Coke and Pepsi – two brands that almost everyone in the world knows. Truly household names, and yet, one brand has changed frequently throughout it’s history and the other has basically stayed the same. This begs the question: How do you know when it’s time to update your logo? Once in a while a company comes up with a timeless design that needs little or no changes – think Coke or Nike. More often though, the logo needs to be updated, maybe more thank once (think Pepsi or Volkswagen). There are several signs that can indicate if it might be time for you to undertake a brand refresh. Here we will go over some of these signs to help you make an informed decision. But don’t worry if your logo is out of date, look at it as an opportunity to inject life into your company!
With this in mind, here are some questions to ask yourself to decide if it’s time for a logo update:
Is your logo getting old? If your logo has been around for a long time, it may simply look old. In this case you’ve probably already started thinking it’s time for a change. You might be very fond of the design and loved it when it was first made, but the fact is old logos are easy for clients to spot and almost no logo looks good forever. It’s time to take a look at your logo and decide if it’s starting to look outdated.
Has your company changed? It’s possible if you’ve been around for a long time that your company has changed. If that’s the case, it’s likely that your logo doesn’t accurately convey what you do. A brand refresh can take the best elements of your logo and update them in a new way that clearly shows the new direction your company is going.
Do you have new competition? A strong logo should help you stand apart from your competition. But over time the chances are good that you’ve picked up new competitors. They probably have a more modern brand that is appealing and eye-catching. To combat this, consider regularly taking a look at your competition to evaluate how you compare. You might find that your once trendy and modern brand isn’t keeping up with the new guys.
Are you looking to reach a new audience? Maybe you’ve been around for a while and business seems to have plateaued. You start to wonder how to break in to new markets. If you’ve always had a formal, professional looking logo, maybe it’s time to give it some zip to help you appeal to a younger demographic. It’s easy to give your logo a facelift so that it’s still recognizable to your current clients, but also capable of drawing in new ones.
Was the original logo designed poorly? When you first started your company, you may not have had a large budget designated for creating your logo. In this case, the original logo may not have been designed very well. It’s just one of those things you’ve been meaning to do, but it keeps getting pushed aside. Now’s the time to get it done. A poorly designed or cheap looking logo can make your company look less appealing and that’s the wrong message to send your clients. It’s better to spend the money and get a professionally made logo that will look good for years to come. Think of it as an investment!
Your logo is the face of your company and the heart of your brand, so getting it up-to-date is essential in keeping your company competitive and relevant. Remember, your logo identifies your company and tells everyone who you are. Therefore, it’s very important that your logo does this well and if it’s not, then it’s time for an update.