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What’s the Deal with Author Logos?
When I say McDonald’s, you’d be kidding yourself if one of the first things that didn’t pop into mind are those iconic golden arches. That is the quintessential symbol of fast-food burgers and (arguably) delicious french fries around the globe.
It may very well be the most recognized logo on the planet.
And… it’s done wonders for the McDonald’s brand. So what if the same principle applied to your author brand? What can an author logo do for you?
Author logos are a creative way to make your personal brand memorable and give you a little bit of panache and style to your assets like your website, email, business card, etc.
In this article, you will learn:
- How an author logo can make a big difference
- Where to find amazing logo ideas
- How to design a professional logo without breaking the bank
- Tips on creating a logo that I wish I knew before I started
Logos and Author Brand Examples
So what exactly does an author logo look like? Well, generally speaking, it can be anything that is representative of your style, topic or genre. However, some of the more popular logos are specific to writing and literature. Here are a couple of examples:
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Should an Author Have a Logo?
That’s a good question. But the answer lies in another…
Do you plan on investing in your author brand?
It doesn't matter if you go with traditional or self-publishing books, by building a writer logo, you can help to establish you as an authority for your writing. It also helps with your recognition and exposure as an author. Alongside these two reasons, there are more great benefits to having an author logo.
Memorability: Author logos are awesome for making sure your name stands out from the rest. By associating a neat graphic or image to your name, you can be sure that your name will be remembered over your competition.
Professionalism: Having a writer logo helps you to appear more professional than a no logo author.
Colors: A standard signature is normally black and white. But with your author logo, you have the option to insert colors! This is really great because colors stand out. A color scheme becomes memorable as well. Take your favorite sports team for example. Can you identify them out of a crowd based on their colors alone? (Green and Gold, all day.)
Author Brand Marketing: A logo is a great way to further your marketing as well! Use it as for your email list headers or for your website content. The use of a writer logo can really help to establish your author brand.
Also, here are some great places to add your logo and use it to your benefit:
- Website
- Business Cards
- T-shirts and other memorabilia
- Email heads or signature lines
- Book trailer
- Social media profile pictures or timeline pictures
- Book jackets and biography section
- And more
As you can see, it can find itself in a lot of things you are already doing and creating.
Author Logo Marketplaces and Logo Designers
So, you decided to take the leap and get you a new snazzy author logo. That’s awesome!
However, you need to be careful. Just like with any online service you need to be sure you can trust the source. Not all author logo services are created equal.
That’s why I’ve put together a list of great logo marketplaces sure to help you further your author brand.
Etsy:
Etsy is a wonderful place to start looking for your next step in recognition. Sellers are known worldwide for their high quality products and customer service.
GraphicRiver:
GraphicRiver.net is the epitome of all things graphics. It is a global community of over 35000 designers each with their own unique templates for sale. Their specialized logo search allows you to make sure that you find exactly what you want.
BrandCrowd:
If GraphicRiver is all things graphics, then BrandCrowd is all things logo! With their unique logo creator, just provide your business name (author name or pen name) and a logo keyword. Then, BrandCrowd will provide you with thousands of options to choose from. A very simple way to create your author logo.
99designs:
When it comes to creating an author logo, this would be my go to site. 99designs prides itself on not doing “cookie-cutter anything (unless you’re selling cookie cutters).” And it’s true. You aren’t given pre-made templates. Instead, you are surveyed on what you want. What your logo should represent. Is it funny and playful? Or serious and sharp? Also, you aren’t given just one option. You have the ability to choose between several different custom designs.
Fiverr.com:
If you haven’t heard of Fiverr.com, no better time than the present to catch up. Fiverr is like an online database of freelancers. This is where you can come and check out portfolios and find the perfect freelancer for your needs. Looking for logo designs, simply type in Logo Designer or Graphic Artist into the search bar. You will then be paired with hundreds of potential artists to design an author logo.
What it all boils down to is this… There are two separate options when it comes to getting an author logo.
- Templates and Pre-fabricated Logos
These are logos that can be acquired within a matter of minutes. Simply choose your image and set your type. These are normally much, much cheaper than a complete custom design. This could be a great option for a budding author or writer on a tight budget crunch.
- Custom Logos
Custom logos do tend to take a little more time. This is because you are working with a designer in order to get exactly what you want. Along with a longer wait time, you can undoubtedly expected to pay more for this. However, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it. You will have something 100% unique to your author brand.
4 Tips on How to Create an Author Logo
Sometimes, it can be tricky to create the perfect author logo design. But these neat tips should help give you some great guidelines for your author logo ideas.
1. Keep your logo relevant to your author brand.
While a scary looking raven may stay in the minds of your readers, it may not be a great choice if you are a children’s book author. Make sure that you keep your ideas consistent.
2. Less is often more.
If you’re a steampunk writer, how cool would it be to have a full on airship scene as your logo? Something complete with sky, zeppelin, steam men, cannons, and top hats? But step back and think about it for a second. These logos aren’t full illustrations. They should be used more like business cards. Leave the illustrations for your next novel.
3. Colors are great when selected carefully.
Having a bright, vibrant logo (or a dark,somber one–remember your audience) can be the perfect way to stay in the forefronts of your reader’s minds. But… select your colors carefully. If you have too much going on, your logo becomes an eyesore. And that’s something that you do not want to be remembered for.
4. Consider size and scalability.
For fantasy writers having your own Coat of Arms could be a viable option. But what if an emblem on your herald is just too ornate? When scaled to a smaller size, the image may distort or become unclear. Testing your logos scalability before full commitment could save you a lot of trouble and heartache in the future.
My Logo In Kindlepreneur
Author Logos in a Nutshell
Turning your author logo ideas into a reality may seem like a simple choice. But there is a lot that goes in to it. However, when done properly, a writer logo could prove to be extremely beneficial for building your reputation and brand.
Cheers!
- Kindle Direct Publishing 
I don’t know where to begin to make a logo. I am a self-published author, and I do a graphic design book cover for my KDP books. Should I use my initials in a logo since I use my full name when I am self-publishing a book? What kind of symbol should I add to it. I am so totally confused by this.
Hello, im a first time self publishing author. Do you think I should use a logo at the book cover? Back or spine? Or just keep the logo at my website? Thanks.
Depends on the purpose of your book. If you’re trying to brand your company, then perhaps. But if not, then keep the book cover clean.