Halloween has for some time been a well-known festival in the US, yet lately the ‘holiday’ has traversed into different business sectors, where – as in the US – it has indicated amazing growth over the recent 5-years. Halloween now is considered to be one of the best times of the year from business point of view. It is when almost every business puts up discounts and offers to increase sales and attract potential customers towards their brand.

This year for Halloween, PNC Logos decided to do something spooky for the clients and prospects. Our team came up with an exciting Spin the Wheel game for you to try and win discounts that can be used on any service on our entire website. Let’s get trick or treating.

How to get started?

• Head over to our Game

• Spin the Wheel [make sure you have your fingers crossed and that you’re lucky]

• Fill out the form with your name, email ID and phone number

• Check your email and find the coupon ready for you to use 

Want to know how to make the most of the spooky discounts raining this Halloween? Here are 4 deals that any start-ups or enterprises should not miss at PNC Logos:

1.       Logo Design in $59

Now, we know you may already have a logo, and that’s okay. If you don’t need a logo for yourself or you aren’t in need of redesigning your logo, you can get the package and the discount for a friend or family of yours.

Our beginner logo package comes with 3 unique & custom logo concepts and 2 design revisions. The initial concepts can be ready within 48 business hours with a dedicated account manager.

2.       Web Design & Development in $299

Don’t worry, we got something for everybody. This may be the right time for you to begin working on a website. One thing the pandemic has taught is to make sure your brand has an online presence. Don’t let anything hold you back. Play our Spooky Halloween Game and win up to 50% off and get your website up & running.

The beginner website package includes a 5 page website which comes with unlimited revisions and free domain registration along with after sales support.

3.       Bundle Package for $699

For someone who’s looking for a complete branding for their business, the enterprise packageis a perfect fit. It includes a 5 page website, unlimited logo design concepts & revisions, business card design, email signature design & letterhead design. Also comes with a FREE Icon Design that can be used on social media platforms. 100% ownership rights and satisfaction is guaranteed.

4.       Customize Package

It’s totally cool if you can’t find something that fits your requirement, reach out to us with the things you need and we’d customize a package for you right away to fit your needs and budget.

So what are you waiting for? Hurry up to try your luck and grab the best of the deals that PNC Logos is offering to the customers this year on Halloween. Make sure you’re not too late because you don’t want to be missing out on the spooky discounts.

You may have heard about flat logo designs, but do you know what they are? And do you think they are worth considering for your business? To get answers to said questions, read on.

What is a Flat Logo Design?

When it comes to a flat logo design, it is all about creating logos that stick to the minimalistic design principle. According to this principle, a company logo needs to be free from intricate details, like gradients, stuffed fonts, textures, and shadows. Despite the lack of intricate details, the logo must still be able to deliver the core message of the brand.

Flat designs are entirely based on minimalisms, and when compared to traditionally detailed logos, they are surprisingly adaptable and flexible. In fact, a flat design logo can be placed on any medium you can think of, such as letterheads, websites, or even the storefront.

Simply put, fact flat designs are all about rendering in two-dimensions. This minimalistic, simple, and flat style may lack realism, but it can offer logo designs that can last a lifetime.

Flat Logo Designs for a New Era

Take, for example, the Pizza Hut logo; you will be surprised to know the logo has more or less remained the same for years now. Of course, tiny adjustments have been made, and the logo was once again revamped in 2014; but the logo manages to deliver its core message to its target audience with ease.

Pizza Hut’s first logo from 1955 had an unflattering design, but it was later changed to an effective flat design logo with a combination of red, green, and yellow in it. The move from a logo with a mascot to a minimalistic and straightforward logo proved to be advantageous for the brand’s image and identity.

Mail Chimp, too, had a mascot in its logo design initially, and the logo was not exactly bad, but the brand had to keep up with the changing times. Eventually, Mail Chimp completely overhauled its brand logo, which now relied solely on sleek typography. The wordmark logo is quite simple, but it successfully represents the Mail Chimp brand and what it is supposed to do.

It is worth noting the two brands clearly illustrated flat and minimalist designs are easy to remember. Unfortunately, intricate logo designs are not that easy to remember, making it easier for the target audience to recall the brand, or worse, forget about them entirely.

You need to understand times have changed, and intricate logo designs are no longer popular. In this day and age, when social media is all the rage, people have shorter attention spans. Their attention spans are so short; they want information presented to them swiftly and efficiently. For this reason, you must take advantage of a flat logo design so that you can give them just that.

Nowadays, people do not care about realism; they want visually appealing images that are simple. So, if you want your brand to succeed, make sure you stick to getting a flat logo design for the best possible results!

