Logos holds sheer importance in the digital world of businesses. In fact, the logo represents your business as a whole and defines the specific brand. On the other side, designing a svelte logo is another crux of the matter. A professional and successful logo provides a visual representation of the business. Not just that but a good looking logo builds the trust between customer and business. However, designing a business logo that leaves a long-lasting impression involves a lot of considerations. With that said, let’s discuss what are the golden rules of logo design.
Simplicity is the prime ingredient of a good logo. We see a lot of brands and logos every day and find a unique touch to each. However, the only thing most graphic designers always miss is the simplicity. As per professional recommendation, always keep your logo simple and refined. This practice will ensure a long-lasting impression on the customer. Simply think of the Nike logo, which depicts a great level of simplicity. Many businesses always seek minimalistic logos for their brands. For that instance, always brainstorm simple sketches and convert them for the logo.
Take a moment and think of the major brand’s logos. You will find out that every logo is unique and creative on its own. Most of the time designers are required to dive into the depths of business competitions and sketch the logos. Always brainstorm before the sketch and connect different aspects of the business to the logo.
Most of the designers always scratch their heads over maintaining the relevancy in a logo. However, it is worth noting that keeping the logo relevant is as important as the client’s brand. Always choose the logo design that matches the brand’s elements. For instance, the logo of the burger king involves buns with a text “Burger King” in the middle. Moreover, designers must use the relevant fonts for the type of brand.
Colors are the most important aspects of our lives that play a vital role in our everyday life. We recognize and see things with respect to their color. As discussed earlier, it is important to keep the logo simple and unique. One or two colors will do just fine for the logo design. However, many professionals also force to work on one color. Many companies always overlook this rule and think where they have missed. Always limit your color scheme and choose them wisely.
Typography is the soul of the logo design. In fact, typography serves the role of communication with the targeted audience and develops a level of trust. Since there are countless different typography fonts available, the large amount can easily puzzle the designers for choice. However, there is still an easy approach to get out of the puzzling block and choose the right typography. While designing the logo, thorough research of the business can help you to find the right font for the logo.
It is true that your logo design must be timeless and sleek, but it also should stand out from others. The slight adjustment in the design should not turn it unrecognizable. This is the key to designing the logo that leaves an impression on customers’ minds.
Your logo plays an important role in shaping your brand’s identity. It affects the customer’s perception of your business, their buying decision, and their general attitude towards your products. In the highly competitive markets of today, it is your logo that makes you stand out from the rest.
So, what is the key to designing a great logo? Whether you are designing your first logo or simply revamping your existing one, here are our top tips on how to go about it:
Your logo tells your story, i.e. who you are, what you do, and your core values. It conveys your message to your audience. For instance, if we look at the logos for different fashion brands, all of them tell a different story. While some brands have logos that are casual and fun, others have a more sophisticated, high-end vibe – each logo represents what their business is about.
When designing your logo, think about who you are and the top three words that can describe your brand. Your logo should be a reflection of these attributes.
The main purpose of a logo is to help you stand out from the rest, so it needs to be creative and unique. The goal should be to think outside the box and opt for a logo that is different from what’s already being used by others in the market. Given the number of logos in the world, it is difficult to create something completely unique but you need to try and differentiate yourself as much as possible.
Colors are one of the most important components of a logo, and they will help define your brand’s personality. Different colors have different traits and emotions attached to them, which is why graphic designers use them very carefully.
For instance, if you use red as your main color, you send out the message that your brand is energetic, passionate, and aggressive, which is great if your products are aimed at young people. On the other hand, blue is a symbol of stability, trustworthiness, and maturity, while black looks sleek and luxurious.
Just like colors, the font used in your logo also represents your brand’s personality so don’t choose randomly. For instance, a handwritten-style font is a great choice for a children’s brand as it looks simple and fun. Alternatively, if you sell beard-care products, a font that is big and bold could be the most suitable. If you’re struggling to find the perfect font, you can use a free font generator to quickly choose one that fits your brand’s personality.
