Thoughts/Comments on my potential new logo.

[ldnfatso]

If you go down the house route i have some great promotional merchandise that will fit the bill.

Personally i think the text has to be outside the logo, with the house, is there any way of making it more contemporary or abstract? With out Cow which is related to branding cos, people dont see the cow they have asked if we are based in pakistan, is it a map and so on but it gets people thinking

ffs, nobody wants your ***** keyrings!

 

[Kent Shrimper]

ffs, nobody wants your ***** keyrings!

And there was me going to offer you to brand a spare Wind sock that Southend Airport are getting rid of to wear when you run in your race.

 

[EastStandBlue]

I did this, and even thought of a genius way to promote your brand...

 

[Pubey]

I did this, and even thought of a genius way to promote your brand...

awesome!!!!!!

 

[number11]

Yeah so would I...........Right need to think about this.....

The design at the moment is also slightly 'Rightmove-esque'.....

 

[DTS]

Understandably you'd want to do this as cheaply as possible, but how much would you be willing to spend?

The company I work for does advertising/branding/marketing, if you would be interested let me know.

At the moment not really looking to spend. I have got a fair bit of outlay as it is so this is not on my "spend agend".

Totally understand its important for any business but not sure I can justify spending money on it.

 

[Hotman]

I'd go for DWB, and also exclude the "Limited" from the logo - this of course needs to be in the small print on any letterheads etc anyway.

By having your full name, you are restricting the business to you, regardless of how it grows, and if you make a success of this with employees etc, you'll always have people asking for you (until you become a household name like John Charcol).

Check FSA regulations etc, but I'd suggest a logo with DWB Financial Services would be far better than David William Baker Financial Services Limited.

I'd also suggest "DWB Pensions", "DWB Mortgages", "DWB Protection" based on an original logo as trading names of the company for promoting to specific markets.

hope this helps, remember it's all about opinions!!

 

[DTS]

I'd go for DWB, and also exclude the "Limited" from the logo - this of course needs to be in the small print on any letterheads etc anyway.

By having your full name, you are restricting the business to you, regardless of how it grows, and if you make a success of this with employees etc, you'll always have people asking for you (until you become a household name like John Charcol).

Check FSA regulations etc, but I'd suggest a logo with DWB Financial Services would be far better than David William Baker Financial Services Limited.

I'd also suggest "DWB Pensions", "DWB Mortgages", "DWB Protection" based on an original logo as trading names of the company for promoting to specific markets.

hope this helps, remember it's all about opinions!!

What are your thoughts on a logo MC?

Cheers for other pointers. My only reluctance to use the DWB is that DB Mortgages and Investments came into the market a few years ago, did very little and died out so been keen to distance myself from them.

 

[Hotman]

What are your thoughts on a logo MC?

Cheers for other pointers. My only reluctance to use the DWB is that DB Mortgages and Investments came into the market a few years ago, did very little and died out so been keen to distance myself from them.

Were DB local? I've never heard of them, and likelihood is that your potential customers haven't.

Logo - I'd go for professional, probably a serif font in capitals. DWB on the top, and then a strapline underneath, being "financial services", "mortgages", etc etc...

i'm rubbish at these things, but can point you in the direction of my designers if you want?

 

[DTS]

Were DB local? I've never heard of them, and likelihood is that your potential customers haven't.

Logo - I'd go for professional, probably a serif font in capitals. DWB on the top, and then a strapline underneath, being "financial services", "mortgages", etc etc...

i'm rubbish at these things, but can point you in the direction of my designers if you want?

DB was a venture of Deutshce Bank to get into the UK market about four five years ago - maybe less

Cheers for logo ideas etc everyone - keep em coming I am taking it all on board.

 

[Hotman]

DB was a venture of Deutshce Bank to get into the UK market about four five years ago - maybe less

Cheers for logo ideas etc everyone - keep em coming I am taking it all on board.

Ok... Joe Public will think that Deutsche Bank are a bunch of krauts who don't operate in england, just like handelsbanken ;) They wouldn't have a link to make, let alone confuse you for them.

And any referrers will know that you clearly aren't Deutsche.

I think you'll be ok with DWB :)

 

[EastStandBlue]

Cheers for logo ideas etc everyone - keep em coming I am taking it all on board.

