg, PA

Posted by: Carl Crawford Accepted Answer
8/9/2004 8:28 AM (CST)
hi tlandis,

you might try clicking on the search questions link and type in color. there are some good tips on colors (read the questions even if it is about a color of a building).

you could also try typing in logo in to the search questions link.

personally i don’t think a picture is cheesy but i am a picture orientated person.

Each color have relation with a specific personality

Red: Dynamic
Yellow: Intellectual and Fashion
Blue: Calmness and Control
Orange: Happiness
Purple: Mystical and Religious
Coffee: Order
Black: Conservative and Elegance
White: Refining
Gray: Passiveness and Conformist
Green: Fresh and Natural
Rose: Smooth, Female and Sophisticated

http://www.onewwworld.com/safecolors.html

http://www.marketingprofs.com/ea/qst_question.asp?qstID=534

http://www.marketingprofs.com/ea/qst_question.asp?qstID=912

http://www.ccicolor.com/consult.html

http://www.marketingprofs.com/ea/qst_question.asp?qstID=2522

http://tinyurl.com/6gzam

http://tinyurl.com/7yq42

hope this helps

Sweetasman01
 
Posted by: norquest* Accepted Answer
8/9/2004 8:41 AM (CST)
It is a delightful site, isn’t it? I’ve also just started using it and am enjoying it enormously.

A photo on a visiting card is certainly evokes more of an individual look than an infrastructured team player ought to.

Logo design help is available all over the world. Sitting here in India, I can get it done for you if you like. But use a local; you’ll probably find it easier to communicate. In many ways though, I personally believe working with written rather than verbal communication helps articulate things much better, including a design brief.

There is no one answer to you question about colors. But a quick way to find suitable set of color and design parameters is to sit down with the 20 most impressive visiting cards you’ve seen and identify what it is that makes them look right to you. Want to play safe? Use a deep maroon, grey and a deep blue and you’re as safe as you can want to be.
 
Posted by: thinkmor Accepted Answer
8/9/2004 8:58 AM (CST)
Hi Tlandis

Before jump into deciding colours you may want to think about:

1) What are the colours your competitors use? How do their services compare with yours?

2) How are you perceived within the industry and how would like your customers to perceive you e.g. professional and approachable, exclusive services, high end facilitator. We are not always perceived the way we project ourselves.

3) What are the reaction and feedback you have from exisiting clients from your business card?

4) Maybe, do a simple questionnaire (call your best customers e.g.) to find how your customers perceive your overall service and include your business card in there. Do they like the picture? ask what would they think a good colour. You can also find how you are perceived by customers compared to your competitors.

Picture or no Picture

Some people might find it appealing others maynot - without knowing what your competitors are doing and the feedback from your customers it's not easy to comment.

It could come over cheesy but it depends how its done. Not many people use their photo on their card so it does have a novelty factor. But maybe alot of people use them in your industry?

I also design identities and logos so if you would like a quote, email me what you have currently and I can tell you more frankly.

Thinkmor™
 
Posted by: Jett* Accepted Answer
8/9/2004 9:07 AM (CST)
Todd,

I do this for a living and would be more than happy to help you. In addition, some of my clientele are construction companies and realtors, therefore we are familiar with the quirks of the the industry.

Colors are subjective, yet have a profound effect on your target audience. If you are looking at targeting "good ole' boy" construction companies, something with balck and orange, balck and yellow, orange and blue may work (the colors of expensive, high end construction tools).

If you are targeting wealthy homeowners, you may want to go with more elegant colors like burgandy, olive, beige, gold, silver, etc.

Targeting both? Well, we can come up with some creative "fusion".

I'll answer your questions in order below:

1. Photo=Cheesy. Glad you are leaning toward losing it.

2. I can help you with the logo. We custom design ALL of our work (no clip art) and can have a final product in a matter of days. Unlimetd format changes (for cards, letterhead, websites, fax cover-sheets, etc. ) along with business card and letterhead design are included in the price. Very affordable and very professional. Just click on my name to receive my contact info.

3. Color? See above. There are several other choices as well. I can make 5 or so different logos, let you pick the DESIGN you like, then we can change the colors around in order to find the right fit.

I hope this helps and I we look forward to hearing from you!

--Blaine Wilkerson
President, Jett Enterprises Inc.
 
Posted by: KJMurray* Accepted Answer
8/9/2004 9:19 AM (CST)
Picture: If it's normally used in your industry but you're not real thrilled with it, how about using a caricature or some kind of abstract drawing that represents you or your business. It doesn't have to be a funny caricature that you see at fairs or anything, but something more upscale.

As for a logo and colors, I'm going through the house building process right now. Your target market (incomes of $60,000+) isn't that high for a double-income family. I wouldn't go too classy or ritzy or you may miss out on a large portion of your market. Going the construction route was pretty scary and unknown for me. I would suggest a card that conveys confidence and experience. Not too many fancy fonts or fluffy colors. Something solid and knowledgeable.

Hope that helps!
 
Posted by: Deremiah *CPE Accepted Answer
8/9/2004 10:10 AM (CST)
tlandis,

Having spent more than a few years in the mortgage industry on both the lender and the broker side I would say that it is very traditional to use the photograph of your self in your work although that does not mean you have to go with tradition. One things for sure when you go against what is traditional you better be confident in what you are doing because there will come many opinions that will sway you to change.