Ask any expert and they will tell you that simple logo designs are the most effective. By simple, we mean the logo should have two to three colors, simple font, and only a few elements. Since a logo shapes your customer’s first impression of your business, too many colors or elements can send them mixed signals, making it difficult for them to figure out who you are. Fortunately, there are many free icons available online that you can use to make your logo design simple and memorable.
Logos are a crucial part of your brand images so it is important to take your time selecting the right one for your business. The right approach is to come up with 3-4 options and then opt for one that you feel best reflects who you are. Once it is ready, you will be all set to show your business’ new face to the world!
A new decade has arrived, and new logo trends have emerged. These new logo trends are a combination of new and old. There are a ton of throwbacks to previous eras, like black and white images from the 30s to neon and chrome 80s. It is safe to say, these logo design trends will continue evolving trends from previous years while taking designs into new directions. But if you are looking for logo design trends that have taken the world by storm in 2020, then let’s take a look.
Imperfect logos are a thing this year. These hand-drawn logos are successfully replacing logos designed by programs, encouraging designers to start working on new ideas on their sketchbooks. Of course, these logos may not be perfect, but there is something truly unique about logos that utilize uneven lines and shading techniques.
Imperfect logos have been quite popular in 2020, and they have been getting more sketch-like, stamp-like, and grittier as brands continue to embrace the organic and homegrown look.
People are now opting for raw imperfections after having their fill with digital perfection. Brands are utilizing hand-drawn logos to give their logos personalities and to highlight their authenticity.
It really should not come as a surprise that imperfect logos are gaining traction, especially since people are desperately looking for a way to connect with something more handmade and organic.
Enough time has passed for the 80s to be cool and happening again. This includes pop music, video games, and even the attitude, and these will be reflected in throwback logos this year.
Throwback logos from the 80s involve a lot of neon and chrome. There are nods to throwback tech as well. Surprisingly, there is a tremendous amount of demand for the 80s these days. This could be due to the fact people are consuming and collecting 80s nostalgia in the form of video game consoles, arcade machines, cassette tapes, vinyl, and so on.
80s tech is old enough to be collectible, cool, and retro. This should explain why throwback logos to the 80s reference items like joysticks and the DeLorean.
Just like the throwback logos of the 80s, vintage logos of the 30s have a nostalgic look but with a different style entirely.
The 1930s cartoon look has all the potential to become immensely popular in 2020 dye to its two-tone color palette and clean and sleek style.
People are looking for familiar comforts of print to stay grounded, and the cartoon look of the 30s does just that. These expressive, adorable, and simple 30s logos are appealing to brands and designers alike.
This year, you will see the popular gradient trend merge with the 3D trend. This is perfect for this day and age, considering how people are on their smartphones 24/7.
Gradients can transform any group of colors into a dynamic spectrum of colors, and when coupled with 3D effects, they give logos life and energy, unlike anything you have seen before.
3D gradient logos are difficult to print, but they look amazing on smartphones or any other screen for that matter. These logos are quite popular with brands that really do not care about print.
Expect designers to explore 3D gradients to their fullest potential, and so should you.
In 2020, digital media is not taking a back seat and is leaving a lasting impact on logo design as well. Designers are now pushing the envelope using delicate lines, create unique effects that work surpassingly well in the digital sphere.
Since there is a lot of complexity involved, these logos feel ethereal, giving birth to a completely new style, bidding farewell to the traditional styles of yesteryear.
Seeing how brands can operate online exclusively, logos are not restricted to print anymore. Logos with ultra-thin lines are abstract and sleek, but difficult to pull off without a computer. This should explain why this logo design trend is massively popular for industrial and tech branding.
This logo design trend masterfully expresses the future of technology, where less is more. Simply put, it has a mysterious and futuristic feel, so much so, it feels as though it left the age of print.
2020 is all about logos going deeper and bigger than ever before through layer upon layer of colors. This trend is causing designers to look past semi-flat and flat designs. Of course, colors and shapes will remain simple, but there will be more layers to look forward to.
Overlapping logos are far more complex, using elaborate colors, shadows, and highlights to communicate more about brands. These logos do not have to necessarily have colors and can use semi-transparent layers and shading for subtle effects.
