5 Ways You Can Have a Brand Without a Logo
As a designer, it’s ironic (and almost feels kind of strange, to be honest) to debunk a little myth regarding visual branding.
Like… did you know that there are a FEW exceptions to the rules... and you can still have attractive and solid branding without a logo?
Yep, I said it.
While a logo serves a great purpose and is extremely important in being the “face” of a brand and one of the first things that we, as consumers, notice when it comes to some of our favorite companies… it’s not always something that will literally make or break your brand identity.
I’m not saying that you should go without one forever… but I am saying that you can get by with something very simple or type-based (or not one at all) AS LONG AS you have other strong assets working for you. Lemme explain…
You can still have other aspects of branding in place that really express who you are, what you’re about, who you serve, what problems you solve and your values… that gives someone an emotional experience and allows them to form an opinion of you... without a logo on your business card, your website, etc.
Because:
You can still use consistent messaging — over and over again, make sure that the copy that you use on your website + your social media posts, how you blog, the overall voice that you use online and offline — in Instagram lives, in emails and in person — is all the same. There are so many ways that you can show up and serve your audience in memorable ways — simply by using solid language. They will come to know your voice and words as yours.
You can still have an attractive Instagram feed — I love a really pretty IG profile, y’all. A mix of colors, patterns, photos, quotes, etc. that work together cohesively and consistently can really establish you with an unforgettable presence.
You can still use consistent visuals — create the same look and feel for your images and posts throughout all of your social media platforms. Canva is a perfect tool for this! Just load up your account with a consistent color palette, a couple of fonts and use the same types of shapes, graphics, quote blocks, etc. so that the design is always consistent. Even if you’re not a designer, you can still do this! Canva is very intuitive and user-friendly.
You can still sell signature offers and products — these are the things that you become known for! Maybe you’ve developed a must-have course or digital downloads or working 1:1 with you is a dream. Put what you have to offer out there and become known as the go-to person to invest in!
You can still have beautiful brand photos — afterall, you are the actual face of your brand! Let people see it, become familiar with it and get to know and trust it — so that they will want to buy from it! Even if you can’t afford a professional photographer, hire a college student or take advantage of sessions that are sometimes offered at networking events or conferences. Even having a few headshots handy is better than nothing! And, don’t forget the success that you can have with good #selfies.
Don’t get me wrong — I love logo design. A logo is a unique and important piece of the branding puzzle. People come to know your logo and it increases brand recognition and awareness. Logos are memorable. But, if you’re not a designer, can’t afford to work with one right now and don’t feel comfortable DIY-ing it, never fear. You can still curate a really solid identity with your words, your voice, your colors and more — that people still come to know and follow!
