portray your business. Keep in mind that your designer's concept for your logo and what you envision as your logo may be very different and it may take several rounds of concepting in order to find one or two that will work.

Once you have a design concept that you like, be sure to refine the logo and keep in mind the extremes in size needed for the logo. It should work well very small and reproduce well on a business card and should be designed so that it can be enlarged to fit on signage, trade exhibits and in applications where the logo will be very large.

Good graphic designers are not just trained in creating artwork from a technical sense, they are really graphic communicators, and can help you to communicate with your target audience through your logo and marketing materials.

Marketing Consistency and Branding

Having a well-designed logo is the first step in presenting a profe

Having a great looking business card is usually the first priority for any new business. Without a business card to hand out, it's almost impossible to network and meet with new clients.

And having a dynamic, professional logo will help make your business card one that prospects will hang on to and help you make a great first impression and help you brand your company as you begin to produce marketing materials.

What's in a Name?

Before you rush out and get some business cards printed for your new business, you will need to decide on the name of your company.

Naming your business may be even harder than naming a child. In business, unique names are highly valued for establishing brand identity and for standing out from the crowd. While you may have a unique name in the state you incorporate, it can be stressful to discover that someone else has the same business name as you in another state.

When researching names for your business, you can search your state's government sites for incorporations and see what names are taken or not. Keep in mind that many people will incorporate with one name for their business entity and then use a D.B.A. (Doing Business As) name which is different.

Creating a unique business name that describes your business and is unique at the same can be quite a challenge. For example, a business name like "Baker + Associates" as a business name doesn't tell the reader anything about the type of business. However, "Baker Creative" tells a little more, but what sort of creative? Advertising, design, interior decorating?

"Baker Web Design" tells us more exactly what the business is about, whereas a name like "IntelliLogic" will need a descriptive tag line after the logo to explain what the business is about.

Your business name does not have to be totally descriptive, and some people believe some mystery or intrigue about a name can be a great opening when exchanging business cards at networking events.

Whatever direction you go with your business name, spend the time to make sure you have exactly what you want and need. Once you start creating a logo and getting marketing materials printed, it will get expensive quickly.

Creating A Logo

Let's assume you've settled on a name and you're ready to go over to the local copy shop and get a thousand business cards printed . . . not so fast. Before you create a business card, you will need a logo.

I am not talking about picking out a symbol to go with your name from a business card sample book at Office Depot or a local print shop. I am talking about creating a unique logo that captures your business' style and professionalism, in a creative, appealing look.

It's always best to work with a professional designer to create a logo for your business. While there are "do it yourself" web sites out there where you can create your own logo online??”you have to make all the make all the design decisions and unless you have a design background, you may not make make the best choices. A designer can not only apply his or her creative skills to create a unique look for your business, they can listen to your vision of your business, your target market and give you an outsider's perspective.

Think of creating a professional logo as an investment in your business' future. Your logo and business card may be the first branding you create, and you don't want to set the bar too low.

The Design Process

A designer will typically provide you several design ideas or concepts for your logo and involve you in the process of discussing the merits of each design and which designs best portray your business. Keep in mind that your designer's concept for your logo and what you envision as your logo may be very different and it may take several rounds of concepting in order to find one or two that will work.

Once you have a design concept that you like, be sure to refine the logo and keep in mind the extremes in size needed for the logo. It should work well very small and reproduce well on a business card and should be designed so that it can be enlarged to fit on signage, trade exhibits and in applications where the logo will be very large.

Good graphic designers are not just trained in creating artwork from a technical sense, they are really graphic communicators, and can help you to communicate with your target audience through your logo and marketing materials.

Marketing Consistency and Branding

Having a well-designed logo is the first step in presenting a profes

er state.

When researching names for your business, you can search your state's government sites for incorporations and see what names are taken or not. Keep in mind that many people will incorporate with one name for their business entity and then use a D.B.A. (Doing Business As) name which is different.

Creating a unique business name that describes your business and is unique at the same can be quite a challenge. For example, a business name like "Baker + Associates" as a business name doesn't tell the reader anything about the type of business. However, "Baker Creative" tells a little more, but what sort of creative? Advertising, design, interior decorating?

"Baker Web Design" tells us more exactly what the business is about, whereas a name like "IntelliLogic" will need a descriptive tag line after the logo to explain what the business is about.

Your business name does not have to be totally descriptive, and some people believe some mystery or intrigue about a name can be a great opening when exchanging business cards at networking events.

Whatever direction you go with your business name, spend the time to make sure you have exactly what you want and need. Once you start creating a logo and getting marketing materials printed, it will get expensive quickly.

Creating A Logo

Let's assume you've settled on a name and you're ready to go over to the local copy shop and get a thousand business cards printed . . . not so fast. Before you create a business card, you will need a logo.

I am not talking about picking out a symbol to go with your name from a business card sample book at Office Depot or a local print shop. I am talking about creating a unique logo that captures your business' style and professionalism, in a creative, appealing look.

It's always best to work with a professional designer to create a logo for your business. While there are "do it yourself" web sites out there where you can create your own logo online??”you have to make all the make all the design decisions and unless you have a design background, you may not make make the best choices. A designer can not only apply his or her creative skills to create a unique look for your business, they can listen to your vision of your business, your target market and give you an outsider's perspective.