It goes without saying, overlapping logos will draw a lot of attention in 2020.
The logo design trends mentioned above are just a few of the many logo design trends that are gaining momentum in 2020. If you were looking for a new design or style to start a new brand, or uplift an existing one, you now know your options.
If you are looking for more options and inspiration, you will find plenty of additional logo design trends gaining popularity in 2020 online. You can check them out, and if need be, integrate them into one of the logo design trends mentioned above.
If you are not sure what to do or where you need to start, you do have the option to seek professional assistance. In-house designers can give you greater insight into what your brand needs, thus allowing you to come up with a logo design that will allow your brand to reach new heights. However, if you do not have an in-house designer to count on, then you can seek assistance from third parties. If you do take this route, remember to work with reliable and dependable designers. To find the best ones out there, make sure you see what others have to say, which will require a bit of homework on your part. Rest assured, it will be worth the hassle.
Whether you engage in B2B or B2C business interactions, it is crucial to generate quality leads online to drive business growth and revenue. Finding potential customers and nurturing them through the sales process until they are prepared to make a purchase is the aim of quality lead generation.
Building visibility, credibility, trust, and interest from a specific set of people (possible leads) is another goal of quality lead generation. So, concentrating on lead generation can aid in directing traffic from high-quality prospects.
According to HubSpot, 67% of organizations rely solely on the statistic of lead generation to evaluate the efficacy of their content. Profit Blitz highlights that companies with successful lead-generation strategies generate at least 133% more income than those without effective lead-generation methods.
However, the million-dollar question is, ‘How can we generate quality leads online?’ Let’s get straight to the point.
How To Generate Quality Leads Online in 2023?
LinkedIn can help you generate online leads, as most people use LinkedIn to network. Marketers say LinkedIn produces twice as many leads as any other social media site. With a 50% open rate, LinkedIn’s Message Ads perform better than conventional email marketing strategies. Here are some facts and figures that you probably won’t know:
Number of conversions per social platform (Source: aboundsocial)
LinkedIn is the go-to platform for lead generation (Source: HubSpot)
What do these facts and figures tell you? Well, the answer is quite simple. Undertaking a LinkedIn lead program is crucial for generating quality online leads in 2023.
YouTube Shorts is a massive prospect overlooked by small firms while contemplating strategies to generate quality leads online. It now has an immense amount of potential but is underutilized. Compared to blogging, it is much more effective because YT shorts are only a few seconds long and it has video content, whereas the reading time of a blog is in minutes and may be boring.
Younger people make up the majority of users of YouTube, which has a short video format. Short-form content is essential to a larger strategy, even if it doesn’t always feel like the optimal content-sharing platform.
Businesses should consider using YT to engage in this. Now the question is, how to generate leads online using YT shorts? Here is one way: Take key points from your long-form videos and condense them into a short, finish the video off with something like, “If you want more info on this XYZ topic, check out the video in the link below”. This could be a product demo video, and the flow would look like this:
Short-form video (key info) [Push user to watch long-form demo video] -> Long-form video [User is encouraged to click the link to go to a landing page] -> Books call -> Deal done. All you’ve done is maximize your reach with YT shorts and focus on content already created to generate quality online leads.
Similar to a give-and-take, by using lead capture software or forms, you can collect information from potential clients in return for an offer. Visitors can access your offering after filling out a form with their information. You can also get leads from people who download materials from your landing page using a lead-capture form.
Businesses should use lead capture forms because they help generate quality leads online and advance those prospects through the sales process. Importantly, they do so without being hostile. Someone is probably already interested in what your business does if they are willing to offer their information for content.
Even if the users didn’t initially visit your website with the intention of buying something, they come close to becoming an obvious and natural sales lead. Due to the value offered via a lead capture form, users must trade their private information for access. As a small business owner, once you have a user’s contact information, you can start a dialogue that might ultimately result in a sale.
For their Marketing Unboxed video series, the customer-data-platform company Zaius used a hybrid approach to content gating. They incorporated forms within each video rather than placing everything behind a form. The video included a lead generation form inviting people to subscribe but did not compel them.
