How to Create a Blog Logo for Beginners

Some blogs are built on a topic. Some on a name. Some blogs are born out of struggles and hardship. Others are a strategic business investment. But all of them need…

A way to stand out.

Logo design is an art form and it’s safe to say that even a few Internet tutorials won’t get you the same caliber logo as a professional designer. That said, many of us can’t afford a color study or extensive font research. We need something small, memorable, and fairly easy to make. Here are a few tips for creating a beginning logo that will be remembered and recognized all across the Internet. If you are a blogger who relies on his/her name, this tutorial may not apply. Your name is really the logo, and no matter what way you dress it up, it’s still you! Just try to always keep the same font and structure of your name.

First things first– a logo is not a header.

It can be, but they aren’t always the same. Logos are shapes or symbols that represent your website/brand/business etc. Think about some famous logos and then decide if your blog really needs one.

Good logos do the following…

1. They look good big or small.

Whether on a billboard, a business card, or a header– the logo is easy to spot. It can be resized for any medium, from a tiny favicon to a giant poster.

2. They look good in color or black and white.

Even though the NBC logo is in color, would you recognize it even if it was in black and white? That’s the key. If the color is crucial, then think twice. You may find a situation in which you need it to be monochromatic.

3. They are recognizable without words.

Just like number one, these logos stand out, without any words attached. There might be one version you see with words, but it is fine without it too. The shape does the talking.

4. It can be dressed up or dressed down.

Good logos can get decorated for Christmas, Fourth of July, or some big fancy event. All of these can be amended without compromising the original shape or symbol. Can your logo do that?

Designing a header vs. a logo

In many ways, headers are easier. A header is usually a compilation of text, photo, and/or graphics. A custom logo takes someone with freehand talent, or someone who can work well in Photoshop and Illustrator. You need an original shape (or at the very least- a free to use commercial shape/vector).

There are lots of places to find amazing elements for your logo. Check out my post about where to find design elements for your blog.

Using your initials

If you are a personal blogger without a specific brand, you can turn your initials into your logo. Fabulous Blogging did just that! {see the evolution of my logo/seal over the years}

Here are a few quick tips to dress up letters.

1. Experiment with different sizes of letters.
2. Try putting one in bold, italics, or backwards.
3. Stack your letters on top of each other. Try vertical alignment.
4. Put one letter in a shape of some sort (like a circle, square, etc).
5. Use two different fonts.
6. Change the opacity (so one letter is bigger and faded out with the other one overlayed and darker).
7. Do you have any cool patterns in your name (like double C’s, W’s, etc.)? You can use an initial or a period to add some pizazz as well.

The best programs for logo design are Photoshop and Illustrator, though many people don’t have access to them. In this case, I recommend Canva or PicMonkey. Both are free to use and are easily accessed with only an Internet connection. Check out my tutorials for more help on how to use each program.

The beauty of the digital world

Even though it isn’t a great idea to change logos frequently, you have more flexibility than a business or brand that needs printed materials and signage. If your logo doesn’t make you jump up and down, keep thinking and experimenting until you get one just right. Once you start using printed materials, you’ll not want it to change much!

Need some more ideas or inspiration?