Logo Creation: Online, Freelance, or Agency?

Creating a logo is often the first step in building a website or e-commerce platform. You might have an idea of the name, perhaps even what the logo should look like, but that's not enough to create a professional logo worthy of the name. This logo is crucial because it will appear on every page, on your invoices, on your newsletters, everywhere. In short, if there's one area where you shouldn't hesitate to invest, it's this one.

This article will outline three ways to create your logo:

• Do it yourself: unless you're a professional graphic designer, it's best to hand this task over :)
• Create it online: we'll explore the services available on the web
• Work with a freelancer
• Opt for a communication agency

The idea is not so much to tell you that one option is better than another, but rather to determine the advantages and weaknesses of each, so you can decide which method is right for you.

Creating Your Logo Online

There are online logo libraries offering hundreds of logos that you can reuse or modify as you wish. They cater to all tastes and professions. Some interesting sites include:

• Graphic River: This site from the Envato network offers ~45,000 logos. Plenty of options to find the perfect fit! This site is of very high quality and you can find excellent logos.
• 99 designs: This marketplace also offers a wide selection of logos, with the option to have them customized.

Advantages: These services allow you to find a logo yourself at very affordable prices, ranging from 50 to 100€.

Weaknesses: The offer is overwhelming and thus requires time to find the right logo. Sometimes it feels a bit like searching for a needle in a haystack. Finally, you might want to tweak the logo to be exactly as you wish, in which case you will need to hire a graphic designer.

Choosing a Freelancer

Opting to work with a freelancer means choosing a specialist. In this sense, it can be a very interesting option if you need guidance and advice. To make your choice carefully, thoroughly review the professional's references and contact them to learn more about their working style. Also, give importance to the feeling; this is especially important for creating a graphic identity, because if the chemistry isn't there, there's little chance your expectations will be well understood, and the result won't meet your standards.

Of course, specialist expertise comes with specialist fees. A seasoned freelancer typically charges around €80/100 per hour. Some offer flat rates for logos. For example, creating a logo ranges between €500 and €2000.

You can also hire a freelancer who works remotely. Marketplaces offer the services of many freelancers, with their prices clearly displayed along with their references:

• Envato Studio: a wide selection of professionals at competitive rates. In this case, the service is clearly defined, especially regarding the number of revisions and updates to the logo. In return, you must be clear in your requests, all in English.

Advantages: You have a professional who listens to you. The final result will be unique and is likely to meet your expectations.

Weaknesses: You need to know how to find the "right" freelancer, so take your time in choosing one. Every job deserves fair compensation, so the cost is higher than purchasing a ready-made logo.

Working with a Communication Agency

The final option for creating your logo is to hire a communication agency. The advantage of working with an agency is that it provides a comprehensive approach to your identity, with the logo being just one aspect. A comprehensive approach involves understanding your brand identity through your graphic identity (logo, business cards, letterhead), through your print communication (flyers, mailings, etc.), through the web, and more.

If your project is ambitious and requires numerous skills (for the logo, the website, flyers, events), you are likely better off going through an agency. The downside is that the rates are higher than those of a freelancer. This is normal, as the structures are larger and the work required is more extensive.

Advantages: You gain access to the services of a multi-skilled company.

Weaknesses: Suitable for medium to large-scale projects that go beyond just logo creation.

Conclusion

As you can see, each option revolves around two main axes: the flexibility of the service in relation to its price. The more affordable the price, the less flexibility you will have. To choose, you need to ask yourself how much flexibility you need. Do you know exactly what you want? Do you need advice? No idea? Depending on your answer, you should steer towards the most suitable solution.