An episode of Zaius with their embedded lead generation form (Source: Unbounce)
Only ten episodes have been released yet, but they have already produced hundreds of new leads from it, and older episodes are still gaining subscribers. Some of these subscribers were later developed into new Zaius clients.
In other words, the above method employed by Zaius actually answers the question we asked right before beginning our conversation: how to generate quality leads for your business. The forms attached to the videos are sufficiently attention-grabbing without becoming bothersome.
An effective way to generate quality leads online is through UGC (User-generated content), which is unpaid or unsponsored content that users across all networks create or share when they use or revere your brand, its product, or its service. UGC can be comments, social media posts, forum discussions, podcasts, or even blog posts.
You can engage with the audience through UGC and gain their trust. Encourage customers to provide more user-generated content about your company, goods, and services as part of your marketing plan. UGC comprises things like reviews left on blogs or client testimonial videos posted on a B2B brand’s website.
The legitimacy of UGC is its main advantage. Since it is more objective and relatable, people trust information from other customers when looking for inspiration or recommendations for purchases. They read reviews and browse consumer images to choose whether or not to purchase something.
UGC has the highest impact on customers’ shopping decisions (Source: Stackla)
A study discovered that UGC primarily drives e-commerce firms’ increased trust and loyalty. User-generated content significantly influences 79% of consumers’ shopping decisions. This increases its impact by 8.8 times compared to influencer content and 6.6 times compared to content created by your brand.
UGC is a fantastic way to:
Search engine optimization, or SEO for short, consists of methods (both on-page and off-page SEO) to enhance the content of your website to raise its SERP ranking. The probability that search engines will display your website for an appropriate search query rises with a high ranking in SERPs.
SEO directly impacts the rise in organic website traffic and visitors, which will produce leads. There are various ways to generate quality leads online through SEO techniques:
Final Words!
Companies are always on the lookout to search for effective ways to generate quality leads online. We have provided some of the tried-and-test ways for quality lead generation. Acquiring quality leads necessitates a systematic approach using the most recent digital marketing tools, platforms and strategies. All the best for your lead-hunting journey!
Read moreA logo is a significant element of a business’s brand identity. It serves as a visual cue that allows your consumer audience to resonate with your brand. Naturally, if you want your brand or website to attract attention, the first step is curate an attractive logo.
Popular brands, such as McDonalds, Nike, Coca-Cola and Ikea have a powerful brand identity, which stems from their catchy logos. In this article, we will walk you through some steps to make your logo stand out and command attention.
Every single marketing strategy, be it logo designing or content optimization, requires a marketer to understand the target audience. First and foremost, you must select your target audience, and understand the demand for your products and services. Are you producing a mass-produced product or service, or are you catering to a specific niche?
Before working on your logo design, it is important to conduct research on your audience demographic and explore designs that are popular amongst your audience.
The significance of originality and creativity simply cannot be stressed enough as it allows a brand to capture exclusivity in its brand identity. A logo is simply not a design element that can be mimicked or copied from another brand. It requires you to study various designs and play around with graphics to create something that is original and unique.
A logo that is too complicated to understand will not fulfill the due purpose of a visual cue. Consumers find it difficult to relate with or even remember logos that are overly complicated and complex. You need to create a symbol that will easily stick in the minds of your consumer audience. Remember, when it comes to logo designing, less is always more. The key is to make a dynamic impact with a design that is simplistic and attention-grabbing.
A logo must convey a story by adding hidden messages into its design. This message will convey the story behind the brand’s identity and existence. You can achieve this by adding a strong one-liner, such as the Nike logo. Or you can play around with words and phrases, or even symbols and other design elements.
Again, this is where creativity and originality comes into play. However, the underlying principal remains the same: a well-designed logo must convey a message and a purpose.
Colors are one of the most significant design elements of a logo, and they play a powerful impact in brand positioning and brand identity. You can make an impact with an attractive color scheme, but that doesn’t mean you should underestimate the impact of a grayscale logo design.
