What is a logotype vs logomark vs logo? (Also where to get one)

Logotype vs. logo brand – which one do you need and what is the difference anyway?

Whenever designers ask me this question, I freeze. I need a few seconds to look at the differences. They say there’s nothing wrong with that. After all, when it comes to branding your business, you really need the right answer.

Because the right answer gives you the heart of your brand’s visual identity. It tells people who you are and what you offer. It guarantees that customers will recognize, remember and return to you.

So, we’re going to look at the differences between a logotype, a logo mark, and a logo. We’ll even consider their strengths and weaknesses before sharing our recommendations for getting your own professional business logo.

What is a logotype vs logo mark vs logo?

If someone “Logo!” You can bet we’ll all come up with something different.

For me it’s always the Coca-Cola text, but you could be an Apple person. And who can resist the Netflix ‘N’? Well, these may look very different, but they all qualify as great logos.

If that’s true, then what exactly is a logo? Is it letters? Words? Can it be a peanut?

However, logos can also be simple names or initials. We call this text logos.

Then each logo with images or icons is a logo mark.

Any text-based logo, whether full words or initials, is called a logotype. In contrast, logos that rely on images are referred to as logo marks.

Here’s a closer look at the differences to consider before you start creating your logo:

What is a logotype?

We already know that a logotype is any logo that uses text. But they come in two forms: as a wordmark with something like a company name, or as a monogram with individual letters or initials.

Here are two famous examples:

While these examples have become memorable over time, using a logo can also pay dividends for growing businesses.

If you have a short, memorable name, a well-designed logotype can further enhance it. A clever name, written in a unique font and presented in a dazzling color scheme, can help establish your business in a crowded marketplace.

A logotype is appealing in part because it can be a budget-friendly option. But I would still suggest including a professionally designed logo in your roadmap.

First, each font has a different personality that affects how customers perceive your business. Values, culture and personality can be guessed from the choice of font alone. For example, would you use a bank that has a font like Lego’s?

Second, it can be difficult to scale logotypes across multiple marketing channels. In particular, making them legible on business cards can be difficult.

Third, most commercially available fonts are overused to communicate your uniqueness and personality. For example, how would you like to compete against these two logos?

👉 Need help creating a memorable business name? Try one of these business name generators.

What is a logo mark?

Any logo that uses an image or symbol is a logo mark. You can use any real world symbol like a chirping blue bird or something abstract like a swoosh in a logo mark.

You could even use an icon if you must. However, we would not recommend it. As symbols have become generic from everyday use, you have limited opportunities to carve out your own identity.

How to acquire an abstract symbol? We recommend using a professional designer for this.

Not because they are guaranteed to deliver the perfect logo, but because they know how to use color psychology effectively and evoke the appropriate emotions in your customers.

A professional designer can use the creative freedom to deliver a logo that reflects your value proposition and unique selling proposition.

If you have an established business with a history of recognition and generated associations, you will have an easier time coming up with an abstract logo.

On the other hand, a logo with a real-world icon is probably best for a new or upcoming business. You can benefit from the associations and recognition that exist in the minds of potential partners and customers.

The combination logo

What if you’ve come this far and still don’t know which logo is right for you? You’re not alone. If you look around you will see that many organizations prefer a combination of logotype and logo mark.

The PGN logo does a great job of communicating the company’s values ​​and role with a logotype and logo mark combination.

Not only that, each of the elements would be recognized if used separately.

If you’re just starting out, a combination strategy can help you build recognition for your logo. It can also come in handy if you decide to change your logo. When you want to launch a new logo brand or logo type, a combination can make the journey easier.

Where to get a professional company logo?

Now that you’ve decided on the best logo for your business, you need to consider how to get one. Luckily, depending on your budget and needs, you have three equally powerful options:

• You can use one of the best logo maker and create your own logo.
• If you have the budget, a freelancer can help you design.
• You can contact a design agency to design your new logo.

Which is the best option? Well, that depends:

Why you should create your own logo

There are many mistakes that can be made when creating your own logo. But then again, you can experiment with a number of different ideas before committing.

If you have a strong vision, you should try designing the logo yourself. Get started with our free logo maker and see how different colors, text, and fonts work together.

Even if you’re not happy with that, you’ll have a model to share with a designer.

💡 Tip: Follow our comprehensive guide to creating a free professional logo.

Why you should hire a freelancer

Working with freelancers will bring unexpected challenges to running a business, but with the right approach, you can make it successful.

For starters, we recommend 99designs for budgets over $300. For the price you get around 30 designs to choose from.

Once initiated, your order becomes a “contest” where you describe what you want to order. You wait for the submissions and choose your favorite. The winner gets the money and you get the design.

If your budget is around $100, Fiverr or processing are reasonable places to find freelance help. Each platform offers an international talent pool at favorable conditions. You’ll have to do some digging to find the right designer, but they exist.

Once you find a few good ones, you can get exceptional results. We would recommend you Follow these tips to be successful with freelancers:

• After researching a few vendors, talk to them about your project and your expectations.
• Check the full details of your offer, including any extras such as additional revisions and delivery times.
• Start with a small project that you offer to different vendors.

Why you should hire a design agency

Hiring a design agency is the most expensive option on this list, so a huge commitment is required. But there’s a good reason for that.

The result is a world-class design created by a team of designers with world-class clients. It’s not just about the result. Design agencies bring entire discovery phases with them, they hold meetings and treat you with all-round care.

You’ll find branding design agencies to help you through the entire process, from creating a logo to strategizing on how to use it. You can even find full-service WordPress development agencies that can help you build a website and create a visual identity for it.

Conclusion