A recent commenter asked, “how critical is it that a blog have a logo?” That’s a good question. Whether your blog should have a logo really depends on what you’re trying to accomplish, but in the end I believe that if you are serious about building a presence online, you will benefit from having a logo. I use the word “benefit” because of course there are plenty of successful blogs that do not have logos. That being said, here some reasons to consider a logo for your blog:
1. A logo will differentiate you from the millions of other bloggers.
With over 70 million blogs out there it is imperative to find ways to stand out from the crowd and a logo is an obvious way to do it. The last thing you want is for your blog to be generic.
2. A logo will automatically make you more memorable.
You and your site will be more memorable with a consistent visual image that represents you. Notice I said “consistent”, not unique or clever. Andy Beard uses a simple A in a box and he uses it everywhere, from the top of his blog, to his avatar on MyBlogLog. It’s a consistent use of a basic image and it works. I can scan through a MyBlogLog avatar block and when I see his mark, I immediately recognize it. It reminds me of his site and the straightforward, no nonsense kind of content I always find there, and might even prompt a visit (even though I’m subscribed to his feed). Once you have a logo, use it (or part of it) everywhere you possibly can. The more people associate that image with you, and see it next to comments, as an avatar, etc., the more familiar you become to them and the more likely they are to remember to return to your site.
3. A logo says you are serious about your online presence
A logo automatically sends a distinct message to readers and even potential advertisers, that you approach the business of blogging seriously and for the long term.
4. A logo is part of your brand
The presence of a logo in the header tells readers something about you and your site before they ever read a word you’ve written.
A brand is a symbolic embodiment of all the information connected to the product and serves to create associations and expectations around it. A brand often includes a logo, fonts, color schemes, symbols, and sound, which may be developed to represent implicit values, ideas, and even personality. (Wikipedia)
What does the header of your blog say about you? Is it text on the default background of the theme? The title says something certainly, but you could communicate so much more through the use of a logo.
Now what?
So, what if you buy into this logo thing but aren’t necessarily ready or able to pay someone like me to design something? Try using a wordmark. Many of the great brands of the world don’t have any image as part of their logo at all- it’s just their name, set in a specific font and specific use of color. Check out this article on how to design a wordmark. EMoms, Dawud Miracle, Chris Garrett, and even Google have wordmarks that work just fine without the addition of an image/icon. Don’t have any fancy software like Photoshop or Illustrator? You can download GIMP or Inkscape for free and they work in many ways just as well as their expensive counterparts.
That’s the low cost way to accomplish it. If you are at all serious about building your blog into a well-known, high quality brand, I highly recommend you invest the money up front in a good logo designer. Check out David Airey’s post on this topic, and the post at the Graphic Design Blog as well.
Some who are reading this post who may be less “technically inclined” may be thinking, “that’s all well and good, but even if I had a logo, I have no idea how to put it on my blog. Well, that’s a topic for another post…
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Hi Randa,
Many thanks for the link. I guess for a personal blog image and branding are not that important, but if you are trying to make yourself look professional it is.
You’re welcome Tara. I think it really depends on what you want to do with a personal blog. There are plenty of personal blogs out there that have turned into businesses for the owners. Dooce is probably the best known example. I don’t think her blog would have nearly the same flair and personality without the logo and header designs. That being said, the content is certainly the most important thing.
I make no claims to being in any way a designer, but I am really glad I invested 10 minutes in a painting program
It isn’t a professional logo by any stretch of the imagination, it just worked, and I was lucky noone else seems to use such a simple logo for their blog.
Hmm…I have one, but lost it in template redesign. I guess you have given me reason to get serious about re-implementing it. I had never thought about it in terms of social bookmarking sites and other online activities.
I’ve been putting off making a logo for a month. After reading this post, I’m going to start thinking of my design. I’m such a pushover heh.
When I came around to setting up a Gravatar, the idea of maintaining the same, recognisable image around the Internet seemed the logical choice. I don’t know if it has worked at all though.
All I do know is that the original picture was a leaf yet several people are convinced it’s a flower… something I wish I had put more thought into the first time around!
@Andy- you were the perfect example for this post.
@Dana – looking forward to seeing your logo!
@Mr. Baron
Rather than being a pushover, I would say you have excellent judgement. 
@Phil – I thought it was a flower too!
Thanks, you reminded me I needed to change my avatar on bloglog. I use that instead of a logo so far but I have been thinking of getting one. I will certainly look into it.
I like your new look BTW, have not been here in a while.
The best part of my logo is all the emails I get wondering just what the heck it is!
Thanks for the linkage, Randa. I agree that Andy is a great example. Simplicity is key for producing memorability.
Good job with your avatar, even if I would prefer your face.
You’re certainly right that one blog needs something to differentiate it from all the others – especially with so many people using stock themes!