It all comes to down your brand identity, the preferences of your consumers, and the color palettes that resonate with your brand story. Each color and color palette reflects a series of emotions and feelings. It is important to understand these emotions and feelings in order to create an impact on your target audience.
COVID-19 has impacted all online and offline industries across the globe, and search engine traffic is certainly not immune to its impact. While many digital platforms and websites have experienced a surge in traffic, many ecommerce websites have witnessed a marked reduction.
In this article, we will explore 7 ways in which COVID-19 has impacted search traffic and how SEO experts can respond to this pandemic.
Ecommerce sites that are selling essential items have witnessed marked increments in traffic and impressions. People are turning towards ecommerce sites to shop for basic essentials and cleaning products, particularly hand sanitizers, toilet papers, wipes and more. While the demand for essentials are increasing, people are avoiding buying makeup products, clothing and luxury items.
SEO experts can respond to this surge in demand by curating segments and pages for products that are high in demand. It is important to keep a close eye on traffic data and impressions, and observe keywords and log files.
In the wake of the ongoing pandemic, Google has developed stricter content policies for informative and advice articles pertaining to medical issues. There is a huge surge in the demand for health and wellness sites, as people are looking for information that they can incorporate in their everyday lives.
SEO experts must focus on designing easy to navigate and immersive websites that provide reliable and scientifically backed information.
Since more and more people are cooking at home instead of eating out, and cooking is also a healthy hobby, there is a greater demand for food and recipes-related content. This demand is likely to continue until the coronavirus pandemic is well behind us.
SEO experts can respond to this surge in demand by providing elaborate websites with immersive recipes. Structured data and content optimization will help boost the search results. It is also important to focus on recipes that do not require fancy ingredients.
While the pandemic has shut down all possibilities of traveling and vacationing, people are still visiting traffic websites in huge number. They are looking for “cheap flights” and hotel discounts in hopes that the pandemic restrictions would prove helpful in scoring valuable deals. SEO experts can respond by pooling all relevant data into streamlined and structured websites.
Publisher websites are facing an incredible surge in demand as people are constantly seeking updates on the worldwide impact of the pandemic. Needless to say, we have all been glued to news lately, and SEO experts can offer valuable support in terms of news and factual updates.
Restaurants have experienced a marked reduction in demand, while many are operating on a pick-up and delivery basis. If you are working as an SEO expert for a restaurant, perhaps you can push the audience to focus on delivery options. If your restaurant is closed down entirely, you can help your audience by starting a cooking show and teach them to prepare their favorite dishes at home.
Businesses all over the world have had to cut down on their spending for SEO campaigns. These budget cuts have urged SEO experts to focus on organic search and content optimization, which has made SEO more significant than ever.
Read moreA logo is an integral ingredient of a brand’s corporate identity and marketing mix. It lays down the foundation for an immersive visual brand identity, and emerges as a symbol that resonates with the offerings of a business. We all know what they say about first impressions-they go a long way in establishing a brand identity that consumers will remember.
Needless to say, a logo influences the brand perceptions of a consumer, alongside shaping an attitude that encourages consumers to invest in the products or services of the brand. Modern-day society is painted with an abundance of brand logos. These logos are constantly competing against one another to engage consumers and capture their attention.
Have you ever thought what makes the McDonald’s logo or the Nike logo better than its other counterparts? It is their uniqueness and exclusive flair for creativity that allows them to stand out. You see, a logo is an amalgamation of various design techniques and trends that allow a brand to set itself apart in the industry.
In this article, we will take a look at the ingredients and factors that create a catchy and attention grabbing logo.
A logo has to be unique and exclusive as its underlying purpose is to distinguish a brand from its competition, and create an image that stands out and grabs attention. Many brands that fail to realize the importance of uniqueness and use basic templates or imitation end up struggle to carve out a sphere of influence in the corporate realm.
Imitation may be the best form of flattering, but as far as logos are concerned, it is the death of a brand’s visual identity. It is important to create something unique and exclusive to ensure that it creates a dramatic ripple amongst the consumer audience. Consumers appreciate originality and creativity, and a logo is the first step towards appealing to the tastes of the brand’s targeted audience.