Think of creating a professional logo as an investment in your business' future. Your logo and business card may be the first branding you create, and you don't want to set the bar too low.

The Design Process

A designer will typically provide you several design ideas or concepts for your logo and involve you in the process of discussing the merits of each design and which designs best portray your business. Keep in mind that your designer's concept for your logo and what you envision as your logo may be very different and it may take several rounds of concepting in order to find one or two that will work.

Once you have a design concept that you like, be sure to refine the logo and keep in mind the extremes in size needed for the logo. It should work well very small and reproduce well on a business card and should be designed so that it can be enlarged to fit on signage, trade exhibits and in applications where the logo will be very large.

Good graphic designers are not just trained in creating artwork from a technical sense, they are really graphic communicators, and can help you to communicate with your target audience through your logo and marketing materials.

Marketing Consistency and Branding

Having a well-designed logo is the first step in presenting a profe

otally descriptive, and some people believe some mystery or intrigue about a name can be a great opening when exchanging business cards at networking events.

Whatever direction you go with your business name, spend the time to make sure you have exactly what you want and need. Once you start creating a logo and getting marketing materials printed, it will get expensive quickly.

Creating A Logo

Let's assume you've settled on a name and you're ready to go over to the local copy shop and get a thousand business cards printed . . . not so fast. Before you create a business card, you will need a logo.

I am not talking about picking out a symbol to go with your name from a business card sample book at Office Depot or a local print shop. I am talking about creating a unique logo that captures your business' style and professionalism, in a creative, appealing look.

It's always best to work with a professional designer to create a logo for your business. While there are "do it yourself" web sites out there where you can create your own logo online??”you have to make all the make all the design decisions and unless you have a design background, you may not make make the best choices. A designer can not only apply his or her creative skills to create a unique look for your business, they can listen to your vision of your business, your target market and give you an outsider's perspective.

Think of creating a professional logo as an investment in your business' future. Your logo and business card may be the first branding you create, and you don't want to set the bar too low.

The Design Process

A designer will typically provide you several design ideas or concepts for your logo and involve you in the process of discussing the merits of each design and which designs best portray your business. Keep in mind that your designer's concept for your logo and what you envision as your logo may be very different and it may take several rounds of concepting in order to find one or two that will work.

Once you have a design concept that you like, be sure to refine the logo and keep in mind the extremes in size needed for the logo. It should work well very small and reproduce well on a business card and should be designed so that it can be enlarged to fit on signage, trade exhibits and in applications where the logo will be very large.

Good graphic designers are not just trained in creating artwork from a technical sense, they are really graphic communicators, and can help you to communicate with your target audience through your logo and marketing materials.

Marketing Consistency and Branding

Having a well-designed logo is the first step in presenting a profe

work with a professional designer to create a logo for your business. While there are "do it yourself" web sites out there where you can create your own logo online??”you have to make all the make all the design decisions and unless you have a design background, you may not make make the best choices. A designer can not only apply his or her creative skills to create a unique look for your business, they can listen to your vision of your business, your target market and give you an outsider's perspective.

Think of creating a professional logo as an investment in your business' future. Your logo and business card may be the first branding you create, and you don't want to set the bar too low.

The Design Process

A designer will typically provide you several design ideas or concepts for your logo and involve you in the process of discussing the merits of each design and which designs best portray your business. Keep in mind that your designer's concept for your logo and what you envision as your logo may be very different and it may take several rounds of concepting in order to find one or two that will work.

Once you have a design concept that you like, be sure to refine the logo and keep in mind the extremes in size needed for the logo. It should work well very small and reproduce well on a business card and should be designed so that it can be enlarged to fit on signage, trade exhibits and in applications where the logo will be very large.

Good graphic designers are not just trained in creating artwork from a technical sense, they are really graphic communicators, and can help you to communicate with your target audience through your logo and marketing materials.

Marketing Consistency and Branding

Having a well-designed logo is the first step in presenting a profe

portray your business. Keep in mind that your designer's concept for your logo and what you envision as your logo may be very different and it may take several rounds of concepting in order to find one or two that will work.

Once you have a design concept that you like, be sure to refine the logo and keep in mind the extremes in size needed for the logo. It should work well very small and reproduce well on a business card and should be designed so that it can be enlarged to fit on signage, trade exhibits and in applications where the logo will be very large.

Good graphic designers are not just trained in creating artwork from a technical sense, they are really graphic communicators, and can help you to communicate with your target audience through your logo and marketing materials.

Marketing Consistency and Branding

Having a well-designed logo is the first step in presenting a professional image of your business. Creating a brand requires marketing consistency so your target audience sees your logo and marketing message many times, but always consistently.

A designer can also help you with the design and layout of your letterhead and assist with printing your business cards and other marketing materials. This is important in that all your marketing materials need to belong to the same "family" in design and layout.

Designers can also help you with the design of ads, web sites and can handle all "pre-press" work, and can make sure anything the public sees always presents the best possible image for your company.

While almost every offset printer now is now working with digital files, some printers want high resolution .PDF files to print from and others want .EPS or .JPG files. Four color printing requires that all files be converted to CMYK and a designer can bridge the gap between your marketing needs and the printed product.