I played around with some logo concepts for my reboot, but decided in the end to go with a distinctive header instead – I think both can work, if they’re unique enough!
@Mrs. Pickel – thanks for stopping by and for your nice comment about my new look!
@Chris – Ok…. I always wondered what the inspiration was for your logo as well, so fill us in. I’ve always thought it was an electron orbiting a nucleus.
@David – you know, I actually prefer faces to graphics, but then as I was writing this post, and thinking about how effective Andy’s avatar is, I realized I should change it.
@Paul – I agree with you about the distinctive header. It would be cool to carry your DJ guy through to your avatar now…
I thought about that… The thing is, my left eye isn’t going to change – but my header (and blog theme) probably will. The last one only lasted two months!
That’s a good point Paul.
Good post. I find Paintshop Pro is a great graphics program uses layers and filters like Photoshop. It does the same sort of stuff.
@Michael – yes, I used PSP for a long time, starting back in the 90’s when they were giving it away for free! it’s a great program.
I totally didn’t need it, but being the kind of guy I am, I couldn’t resist playing around to try and come up (very quickly) with a logo for my unimportant, non-business, personal blog. A 10 minute job like Andy’s, but it’s better than nothing.
I have used it since it was free and have gotten various versions of it. The latest Corel incarnation of it is buggy and locks my machine up so I went back to version 8 from JASC.
I have Photoshop CS2 of my machine at work but have not yet gotten to use it enough to be comfortable with it.
A logo is a good way of getting brand recognition. However, I find the favicon to be even more important. People notice the address bar, notice the image in it, and make mental note of what they see. I’d recommend including it in your blog/page as well.
It only takes one image and one line of code in the header of your template file.
Amen!
As a designer myself, there are few things that put me off a blog than the default template header or gradient background. Although most writers I read are doing personal work, I still encourage them to develop their own look…or at least make an effort.
Glad to know there are others out here spreading the word.
Cheers,
JD
@Stephen – while I would disagree that a favicon is more important than a logo, I think it’s a good thing. I actually have one, and it was working – but now that you mention it, I see that it’s not working anymore, so thanks for bringing that to my attention.
If you can create any kind of logo you should be able to do a favicon as well since you can now use png.
Here it is, I think. My little pillar, because I think it goes well with my general theme of destroyed foundations. : )
Ok, maybe not. Why do some pop up, and mine doesn’t? Is there something I have to do to make my avatar show on your site?
Are you logged into MyBlogLog – that’s where they’re pulled from.
and I agree that favicons are a neat idea. Especially for someone like me…my blog isn’t exactly up to make money, and I haven’t done much to incorporate my little logo in with my page at all. But now when people see it on the social bookmarking sites I’m on, or as my avatar and then see it as my favicon, they’ll see the immediate connection. I think.
But here I’m a scary shadowy person. Yikes.
Oh, Hi! Yes, I am.
oh… I see you in my little MBL section over there. Hmmm, not sure why it’s not showing up in the comments.
You’ve made some really good points there, Randa. It’s important to distinguish one’s blog design from others – be it a logo, or like Paul has, a unique header, something that people can immediately associate your blog with.
As for myself, I’m working on a redesign of my blog, thus postponing the design of a new logo. Currently I have a temporary up on my blog, that I designed in 15 min just to have something up to use for my blog’s favicon.
Amazingly people understand that the website is more professional than a normal looking website.
One more point i would like to suggest here. i know it goes without saying.
blogs on own domain shine better than those blogspot and wordpress blogs.
is it possible to put up a logo on a wordpress blog?
A link on how to would be appreciated.
[...] on the page – graphics, video and sound to max out on those "And Points" and despite logo designers complementing me on my logo design occasionally, I know my overall design will eventually have to [...]
Awesome post, all valid points. It also makes your blog look a lot more legit.
Thank you for this article. I can’t wait to tryout Wordmark.
[...] recently posted about the four reasons your blog needs a logo, and the need to visually differentiate yourself from the millions of other blogs that are out [...]
[...] Randa Clay, autorka i projektantka tematów graficznych dla serwisów internetowych i blogów, wypunktowała 4 powody, dla których blog powinien mieć logo: [...]
That is very true. But there is no way I am good at designing such a logo. sigh !!
[...] Clay is confirming my theory of the importance of a logo for your site or blog. Which reminds me, I’m looking for a logo designer for my blog. If you are in the same dire [...]
This is definitely an imperative for a blog. Ever since I noticed Paul Stamatiou’s logo, I realized that to be a professional, your site requires some branding.
Luckily, I’ve got some talent in-house that’s working on it for me
.
Really a good article, like a graphic designer I think that make strong brand only have benefits, not only for blog, also I think that is important when we make a logo make this in vector format to use this in all our commercial stationery and can adapt it in any support easily.