A logo may seem like nothing more than a tiny image that can be added to marketing materials and emails. But it is a great deal more, it is in fact an introduction into the brand’s philosophy. It is a token of design that can capture the vision and philosophy of the brand, and present it to the consumer audience with masterful strokes of graphic creativity.
A catchy logo resonates the ideology and philosophy of the brand, and presents this ideology with delicate strokes of imagery and an inviting blend of colors. These aesthetics create the visual identity of a brand-an identity that encapsulates a much deeper, and profound meaning. A logo must be original and unique, and it should represent the attributes of the brand through its design elements and colors
The psychology of colors reveals that each and every color palette reflects profound meanings and emotions, and the art of logo designing is all about playing with colors that reflect the ideology of the brand. Colors define the personality of a logo and vis-a-vis, the personality of the brand. Bright and bold colors work wonders at grabbing attention, but for certain brands and services, they may appear harsh and unflattering.
While bright colors work for certain brands, other need to create a more sophisticated palette of colors. You see, each color has its own distinctive influence and adds a deeper meaning to the message. For instance, red reflects a bold and sexy energy, while sunny yellow reflects optimism and positivity. Orange is a friendly hue that reflects creativity while green is all about sustainability and growth. Blue reflects an image of trustworthiness, black is powerful and reliable, while the fun and flirty pink exudes a youthful ambiance.
A catchy logo incorporates the psychology of colors to create a design that is visually appealing and reflects emotions of trust, excitement and creativity.
Now that 2020 is here, there is a lot that needs to be done to up your social media engagement game. You will need to keep adapting to trends so that you stay ahead of the curve. But what can you actually differently this year? What strategies and/or tricks will boost your social media engagement in 2020? To find out, read on.
Not all social media strategies can bring the same type of result to businesses in different industry niches. For example, B2C businesses can benefit from Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube. B2B brands on the other hand might have a better chance of performing better on LinkedIn and YouTube. This is why when it comes to agencies, you need to go for b2b social media – agency services.
To get more engagement on Facebook, you should go live more often than not. According to a survey it was found that live videos performed better than the usual Facebook videos. In order for this to work, you will need to plan your video and notify your viewers beforehand. Do not forget to write a short description for your video, and give answers to questions your viewers are posting so they know they matter. Most importantly, be yourself.
Another great way to increase engagement on Facebook is by creating a private group. You may have a page for your brand, but that will not cut it. You will need a Facebook group to create a community that is all about your brand, which will in turn increase visibility and boost engagement. Just remember to keep posting, and avoid being salesy all the time.
When it comes to boosting social media engagement on Instagram, you will need to utilize all its features to their fullest potential. Features like mention sticker, question sticker, location tag, etc. can do wonders if you play your cards right. Use Instagram stories to keep your audience hooked as well, just be unique and fun about whatever it is that you end up posting.
To get more comments on your Instagram posts, you should post more videos, it really is that simple! Of course, people generally do not leave comments on posts on Instagram, but you can rectify that by posting more videos. Studies have shown that videos actually get more comments than the usual Instagram posts.
For Twitter, you will not have to do much to boost engagement. You can start with using hashtags wherever possible. Believe it or not, hashtags are a powerful way of increasing your reach and engagement. It will without a shadow of a doubt increase your exposure on Twitter. As long as you use them wisely, your Twitter account will get to the top in no time.
If you were not using GIFs before, then the fact that GIFs getting 55% more engagement on posts will get you started right away.
Other useful tips include interacting with other users’ content, retweeting whenever you are mentioned, responding to people who tweeted you, and sharing useful articles.
LinkedIn can be a bit tricky, and there is nothing to be ashamed about if you were not working extensively on this social media platform in particular. It can be intimidating, and not a lot of individuals and businesses know how to boost social media engagement on LinkedIn.
Since the social media platform has over 300 million active users, you will need to take advantage of the professional networking app, but the good news is you have the following tips to count on for phenomenal results:
Other useful tips for boosting engagement on LinkedIn include writing LinkedIn blogs and articles, engaging with others, creating your own LinkedIn group, joining other LinkedIn groups, and the most important of them all, and sharing content that is relevant to your target audience.
