Create An Interesting Logo for Your Resume Writing Business

I'm married to a graphic designer. So I'm accustomed to looking for -- and recognizing -- great design. Many years ago, when I started Resume Writers' Digest, I was the go-to source to check with before new resume writers named their resume business. My database of more than 4,000 resume writers was a good resource for checking to see if a business name had been taken.

With the advent of the BeAResumeWriter.com member directory, I'm now getting a window into great resume writing business logos. Whether you have a free or paid account on BeAResumeWriter.com, you can upload your business logo as part of your directory listing. (If you're not a member of the site, or you're not logged in, you can't see the business logos. But log in as a free member and you can see them!)

An interesting logo is often one of the keys to brand recognition. It's great if someone can see your logo and immediately feel connected to you and your resume writing business. That's tremendously powerful -- especially because the job search and seeking out a resume writer are intensely personal experiences. Making an emotional connection with your logo can immediately build interest, excitement, and trust. Almost every resume writing business can benefit from creating an interesting logo. Here are some tips and strategies to help you do just that.

Relevance
Consider the career services industry. The first thing to think about when you're creating a logo is that the images, colors, and fonts you use all need to be relevant to our industry. Creativity is one of the hallmarks of being a resume writer. So is professionalism. Please, please don't use Comic Sans font in your resume business logo! Just as an IT management company shouldn't use Zapf Chancery as their font, your resume business shouldn't use something as boring as Times New Roman in yours!

Also consider images and graphics. Logos connected to writing tools, paper, and writing implements make sense. Check out these logos:

 (Tracey Kampes, Resume Success)

 (Norine Dagliano, ekm inspirations)

Attention Grabbing
Your logo will ideally grab your prospect's attention immediately -- in a good way. There are shocking and sometimes awful logos that grab your attention. However, generally that's not the goal. You want to make a strong positive impact. Eye catching simply means that it stands out from the other logos in your industry and on your website and marketing materials.

Here's my business logo. We selected the color to be eye-catching. And the image of the light bulb evokes creativity and inspiration.

Here's the new BeAResumeWriter.com logo:

He also did a vertical version (for use with Facebook and Twitter):

Consider how your logo will look both online AND offline.

Easy to Read 
You might think this would be an obvious element to an interesting logo. Yet many logos are downright difficult to read. There are many factors that play a role in readability. They include the font and also the font size. Also, the background color and the color of the lettering are important. For example, yellow lettering on an orange background could be very difficult for most people to read.

Ugh: 

Ugly: 

Simple
An interesting logo doesn't need to be complicated. In fact, visually complicated images are often ignored. Simple, strong and clear logos tend to perform much better than trying to convey a complicated message.

  (Rosalind Kimber, Careers Boutique)

Brand Image
Also consider your brand image. Ideally your logo will match your brand image. For example, if your resume writing practice focuses on federal resumes, then you will ideally choose colors and images that support that brand. It wouldn't make sense to go with a gray logo with black lettering in this case.

 (Camille Carboneau Roberts, CC Career Services)

Memorable
Finally, an interesting logo is memorable. Think about the logos that are forever embedded in your mind. Coca Cola, McDonalds, Nike, Google, Harley Davidson, MTV, Gucci, Target, and Starbucks are all memorable logos that you can probably envision without too much effort. These logos are simple, memorable and they relate to the companyís brand and personality. In fact, they contribute to it.

You can create your own logo with a little time and effort. There are very useful design programs online. If you're struggling to create your own business logo, consider hiring a professional. (But not my husband ... I've got plenty of projects lined up for him to work on!) Having a logo designed for $100-$300 can be a great investment in your business.