The $100 MBA Show: MBA2372 Q&A Wednesday – Should I Hire to Create a Logo or Create It Myself?
Host: Omar Zenhom
Release Date: October 4, 2023
Episode Title: MBA2372 Q&A Wednesday: Should I hire to create a logo or create it myself?
Introduction
In episode MBA2372 of The $100 MBA Show, host Omar Zenhom tackles a common dilemma faced by budding entrepreneurs: Should I hire someone to create my logo, or should I design it myself? Drawing from his extensive 20+ years of entrepreneurship experience, Omar provides actionable insights to help listeners make informed decisions about branding without breaking the bank.
Listener's Question
The episode centers around a question from a listener named Tom:
Tom (00:53): "Should I hire someone to create my logo or should I create it myself? I understand the brand and what I want, and there's a lot of tools and logo creators out there. I'm asking if it's even worth spending the money hiring somebody to create my logo."
Omar's Analysis: The Importance of a Logo in Early Stages
Omar acknowledges that as a startup, every dollar counts, and saving money is crucial when revenue is not yet flowing. He emphasizes that:
Omar Zenhom (03:50): "When you're first getting started, your logo matters a whole lot less than when you have hundreds of thousands of customers because your brand is not that big."
He cites the example of Nike's iconic Swoosh, which was created for just $35 by a design student, illustrating that a simplistic logo can suffice in the early phases of a business.
Hiring a Professional: Benefits and Considerations
Omar outlines the advantages of hiring a professional graphic designer:
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Quality and Expertise: Professionals can deliver a polished and aesthetically pleasing logo that non-designers might struggle to achieve.
Omar Zenhom (09:00): "The advantage of having an expert is not only that the design is probably going to be better than yours if you're not a great graphic designer..."
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Technical Completeness: Professionals provide logos in various formats (e.g., PNG with transparent backgrounds, vector files) ensuring versatility and scalability.
Omar Zenhom (09:45): "...they're going to create a vectorized file. That means that the logo will not change resolution. It'll still be crystal clear and sharp regardless."
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Comprehensive Branding: Beyond the logo, professionals can develop a branding guide—a rulebook for maintaining brand consistency across all platforms.
Omar Zenhom (13:10): "A branding guide is basically a rulebook for your business to stay on brand...it typically includes things like your logo in different versions, light and dark versions, as well as an icon version..."
DIY Logo Creation: Tools and Flexibility
For those inclined to design their own logos, Omar highlights the abundance of user-friendly tools available:
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Accessible Platforms: Tools like Canva offer intuitive interfaces allowing users to create logos without prior design experience.
Omar Zenhom (06:40): "There's so many different tools. The one that I know that is very popular is Canvas logo creator over@canva.com where you plug in a bunch of suggested words that describe your brand and then the logo gets created."
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Cost-Effective: Designing your own logo can save initial expenses, allowing funds to be allocated to other critical areas of the business.
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Immediate Control and Iteration: DIY allows for rapid changes and adjustments as the brand evolves.
However, Omar cautions that:
Omar Zenhom (10:30): "Make sure you vectorize your logos so that they look crystal clear no matter what format they're in or wherever you're using it."
This ensures that the DIY logo maintains quality across different mediums.
The Branding Guide: Beyond the Logo
A pivotal part of Omar's advice is the creation of a branding guide, whether you choose to hire a professional or go the DIY route. A branding guide ensures consistency in the brand's visual and verbal identity.
Components of a Branding Guide:
- Logo Variations: Including light and dark versions, and icon-only versions.
- Color Palette: Typically three primary colors and two accents, specified by exact hex codes to maintain consistency.
- Typography: One or two fonts with guidelines on their usage (e.g., bold, italic).
- Imagery Guidelines: Rules regarding the style and diversity of images used in marketing materials.
Omar Zenhom (12:45): "So asking for a branding guide to be included with your logo creation may cost you a little bit more, but it's well worth it because it's what you'll use to keep things branded."
He shares his experience with Webinar Ninja, where the branding guide explicitly states the company's commitment to diversity, guiding the selection of stock images and other visual elements.
Personal Experiences: Balancing Cost and Quality
Omar narrates his approach to logo creation across his ventures:
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Initial Phase: For startups like The $100 MBA and Webinar Ninja, he initially designed logos himself to conserve resources.
Omar Zenhom (07:10): "I created the Hundred Dollar MBA logo myself... that’s what I did."
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Growth Phase: As businesses began generating revenue, he invested in professional design services to establish a more refined and scalable brand identity.
Omar Zenhom (08:20): "With webinar Ninja, Course Ninja, I actually hired an expert to create those logos...I wanted to make sure I have an established brand and logo that I can use for the next few years to come."
Cost Recommendations and Practical Tips
Omar advises startups to be mindful of their budgets when it comes to branding:
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Budget Allocation: Spend $100 to $200 on logo creation and branding guides, whether hiring a professional or using premium tools.
Omar Zenhom (13:55): "If you can spare 100 to $200, don't spend more than that, then I highly recommend maybe hiring somebody."
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Platform Suggestions: Utilize platforms like Upwork or Fiverr to find reputable graphic designers with strong portfolios and positive reviews.
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Future-Proofing: Invest in scalable and versatile designs that can grow with the business, and plan for future brand refreshes as the company expands.
Conclusion: Striking the Right Balance
Omar concludes that while a logo is an important aspect of a brand, especially as it scales, the primary focus for startups should remain on the product or service offered. He emphasizes the balance between cost-efficiency and quality, advocating for a strategic approach to branding investments.
Omar Zenhom (14:50): "Your logo is not unimportant, but at the same time you don't want to spend too much time dwelling on it. So that's why I kind of recommend hiring out for it."
By creating a solid yet flexible branding foundation early on, entrepreneurs can ensure that their brand identity evolves seamlessly with their business growth, without diverting excessive resources from core operations.
Final Thoughts
This episode of The $100 MBA Show offers invaluable guidance for entrepreneurs navigating the complexities of branding on a budget. Omar Zenhom’s balanced perspective underscores the importance of prioritizing business fundamentals while making strategic, cost-effective decisions in branding.
Key Takeaways:
- Assess Your Stage: Early-stage startups can benefit from cost-effective DIY logo creation, transitioning to professional services as the business grows.
- Invest in a Branding Guide: Ensures consistency and scalability, serving as a blueprint for all branding efforts.
- Utilize Available Tools and Platforms: Leverage user-friendly design tools and freelance platforms to achieve quality branding without overspending.
- Prioritize Core Business Functions: While branding is essential, it should not overshadow the primary focus on developing and delivering the product or service.
For more insights and practical business lessons, visit The $100 MBA Show.