Source 

The red bullseye logo of the Target Corporation has stood out boldly among retail brands. The company has used this simple and clean, yet meaningful logo for decades. Now, the iconic design has become a recognizable symbol of quality, affordability, and an exceptional shopping experience for customers across the US.

If you’re interested in learning more about the success embedded in the Target logo history, this blog is for you. We’ll dive deep into how its logo design and branding played a vital role in where the company stands today.

Target Logo History at a Glance

Target is a renowned retail seller that provides almost everything you need under one roof. The brand is comfortably settled in the market, offering strong competition to companies like Walmart and Kroger.

But let’s take a look at the Target logos through the years. The story of Target dates back to 1902 when George Dayton initially founded the company in Minneapolis. At that time, the retail chain was called Dayton’s. It wasn’t until 1962 that the first Target store opened with a bullseye logo similar to the one we see today.

The powerful design story of Target’s logo takes off from here. The original logo consisted of three concentric red circles, resembling the look of an actual target used by marksmen on that day. The name of the company was written in black italics on top of the emblem. While the color scheme made the logo easily noticeable, the overlapping design elements made the name difficult to read.

However, it was successful at capturing the essence of the company’s commitment – hitting the mark where customers are concerned. Not surprisingly, this ideology continues to be depicted in the logo we see today.

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The company redesigned its logo in 1968 to a cleaner, more streamlined version. The new Target logo separated the name and design elements. The wordmark was written in white capital letters and outlined in black. It also simplified the logo to a mere red dot surrounded by a red circle.

Since this version of the bullseye is still in use nearly 60 years later, Target’s logo and brand identity have become easily recognizable and memorable for customers. 

Source

As Target progressed further into the retail world, the logo design and color scheme did not change that much. However, slight variations in its visual identity can be seen over the years. For example, in 1974, the lettering from the old Target logo wordmark was replaced with solid black letters to enhance legibility, and a copyright mark was added to boost credibility. 

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By the turn of the century, Target wanted to bring a fresh perspective to its branding. The company created a logo with a sleeker appearance. The circles were slightly more elliptical, while the wordmark was placed below the emblem. The entire logo was now in red, embracing the minimalistic design of the new millennium. The transformation clearly reflected the company’s commitment to staying abreast with style and trends. 

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In 2018, Target tweaked the logo design once again. Two major changes can be seen. The wordmark, which up until now was featured in all caps, was changed to a softer-looking lowercase font, and the bullseye was seen more often on its own. 

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Why did Target change their logo?

Renowned brands like Facebook and Amazon had already implemented this style into their logos, so it was natural for Target to follow suit. More importantly, by utilizing lowercase letters, the company was able to create a more casual, friendly brand persona with the hopes of strengthening customer relationships.

Furthermore, Target dropped the wordmark from most of its digital assets, using only the bullseye image, such as on the website and app. Once again, the clean style improved the visual appeal of the logo, adopting a style that matched the expectations of its customers, streamlining the company’s visual identity for the future.

Lessons to Learn from Target’s Logo Design Elements

Now that you’ve got a better understanding of Target logo evolution, let’s take a moment to understand key features that have helped keep the emblem powerful and impactful over the years.

1. The Iconic Bullseye

Target designed a logo that clearly reflected its name. As a symbol of precision, the bullseye in Target’s logo highlights the attention with which the company targets its efforts on customer satisfaction and success. That’s why it’s been the cornerstone of the company’s logo design from the very beginning.

The basic, simple design makes the logo memorable. More importantly, it enables people to easily understand the meaning Target wants to convey through its logo. Its correlation to an actual target creates images of accomplishment and prosperity.

2. Consistent Design

Target has maintained a strong presence in the retail market, yet its design and color palette haven’t changed much over the past decades. This consistency of Target’s logo has significantly enhanced the corporation’s brand image. How has this helped the brand?

According to a Forbes study, a consistent color palette helps boost brand recognition by nearly 80%. Brand recognition means people can identify a brand based on its logo. And the more recognizable a brand is, the more likely consumers will make repeat purchases. So even though Target no longer uses wordmarks alongside its bullseye image, shoppers know the brand like they know their own name.

3. Appealing Color Scheme

While the logo has been infused with black and white elements over the years, red has been its primary color. And it’s clear why. The boldness of red creates a visually impactful brand image that stays in the minds of customers forever. But besides this, the color scheme graphically corresponds to the color of a traditional archery target, an image the corporation wants to promote.