Social media is a place where you can always count on your consumers to be present and active. There is absolutely no reason why you should not use this to your advantage. Reach your target audience more easily, by simply being active and responding to queries and concerns on all social media platforms. If you are not present on all social media platforms, then it is high time you create your presence.
Boosting your social media engagement really boils down to how effective you are in showing you care about your target audience. When you show them they matter, and you take their comments seriously, there is no way your social media engagement will not grow. By doing something so simple, you can actually make a big difference, so much so, that your target audience will opt for you rather than your competitors each and every time.
Let’s start with a fun fact. The next time you look at the NBC logo, look a bit closer. If you see just a splash of six colors, look again. You might see a beak sort of thing on the purple splash. That’s because the NBC logo is actually a peacock. However, NBC’s logo wasn’t anything close to a peacock when the broadcaster introduced its first logo. The NBC logo evolution spanned over almost 100 years and has taken the shape as we know it today.
National Broadcasting Company, or NBC, was founded on November 15, 1926, and it is one of the oldest major television networks in the United States. It was created by the Radio Corporation of America (RCA) and was the first network to broadcast regular television programming. NBC has aired a wide variety of programs, with some of the most popular shows being “Saturday Night Live,” “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon,” “The Voice,” “Law & Order,” and many more. The broadcasters are divided into many divisions, including Bravo, CNBC, E!, MSNBC, NBC, NBC News, Oxygen, SYFY, Telemundo, Universal Kids, Universo, USA Network, NBC Sports, and NBC Local Stations. The company also owns Peacock, its streaming service.
Not only this, but NBC also produces and distributes films and programs through Universal Filmed Entertainment Group and Universal Studio Group. While the portfolio is nothing short of fascinating, NBC also has a glorious history of evolving from a radio network to a giant media and entertainment company. Nothing symbolizes this evolution better than the network’s logo.
The first NBC and the original NBC logo is often referred to as the “NBC Radio City Microphone” logo. The iconic logo was in use during the early days of NBC, when it primarily focused on radio broadcasting. The logo, introduced in 1926, was created to symbolize the network’s commitment to quality and innovation in broadcasting. The logo was typically rendered in black and white, as color television was not yet widespread during its early years.
It featured a stylized microphone, representing the network’s association with radio broadcasting. “NBC” was written in capital letters with a map of the USA in the background.
The logo which then followed, was a much-simplified version of the first logo. It was a simple square with NBC written diagonally inside it. Like the previous logo, it was also black and white, and the design had lightning bolts around the letter ‘B’.
In 1943, NBC introduced its third logo. Unlike the previous two, this one had a splash of color – red lightning bolts. The design was subtle as it had a microphone in the center with NBC written on it, while the lightning bolts were placed on the left side of the microphone. On the right side, there was a different wave pattern for the television network. The meaning of the NBC logo was to indicate the company’s transition from a radio broadcaster to a TV and radio broadcaster.
The following two logos were devoid of any graphics or colors. They were simple typography with NBC written in the uppercase inscription. In 1946, the company’s simple yet elegant logo featured a traditional italicized serif typeface with NBC written in black over a white background.
It was followed by the same color tones but with a different typeface. To give the logo a more modern look, the simple serif font was replaced with bold and strict sans-serif in 1952. The letters were wider with a black outline and a thick black shadow.
Only within a year, the simple typography logo was shelved for a more colorful design in 1953. The broadcaster introduced xylophone NBC as its logo was created. The visual emblem featured a xylophone and a black mallet. The instrument was stylized with three colors – red, green, and blue. The logo symbolized NBC’s recognizable chimes played as a seven-tone sequence first played in 1927 and became instantly recognizable with the broadcaster.
Here’s what Justin Peters, the executive creative director of Carbone Smolan Agency, says about the chimes:
In 1956, the iconic peacock made its first appearance. The bands of colors were used to signify the channel’s color broadcasting capabilities. It was created by NBC logo designer John Graham. The logo has 11 colored segments topped with red, blue, yellow, orange, and green appearing twice, while purple appears once. Each segment was topped with a drop of a contrasting color. The iconic peacock body stood in the center with a partial profile, with a head plume in white color. The appearance and centrality of the bird were reduced in the late iteration of the logo.
