The advent of the Internet has made it much more affordable and
convenient for businesses to order a professional looking
Logo Design.
From pre-designed templates and DIY software through to custom logo
design packages the options are numerous.
Around 2008, logo design
contests started to become popular and their popularity has continued
to rise through to the present day. Logo design contests have many
advantages over the other, more traditional options. The sheer number of
designers competing on some of the larger sites means that you get a
vast array of concepts to choose from. The crowd-sourcing model means
that you get to tap into a global market of designers rather than
relying on just a few to work on your project.
Not every logo
design contest works out well though and some contest holders fail in
getting a suitable design. However, there are many things that you can
do to increase your chances of having a successful contest.
In
this article we have set out some logo design contest tips. These tips
cover what you need to know when it comes to choosing a site to host
your contest and actually running the contest. If you know how to run a
logo design contest the right way then you are more likely to end up
with your dream logo.
Read Instructions Carefully
There
are now many websites operating in this niche nowadays and while they
are mostly similar there are some that vary in terms of how contests are
held. Before you order you should read up on how a site works and check
out their FAQ (frequently asked questions) if they have one.
Established Sites = More Designers
Some
of the older, more established sites have by now grown into thriving,
active marketplaces. Some now boast pools of designers comprised of over
100,000 people. If you go with some of the 'copycat' players that have
sprung up more recently then you may find that their sites are not so
active. A lot of good designer are active on the top three or four sites
but don't bother with the numerous other smaller sites. The top logo
contest sites usually let you know how many designers they have in their
pool so look for this information on their home page.
Higher Prizes = More Entries
As
a contest holder it is up to you to decide on how much money you want
to put up as a prize. Many sites set a minimum prize amount that is
usually around a couple of hundred dollars for a logo design. However,
if you are able to put up a prize that is higher than the minimum then
your contest will attract more attention. With a generous prize amount
you will very likely receive entries from more designers and they will
put more time into their design concepts.
Guarantee Your Contest
Most
of the top logo design contest sites give you the option of putting a
prize 'guarantee' on your contest. When designers see this they know
that your contest has a guaranteed prize and that you are not going to
refund. If you want to keep your right to a refund open then you will
not be able to 'guarantee' your contest. Designers may therefore pass on
your contest or put less effort into their submissions knowing that
there is not a guaranteed prize.
Refunds and Policies
Before
ordering you should go over a websites 'Terms and Conditions' careful
so that you know where you stand if you need a refund. Some will
basically give you a full refund if you haven't 'guaranteed' your
contest. Others have numerous conditions attached to their refund
policies and they will deduct various fees from the total refund amount.
Write a Clear Brief
Designers
will be more attracted to a project that has a clear, well written
brief. If designers understand a little about your business and what you
are looking for in a logo design then they will be able to come up with
relevant concepts for you. Provide details and references to other logo
designs where possible. You should also let them know how you plan to
use the logo.
Public or Private Contest?
Some
designers like the idea of a private contest as they can submit their
designs without having other designers see them and possible steal ideas
from them. However, there are big advantages to having a public
contest. It will make it easier for people to find it via search engines
and thus give you more exposure to designers. Plus, if any designers
have submitted plagiarized work then other designers may respond by
reporting them to the site owners.
Seek Out The Good Designers
While
some logo design contests request that the submitted designs are closed
to public view, there are usually also a lot that will allow the work
to be open for view. This gives you a great opportunity to look over
some other logo design competitions being hosted by the same site as
yours. You can then look for other designers that have done work that
you like and put in a request that they also submit an entry into your
contest.
Most crowd-sourcing sites are fairly crowded out and
while you will naturally get some attention there may be many designers
that overlook your project. Those that really want to get the best value
out of a logo contest can look at promoting it in order to attract more
designers. Many logo contest sites can offer you upgrades that give
your contest extra exposure on their site. If you are fairly active on
the web then you may also be able to promote your contest on other
websites, forums or blogs where design professionals gather.
Contest Duration
If
you are not working towards a deadline then you may as well go for the
longest contest duration possible. This will give designers time to find
your project and collaborate with you as they perfect their concepts.
Put Time Into Feedback
The
whole process of running a logo contest usually takes around three
weeks and you should be prepared to put in some time as you follow
contest developments. Most logo contest websites have a system whereby
you can rate the concepts that have been submitted and request changes.
Communicate clearly with the designers so that they can make revisions
that are to your tastes.
If possible you should delete concepts
that are way of base and that you know just won't be suitable no matter
how much they are adjusted. By doing so you will make it easier for
designers to follow your contest. Designers will also be more attracted
to contests that have received fewer entries as they will anticipate a
lower level of competition
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