Three quarters of PR people confuse consumers

Prontaprint (a UK design and print shop) just launched publicity of some research they did on companies and consumers and logo design.

Headlined as "Three Quarters of UK Businesses Confuse Consumers with Company Logo", the press release boldly claimed that "Three quarters of UK companies admit that their business logo may be causing more confusion than clarity to consumers trying to work out what products and services they actually offer". This, I thought, was a pretty interesting idea and dived on into the article to find out more.

I read on. Apparently half of companies admitted that brand identity wasn't too important when they launched their business. 78% of people state company logo and colours as top of the list (alongside value) of factors that influence their purchase decision. The press release also reports to be shocked that 88% of businesses have no plans to change their logos. Shocking indeed.

This is all very interesting, but where's the beef to back up this claim of 75% of company logos confusing consumers?

IS there any beef to back up this claim?

Getting further down the article, Prontaprint state that over three quarters of companies confirm that blue is their primary logo color, while simultaneously selecting red as the color most effective in reaching customers.

The remainder of the press release contains some invigorating comments from Prontaprint's head of marketing who expresses surprise at the results and exhorts sensible business people to get themselves to a Prontaprint immediately for some logo redesign.

And nothing more on the topic of research results.

Is that it? Is the fact that over three quarters of companies use blue but prefer red the divine revelation we were searching for?

Is there truly any confusion to report? Or is Prontaprint's press team just stretching some dull findings for as much media mileage as possible?

To their credit, I at least bothered to read their press release. So you could say their job was at least half well-done.

Perhaps I'm just not clever enough to understand what they were trying to say about custom logo design. Who knows? This press release has left me 100% confused.

Welcome on-board LogoMaker

Today we're proud to announce that LogoMaker has joined Logo Design Shopper.

LogoMaker is the web's foremost provider of online Do-It-Yourself logos. A DIY logo might sound like a tricky proposition, but LogoMaker make it easy enough for anyone to produce a professional looking logo in minutes.

How it works: LogoMaker have a very impressive interactive tool on their website that helps you put your logo together. The interface is excellent and easily accessible - you don't need any design training to use it. Effectively you choose yourself an icon or image, then your text, then your colours, and so on. You can also play with sizing and layout until your logo is exactly the way you want it.

What makes LogoMaker a really great deal is that the tool is completely free to use. You can just jump on and start playing around with logo designs. You can even download a trial version of your logo to test on your website without putting any money down! The deal is that you only have to pay when you decide to keep your logo and want to download high-resolution versions. And no, in case you were wondering, you won't be able to get away with just keeping and using the trial logo! The price is impressive too - only $49. That's some of the cheapest custom logo design you'll find online (just don't forget you need to supply the creative juices :] ).

LogoMaker is a slick operation, and no wonder, in that it is a sister site to LogoWorks - the leading logo design company online.

LogoWorks and Logo Design Guru join Logo Design Shopper

Today we welcome two of the larger custom logo design companies went live on the site - say hello to Logo Design Guru and LogoWorks.

Logo Design Guru is a highly regarded company based in Pennsylvania. In 2007 eight of their custom logos won American Design Awards (sponsored by Adobe Systems Incorporate). Pretty impressive stuff!

LogoWorks are probably the biggest logo design company in the world, claiming over 100 employees (based out of Utah) and over 45,000 logos to their credit. That's a pretty massive endeavour, so it's probably fair to say that LogoWorks are the company that everyone else keeps an eye on. So much so, that you can even find a hilariously pathetic attempt to rip-off some of LogoWorks goodwill online under a similar name operated by a Chinese company. This company was sufficiently impressed with LogoWorks that they "borrowed" LogoWorks' look, content and even their CEO with picture included! Is that not completely insane? Here's hoping they're not making any money in the custom logo design market.

LogoWorks' other claim to fame is that they were acquired by Hewlett-Packard in 2007. When it comes to compliments in business, few things rate as highly as "I'd like to buy you".

Look out Mr LogoWorks Clone - I wouldn't want to be you when Hewlett-Packard's legal team come after you (if they haven't already).

Logo Design Shopper is alive!

Logo Design Shopper entered the world today at 4:47pm, weighing a very healthy 4.5mb.

Both parents are doing well, though reportedly rather exhausted.

This blog intends to chronicle the growth of Logo Design Shopper in the coming months, as well as provide the entrepreneurs and small-business people out there with resources and advice that may be of interest.

That's all for now. I have to get back to the baby.