So why has Target utilized a red-and-white color scheme since the beginning?

Red is a symbol of energy, passion, and action, while white offers a clean background to contrast with red and boost the visibility of the logo. By combining both these colors, Target developed a powerful, memorable, and visually impactful logo that resonates with its target audience. Don’t believe me? Try to find someone who cannot recall the design of Target’s logo.

4. Relatable Typography

Another design element that brings all the aspects together is the typography used in the logo. It’s simple yet bold, effectively portraying Target’s straightforward marketing approach. Furthermore, the straight, clean fonts enhance the logo’s clarity and legibility, adding to its impactful design.

Target Logo Design Ideas to Incorporate into Your Logo

If you’re just beginning to design your logo, take a moment to read the following tips. They can help you create one that is just as memorable, impactful, and powerful as Target’s logo.

1. Keep it Simple

A successful logo is easily remembered by your customers. So aim for a simple and clean design that helps make your logo instantly relatable, quickly recognizable, and creates a lasting impression.

2. Choose the Right Colors

Enhance your minimalistic design approach by choosing the right color scheme. Again, simplicity is the key. Experiment with a few colors, choosing the ones that effectively evoke the right emotions in your customers and portray your brand’s identity. To help assess which color scheme is best, go ahead and take an opinion poll from your target audience.

3. Consider Scalability

When designing a logo, make sure to keep scalability and versatility in mind. Remember, your logo will be used on different mediums, so its size should not impact the design or clarity when you scale up or down. To ensure all design elements are scalable, create a sample of the logo in different sizes.

For instance, Target’s logo remains clearly visible, no matter if it is displayed on the storefront or the mobile app. The legibility and recognizability are the same across different sizes.

4. Opt for the Right Typography

The font you use in your logo has a considerable impact on your brand’s visual identity and sets the brand’s tone. So make sure to choose typography that aligns with your brand’s personality, complements the logo design, and is easily readable, irrespective of size.

5. Evaluate Regularly

Logos are bound to change. Just look at how Target’s logo evolved over time. The corporation invested the time and money to assess its design, the impact it had on its customers, and how it performed in its marketing campaigns. However, the key is to make subtle tweaks while maintaining the logo’s core identity.

Over to You

As you already know, a successful logo requires considerable planning and great attention to detail. As we’ve learned from the Target logo history, the secret lies in creating a memorable emblem that reflects the brand. Target’s logo quickly became synonymous with affordability and style, showcasing the brand as a business that consistently hits the mark.

So, to make your logo a visual marker for your brand, find innovative ways to incorporate your brand message and identity. More importantly, build a strong presence in your industry by positioning your logo at various customer touchpoints and platforms.

Logo design might seems like an easy task. We have always heard from the designers to draw a simple circle and write the brand name in it. However, creating a professional logo involves a lot of considerations. From choosing the right color to typography and shapes, everything can become intimidating. However, this process does not have to be that complex. Logos are the cornerstone for a business brand and have a major impact on how customers perceive it. For that case, your logo must always outstand professionally as well as elegancy. With that said, let’s discuss how you can create a professional logo.

Know The Brand

The first and most important step to create a visually professional logo is to know the business brand. Always make sure to research the brand properly before designing the sketch. The research is important to make sure the logo stays relevant to the targeted audience. All you need to do is to write down all the points for the business, brand, and the targeted market.  Also, identify the personality of your brand. Find whether you are creating a logo for a hard brand or soft brand.

Sketch And Brainstorm

Many designers always make a mistake of jumping onto the computer for designing the professional logo. But in fact, you will be required to brainstorm and sketch all the ideas before converting them to digital. All you need to do is to grab a pen and white paper and start drawing different concepts. You do not have to make everything perfect in the sketches. Just draw a rough idea for some time until you realize that it seems fine. After that, you can move to the computer software to convert your sketches.

Build Vector Graphics

Vector graphics is the most common term used in the graphical world. The word is still quite a buzzword to a lot of beginners and professional designers. Most of the time designers recommend using bitmap graphic format. For those who do not know, the common image formats like JPEG, BMP, GIF, and TIFF are bitmap formats. Most of these formatted images are made of dots and pixels. However, the vector graphics do not have these pixels. This means these graphics can be enlarged and maximized without putting a strain on pixels. These graphics will not only destroy the image quality but also land equally sharp on printed media.

Color Scheme

The next step is to decorate the introduce colors to your logo and make them look more appealing. Designers always find themselves puzzling about choosing the right colors for their logo. However, there is no need to scratch your head and only use one or two colors for the logo. Also, you do not have to use bright colors for specific brands. For instance, you might never use pink or orange for an investment bank.

