It’s hardly news that having a brand logo can massively improve your company’s authenticity and business presence. However, many companies think of their logo as an afterthought, instead concentrating on other areas they consider more important.
Here at Gee Productions, we understand how important it is to have the right logo for your business. So we’ve put this article together to explain the difference between a custom logo and a stock logo, and the difference this can make to your business presence.
What do we mean by stock logo?
Stock logo might not be a term you’ve heard before, but most people have probably heard of a stock photograph. Realistically they’re the same concept: an image that’s owned but can be used in the public domain. Stock logos can also include clip art and templates; all of these fall under the umbrella term of stock images. Getty Images is probably the most famous stock image company, but there are thousands out there.
What’s the difference between a custom logo and a stock logo?
As you can probably tell from the definition above, the difference between the two types of logos is essentially down to the ownership. Stock logos can be purchased from a public website for a fee, but this also means that any other business in the world can also purchase the image. As a result, you might end up with the same brand logo as many other companies.
Custom logos, on the other hand, are unique (hence why they’re called custom logos). They are designed specifically for your business by a graphic designer, meaning the logo can be whatever you want, and will be different from your competitors. This obviously helps you stand out from the crowd, particularly in saturated markets.
Similarly, stock images are generally cheaper than custom logos, but this comes at a price. While the idea of saving money might seem appealing when you’re in the early stages of setting up your business, having a stock logo that’s potentially the same as many other businesses could have an impact on your credibility later down the line when you’re trying to set yourself apart from your competitors.
Custom logos will generally be more expensive, but this is because you’re paying a designer for their time and design skills. However, if brand image is important to your company, then it can definitely be worth investing the extra money at this early stage.
Another key thing to remember is that using stock logos means signing the content owner’s license agreement. This means there’ll be restrictions on how you can use the content, and whether it can be used commercially at all.
A custom logo, however, means you own the content. You pay the graphic designer a fee, and then it’s yours to use however and wherever you want. While the upfront costs might be a little higher, the long-term benefits to a business are obvious.
Choosing a custom logo for your business
Custom logo design is definitely best practice for any business looking to set themselves apart from the competition. It gives you a unique angle and identity, which is what any business needs to establish a place for themselves in the market.
If you’re in the process of building your brand image and would like a custom logo designed, then contact Gee Productions. We pride ourselves on being leading graphic and web designers, and know exactly what a custom logo means to a business. We work with you to get the right logo for your brand, so contact us to find out more.