As a symbol, the peacock became associated with NBC. In the coming years, it was used as a logo for the broadcaster’s other subsidiaries as well. The brand and the logo became so interchangeable that the company named its streaming service Peacock. While in future redesigns, the peacock was shelved as a logo for a few years, but it never retired.
In 1959, the company surprisingly shunned colors and went back to typography only. NBC was written in the appearance of a snake. The resemblance was so conspicuous it was named “NBC Snake”. It was a combination of wordmark and mid-century corporate branding. NB was nested above C in a thin black font on a white background. The logo was also designed by John Graham.
According to Steve Heller, the broadcaster changed the logo as it was apparently having an identity crisis while competing with its rivals like CBS and ABC.
The NBC Snake persisted till 1975, after which the logo underwent another redesign. This time, NBC chose a big N as its logo. It was designed by Lippincott & Margulies and Dolphin Productions (TV) and showcased red, white, and blue for the color scheme.
The design featured two trapezoids placed side by side. The color schemes featured a red trapezoid, while the blue one was placed inverted to the red trapezoid over a white background. This logo served as NBC’s face for only a short while due to legal challenges. In 1976, Nebraska ETV filed a trademark infringement case against NBC. The broadcaster settled the matter out of court and gave new equipment worth $800,000 to Nebraska ETV, along with a payment of $55,000 to cover the cost of a new logo. After the settlement, NBC was allowed to keep trapezoids as its logo, but the company decided to move on and bring the peacock back.
In 1979, the NBC logo evolution continued, and it saw some more changes. The broadcaster kept some elements of the trapezoid logo and fashioned it with the peacock logo NBC used in the past. The outline of both trapezoids denoting “N” was kept in the background in blue color. It was overlaid with the peacock in the foreground. This iteration of the peacock was different than the one used as a logo from 1956 – 1975.
While in the previous logo, the peacock was a more distinct imagery in contrast to the color palettes, this time, the bird’s body was amalgamated with the bands of colors. The color combinations were also altered. In the previous logo, purple appeared only once. This time blue was featured only one time in the center, and all other colors had two palettes – used as feathers – placed opposite each other. This looked as if the feathers mirrored each other. The color of the bird’s outline matched with the outline of N in the background. The head plume was also made more imposing. The logo got the nickname “Proud N” because the peacock was holding its head high in the logo.
The peacock is still the broadcaster’s logo, but it has seen at least three redesigns since 1979. The previous logo stayed for around 7 years when, in 1986, the company felt the need for a redesign. The logo was simplified, and the number of feathers was reduced from 11 to only six. Each color appeared just once. The N outline was removed from the background and the peacock. The peacock was now looking towards the right as compared to the left side in the previous logo. The head plume was removed, and the body was made slimmer. The bird was perched over the “NBC” logotype.
This logo lasted for the longest time without any redesign before it was simplified in 2010. The design upgrade gave a modern look to the logo and gave it a three-dimensional effect. The visual appeal was made more metallic with a sharper color and grey fill between the feathers and the logo’s outline. The logotype was completely removed, and the bird became the standalone logo.
In another iteration in 2013, the logo was given a glossier look, and the NBC logotype was placed at the bottom of the peacock once again. In the most recent modification, the logo was made two-dimensional with a minimalistic look, similar to that in 1986. The logotype was thicker in a modern geometric sans-serif font.
For some, the NBC logo evolution and the constant changes were due to the broadcaster’s quest for its distinct identity. But, for others, it was the channel’s struggle to change with time and appear on par with its competitors. However, the current NBC logo is the perfect example of how logo designs could be used to convey messages – like the company’s business model, motto, ideology, or identity. The six-colored feather in the NBC peacock logo depicts the company’s different sections: yellow is for the news section, orange for sports, red for entertainment, purple for the radio, blue for the network, and green for production.
Read more