Typography

The typography is just as important as the graphics. In fact, typography plays a vital role in communicating the brand to the customers. For that instance, always use effective typography. You can use different fonts styles on your vector design.

Final Words

In short, the secret to a good logo is its simplicity. Moreover, the right amount of color and typography can ensure that your logo outstands from others. Along with that, it is important to know the brands from the inside out. These aspects can assist you to create a professional and eye-catching logo.

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

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.

Be Unique

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.

Maintain Relevancy

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.

Choose Color Carefully

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

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.

Final Words

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:

1. Make Sure It Represents Who You Are

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.

2. Think Out-Of-The-Box

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.

3. Use The Right Colors

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.

4. Pick a Suitable Font

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.

5. Keep It Simple

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.

Conclusion

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

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.

Throwback Logos: 1980s

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.

Vintage Logos: 1930s

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.

3D Gradients

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.

Ultra-Thin Lines

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.

Overlapping Logos

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?

1.Conduct A LinkedIn Lead Program

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:

• Compared to 13% on Twitter and 7% on Facebook, LinkedIn generates 80% of B2B leads.
  LinkedIn accounts for 80% of all social media-generated B2B leads. Four out of every five leads come from LinkedIn.

Number of conversions per social platform (Source: aboundsocial)

• Replicon, a SaaS startup, observed 11x greater response rates from LinkedIn’s sponsored InMail than from email.
  To generate quality leads online, Replicon contacted particular decision-makers by employing sponsored InMail. This demonstrates the potential effectiveness of directly targeting decision-makers on LinkedIn. The messaging platform – InMail by LinkedIn provides a unique way to reach influential business executives.

• LinkedIn produces three times more conversions than Facebook and Twitter.
  According to a HubSpot study, LinkedIn has a visitor-to-lead conversion rate of 2.74%, over three times that of Twitter (0.69%) and Facebook (0.77%), compelling another method how to generate online leads for business. Through LinkedIn, more prospective customers visit your website and are more qualified and prepared to make a purchase.

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.

2.     Leverage the Popularity of YouTube (YT) Shorts

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.

3.     Embed Lead Capture Forms Directly Into Video Content

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.

4.     Using User-Generated Content (UGC) For Lead Generation.

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: 

• Obtain free marketing content.
• Expand your brand’s reach and engagement.
• Increase customer trust by providing social proof of what others think about your business.
• Increase the chances for people to share their experiences with your goods or services.

5. Leverage the latest SEO techniques for lead generation

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:

1. Conducting an SEO audit
   
   Conducting a site audit can provide you with several recommendations on how to enhance and optimize your website. A site audit examines the technological framework, and on-page and off-page aspects of your website to assist in optimizing the blog to raise online visibility, leads, and conversions.
   
   A comprehensive site audit identifies the structural changes and content gaps that need to be addressed to increase website traffic.
   
   
2. Enable live chat
   
   Enabling chatbots may inspire audience confidence and guide them through various stages of your digital marketing sales funnel. AI-enabled Live Chats make the initial conversions more engaging. Chatbots assist in obtaining visitor information, converting them into leads, and guiding them through various digital marketing phases.
   
   
3. Localized SEO lead generation
   
   Assume you are an owner of a small business planning to target customers in a localized area. Your top priority should be implementing a local lead generation plan. To fully benefit from local lead generation, you should consider the following factors:
   
   
   1. Local Events: Participating in local events is an effective way to generate local leads for your company. Get a kiosk or use the networking event to promote your small business. Try persuading potential customers on how your business may benefit them.
      
      
   2. Google My Business (GMB) Ads: Running sponsored adverts is usually an intelligent lead-generation approach. Use the new Google My Business advertisements if you are a local business owner to appear at the top of local Map Pack results. This can lead to more emails and phone calls.
      
      
4. Niche-based SEO
   
   To implement a niche-based SEO strategy, businesses typically start by conducting keyword research to find the most relevant and high-value keywords for their niche. They then optimize their website’s content, meta tags, and other on-page factors to incorporate these keywords and improve their visibility in search results.
   
   Other tactics businesses may use to support their niche-based SEO strategy include building high-quality backlinks from relevant websites, optimizing their website’s loading speed and mobile-friendliness, and creating engaging and informative content that appeals to their target audience’s interests and needs.

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!

A 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.

Here, take a look:

Understanding your Audience

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.

Originality is Exclusivity

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.

Avoid Overly Complicated Designs

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 Hidden Message

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.

The Psychology of Colors

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.