Jett (better known as the technician of marketing in my book) offers some great insight into colors that probably would be helpful for you to consider.

If you feel stongly about removing the photograph you probably should drop it until your decision is to do differently. Remember: "What ever you feel especially when you are not feeling confident about a thing leaves you halted between two opinions. And there is nothing worse or more damaging to your career than indecisiveness because it creates confusion, stalls progress and in this day and age thwarts the plans of great women and great men".

ON THE FLIPSIDE I can give you many great personal reasons for using a picture in your work. If you change your mind maybe you should consider using a picture that is not as stale as the "Mug Shots" we used when I was in the mortgage industry. That would give you uniqueness and an identity that is different from your competition but at the same time the consistency of an image that reflects what you're really about opposed to the traditional cropped mug shot image.

GOOD IDEA: When I was in the mortgage industry I began to take pictures of me and my top clients when I did a deal. Especially on the days of signing because that's when the client and I were the most happiest and the picture reflected "Happy & Fun". You could use something like this that is more reflective of what you want your client to feel when it's all said and done. These worked for me as a great selling tool in future business deals. Whatever you do have fun. Is there anything else I can do for you?

Your Servant, Deremiah, *CPE (Customer Passion Evangelist)
 
Posted by: Tamara* Accepted Answer
8/9/2004 3:10 PM (CST)
As far as photos on the cards... I would normally think it is cheezy too but my freakin' customers love it. I have a branding and marketing company now that I have owned for 18 years. I had these very expensive, 3 color, special die cut paper business cards I had designed. Very top end and nice. I thought this would portray elegance and show my company's design skill.

On to the present... I was going to a convention and did not want to hand out these expensive cards. I decided to put my photo on it so people would remember me from the show. So, when I got back from the show I thought I would hand the rest out to my customers. They loved the picture on it!!! They smile and love it.

Face it, people like knowing they are dealing with a real person. So, if it works I leave it in. Normally, this would totally be against my "design" training, but if it works use it. My clients are B2B, medium-to-large corporations and they always comment how they love the picture on my card. Who would have thought?!

Also, yellow also stands for "cautious" and "edgy" - like punk rock dressing... black, yellow, red, silver.

Good luck,
Tamara
 
Posted by: aosterday* Member Response
8/9/2004 3:19 PM (CST)
I design logos all the time. Email me if you are interested. Otherwise there is excellent advice above.
 
Posted by: Deremiah *CPE Member Response
8/9/2004 3:23 PM (CST)
tlandis,

What Tamara has brought up is the resistance that I think most people naturally attribute to the photo on their business card. One of my mentors an unknown author who has outlandishly sold over 80 million books titled "Chicken Soup for the Soul", personally taught me the crazy value that you contribute to your business card when you put your picture on it. His name is Mark Victor Hansen and I'm personally convinced he's a marketing genius. So I took his advice and my reputation in the motivational industry just exploded. I can't explain it but customers do love the picture on the business card. Go for it!

Your Servant, Deremiah, *CPE (Customer Passion Evangelist)
 
Posted by: Gilbert* Accepted Answer
8/9/2004 7:50 PM (CST)
Here are 10 ways to make the most of color Color is powerful. It evokes emotion. It is an important brand tool, so use it wisely. To make the most of your color, ensure that it…

1. Supports your brand attributes

2. Is relevant to your target audience

3. Is always the same shade and hue

4. Is visible to all members of your brand community, inside and outside the company

5. Is understood and appropriately used by all employees

6. Is featured on all your communications materials and sales tools

7. Is different from your competitors’ colors

8. Works in all parts of the world where you plan to do business

9. Is applied to more than just your logo

10. Comes with guidelines on its use for partners and affiliates
 
Posted by: Jett* Member Response
8/9/2004 8:56 PM (CST)
Todd,

A lot of great advice above. I still hold my ground with the photo thing..lol.


I tell you what, if you send me an email, I can make a few sample logos for you..no charge. Plus, I can send you some of my previous work.

Just click on my name to get my address.

Look forward to hearing from you!
 
Posted by: grafbob Accepted Answer
8/19/2004 7:19 PM (CST)
You pose a good question that I have heard before. You also have some sage advice on color theory as it pertains to business use from the other members of this forum. I've been branding companies for that last 30 years and found that with color usage -- the test is, does it work and finally, could it have been better?? In the development of a company's identity the initial studies are always done in b/w since the most basic uses are fax, copies...., if the logo works in b/w than color will just be a bonus. One thought is, sometimes I use NO color for my high end users, just a blind emboss from a hot brass die. If you are using a photo, I hope it is in color, otherwise I would omit it - b/w (one color printing) is not good for most photos. Also make sure that it is a great photo!!! photos are not all created equal.
 
Posted by: Val (Moderator)* Moderator Response
8/22/2004 3:53 AM (CST)
Hello all. I am closing this question since it's more than 10 days old. We do this to reward the contributions of participants in a timely manner + to give increased visibility to the newer questions.

Thanks, so much, for participating!

Val (Moderator)
 


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