As a graphic representation of your brand, logos play a crucial role in how others perceive your online store. They’re an essential part of building brand recognition, attracting online shoppers’ attention, and standing out among the competition.
If you’re looking to create the perfect logo for your online store, here’s what you need to know.
What makes a good online store logo?
An effective store logo design is:
Simple
You want to make it easy for online shoppers to understand and recall your logo, so avoid going overboard with complicated design elements.
Original
The best shop logos are unique and distinct from competitors’ logos.
Relevant
Effective online store logos reflect the nature of the business. They use visual clues to tell target customers what the business values and who it’s for.
Versatile
A good logo maintains its quality even when it’s scaled to different sizes or used across digital marketing materials. Your logo needs to work well in all kinds of contexts—from your social media profiles to your business cards.
Memorable
You want your online shop logo to stick in customers’ minds. People should be able to recognize your brand when they see your logo.
How to design an online store logo
Now that you understand the fundamental design elements of a store logo, you’re ready to design a memorable logo for your online store. A custom logo can be created in seven basic steps:
- Define your brand identity
- Conduct research
- Pick your colors
- Choose a logo design type
- Select a suitable typeface
- Create multiple shop logo designs
- Get feedback and perfect your logo
1. Define your brand identity
Think about what makes your online store unique. What are some adjectives that describe your online shop? How do you want your customers to feel about your business? What are the core values of your brand? Knowing the answers to these questions will not only help you design your logo, they’ll also help you shape your brand messaging.
2. Conduct research
Research logo ideas by looking at other brands in your industry that have developed impactful examples. Is there a brand whose logo design elements you’d like to emulate? What components stand out or inspire you? Take note of what you like and what you could do to differentiate yours from the competition.
Remember, the goal isn’t to copy what other businesses are doing. Instead, identify what successful logos have in common and incorporate those elements in a way that’s uniquely yours.
3. Pick your colors
Leverage color psychology, which describes how colors affect people’s feelings, behaviors, and decision-making. Each color expresses something different, so select the ones that will send the right message when designing your online store logo. For example, if you own an eco-friendly business, you might create a logo where green is the dominant color to reflect the color of nature.
4. Choose a logo design type
There are several types of logos to choose from for your online store, including:
Monogram logos
These logos—also known as lettermarks—comprise a few letters that form a stylized version of the company’s name, such as IBM’s logo.
Wordmarks
A wordmark logo is simply the name of a business in a particular font. Coca-Cola is a prime example.
Pictorial marks
Pictorial mark logos are graphic or icon-based. For example, Target’s instantly recognizable logo is a simple red bullseye.
Abstract logo marks
These are a type of pictorial logo where the logo is an abstract geometric shape rather than a widely understood graphic (like a bullseye). Pepsi’s tri-colored circular logo is one example.
Mascots
Mascot logos include an animal or character. For instance, Twitter’s logo features a bird.
Combination marks
Logos that combine elements from the types above are combination marks. One example is Burger King’s logo, which combines a wordmark with a pictorial mark.
5. Select a suitable typeface
Not all logos include text. However, if yours does, the next step is to find the perfect typeface. Keep in mind the look you’re going for, as well as the different mediums in which your logo will appear. The right typeface shouldn’t just help express your brand; it also has to be easy to read.
6. Create multiple shop logo designs
During the design process, it can help to create multiple versions of your shop logo—even if they’re just slight variations. Create between three and six logo iterations so you have variety without an overwhelming number to choose from.
7. Get feedback and perfect your logo
Once you’ve come up with a few designs, ask for feedback from a few trusted advisers, such as your marketing team, friends and family, or industry colleagues. Ask yourself and others which logo is simple yet original? Which one is the most visually relevant to your core business offering? Will you be able to use it in different contexts? If one of your logo options gets a yes to all of the above, you probably have a winning logo design. If there are patterns among the constructive feedback, use it to alter one of the logo options accordingly.
Online store logos FAQ
What are the common mistakes to avoid when designing a logo for an online store?
Common mistakes to avoid include creating a custom logo that will quickly become outdated, plagiarizing another brand’s logo, designing a logo that’s difficult to understand, and making a store logo design that can’t be used across different mediums and marketing materials.
How often should I update my online store logo?
There’s no predetermined timeline for updating your online shop logo. The best time to update your logo is when you have a good reason. Common reasons include:
- Your logo is outdated
- Your business model has changed
- You’re rebranding your business
- You can now afford to create a higher-quality logo
- You’ve gotten consistently negative customer feedback about your logo
What is the best online logo creator?
Shopify offers a free logo maker that makes creating custom logos for your online stores simple. You don’t need design experience to use the tool, so you can skip hiring a professional designer and get started with one of the hundreds of templates available. Shopify’s online store logo maker gives you full control over colors, layout, and fonts. When you’re finished, you can easily download a high-resolution version of your logo.
