Branding, website design, company growth — these are all different areas of building your business, and they all need attention. But did you know that working with even one single aspect can affect all three?

 

We’re talking about the humble logo. Logos are small but ubiquitous. They’re most effective when they’re simple, and design decisions can make them easy to remember and recognize. But how does your logo design play into your branding, website, and growth?

 

Different types of logos work best for different types of companies. And some logo types are ideal for creating a company website.

 

Let’s talk about the best type of logo for your site, and why it’s important.

 

Types Of Logos

 

Depending on how you quantify them, there are anywhere from three to ten basic logo types. The exact number depends on grouping.

 

Basically, however, they can be broken down into the following simple logo groups.

• Wordmark. This type of logo usually uses the name of the brand or company as the logo, often in a unique font.

• Lettermark. Lettermarks use the first letter of the company name.

• Monogram. These logos are very similar to lettermarks, except they are used when there are multiple words in the company name.

• Mascot. A mascot logo uses a character as the central point of the logo.

• Icon. Iconic logos use a graphic representation as the focus of the logo. The graphic represents something that is identifiable, like an object or an animal.

• Abstract. Abstract logos are also graphic-based, but the graphic in this type of logo is not readily identifiable as any real-world object. Abstract logos tend to play with shapes and colors.

• Combination. Combination marks use both a font and a graphic together.

 

These variations on logos can be combined, re-designed, and deconstructed to create something new and unique. But every logo will fall into at least one of these categories.

 

Logo Types And Your Branding

 

Now that you have the basic types of logo down, it’s time to analyze which logo works best for your brand. Here are some suggestions and examples of what each type would work well for.

 

• Wordmark. Wordmarks, or logotypes, work well for companies that have a unique, distinctive name. Think of logos like Google, Disney, and Coca-Cola.

• Lettermark. These are highly adaptable. Since it’s just a single letter, the design can be more unique and unusual, as legibility isn’t as much of a problem as it might be with wordmarks. The design could even give the appearance of being a symbol-based logo. McDonalds’ golden arches are a good example of this, and so is Facebook.

• Monogram. Ideal for company names with several words in them, monograms are sleek and sophisticated. They also make it much easier to remember a brand that is difficult to pronounce, for example. HBO, NASA, Louis Vuitton — all of these use monogram logos, and in many cases, the monogram becomes what the brand is called. How many of us call HBO “Home Box Office”?

• Mascot. Mascots are great options for brands that want to create an identifiable “face” and enhance engagement with their customers. They’re perfect for brands that center of family and children, and are frequently used for restaurants. Think of Wendy’s, KFC’s Colonel Sanders, and Red Robin’s Red Robin.

• Icon. Iconic logos are often a direct graphical representation of what the company is, does, or offers. These are really good for product-based companies that want to stand out from their competition. Think of Apple and Shell, for examples.

• Abstract. Perfect for giving a tone of creativity and true uniqueness to a logo, an abstract graphic is more about capturing the feeling behind a brand, rather than a physical product. The Nike swoosh is a classic example.

• Combination. Combination logos are great for new brands who are just starting to make their mark, as they offer both name and graphic recognition. These are also some of the most adaptable logos, since they can be adjusted as needed to include either the font-based portion, the graphic-based portion, or both. MasterCard, Starbucks, Pizza Hut, Red Bull — all of these famous companies use combination marks.

 

Your type of logo should fit your brand personality. It should harmonize with the image you want to project to the public, and should also fall in line with your logo design system, which sets up the framework and pattern for all of your branding decisions. That means that the type of logo you use is up to you — but it’s important to do market research before settling on any type. This gives you what you need to know about your competition’s logos, and tells you about any current logo trends.

 

So which of these logo types is most recommended for designing a website?

 

Best Logo Type For Your Website Design

 

Again, it really depends on the type of business you’re running, as well as the aesthetics of the website. But, especially for a newer business, a combination mark is definitely recommended.

 

Branding your website properly is vital. This includes not only branding the content, such as infographics and videos, but embedding your brand in the site design itself. For example, your logo should be included on every page, usually at the top left-hand corner.

 

But you could also include it in other areas throughout the site, reinforcing your brand. This is why a combination mark is recommended. This type of logo offers more flexibility, so you can use both parts of it or just one as needed.

 

Using a combination mark logo that is simple and easy to remember is one of the best ways to effectively brand your website, enhance memorability, and stimulate company growth.

 

Author Profile

My name is Alina McCarran, and I work as a freelance content writer and social media marketer. When not working on my projects, I like to read, draw and listen to rock music. My favorite band is Queen.