Even sponsoring Sankofa?

 

[DTS]

Even sponsoring Sankofa?

I will consider sponsoring him at which ever non-league hole he ends up at once I bank my first million.

 

[South Bank Hank]

Dave, I'll ask this question as someone who ran a successful business for a number of years and provided business training and marketing advice to various other small businesses.

Is it so important to build the brand around your own name?

I mean this as opposed to setting up a business with a more eye-catching name/more expansive "brand" that points to the services you provide, or more importantly, the problems you help your customers solve? Not only does "Dave Baker FS Ltd" not provide a great deal of room for expansion, it also doesn't do much to differentiate you from the myriad other John Smiths in the market. Putting personal recommendation to one side for a moment, what would motivate someone to call Dave Baker Financial Services rather than Richard Smithers Financial Services for instance?

My advice would be to think through the eyes of the consumer you're trying to attract. When they come looking for you, what are they searching for? If you don't mind me provoking you, they're not looking for Dave Baker (those who haven't been referred to you anyway). What they're really looking for is the answer to a problem, a way to understand something they don't understand, a better way to do something, etc.

When you look at Andy's business "Outstanding Branding", you already know what you're going to get and, if you're looking for some outstanding branding, you're perhaps more likely to place the call with his company than with any vanilla John Brown / Peter Smith Ltd.



I remember reading a book a number of years ago called Purple Cow marketing which is all about, funnily enough, standing out from the herd and doing certain things to avoid just blending in. It's a bit cheesy and American but the message is pretty effective. How can you be remarkable and interesting? How can you draw attention to yourself in a world full of other cows?

If I'm being brutally honest (and you did ask for opinions - albeit for the logo), I think you're planning to become another "Me Too" in a "Me Too" industry. Having met you on a number of occasions, I think you can achieve far more than that.

 

[Cricko]

I think G has it spot on mate..a very astute post.


BTW G, is South Bank Hank LTD still going? ;)

 

[South Bank Hank]

I think G has it spot on mate..a very astute post.


BTW G, is South Bank Hank LTD still going? ;)

Yeah, why not?

Latest offer: Revealing hand-stitched, non-sun screening white bikini tops for the lady of your life with your username spread across the cups in impenetrable, Factor 50 UVA sun-resistant lettering. Only £74.99. Get them while they're hot.

In true Purple Cow style, I'm relaunching the business as "Make Your Mark on Your Missus Ltd".

 

[Hotman]

Dave, I'll ask this question as someone who ran a successful business for a number of years and provided business training and marketing advice to various other small businesses.

Is it so important to build the brand around your own name?

I mean this as opposed to setting up a business with a more eye-catching name/more expansive "brand" that points to the services you provide, or more importantly, the problems you help your customers solve? Not only does "Dave Baker FS Ltd" not provide a great deal of room for expansion, it also doesn't do much to differentiate you from the myriad other John Smiths in the market. Putting personal recommendation to one side for a moment, what would motivate someone to call Dave Baker Financial Services rather than Richard Smithers Financial Services for instance?

My advice would be to think through the eyes of the consumer you're trying to attract. When they come looking for you, what are they searching for? If you don't mind me provoking you, they're not looking for Dave Baker (those who haven't been referred to you anyway). What they're really looking for is the answer to a problem, a way to understand something they don't understand, a better way to do something, etc.

When you look at Andy's business "Outstanding Branding", you already know what you're going to get and, if you're looking for some outstanding branding, you're perhaps more likely to place the call with his company than with any vanilla John Brown / Peter Smith Ltd.



I remember reading a book a number of years ago called Purple Cow marketing which is all about, funnily enough, standing out from the herd and doing certain things to avoid just blending in. It's a bit cheesy and American but the message is pretty effective. How can you be remarkable and interesting? How can you draw attention to yourself in a world full of other cows?

If I'm being brutally honest (and you did ask for opinions - albeit for the logo), I think you're planning to become another "Me Too" in a "Me Too" industry. Having met you on a number of occasions, I think you can achieve far more than that.

South bank hank - you explained what I was trying to say in a far better way!!

Seth Godin is a genius - I got into his work with the Idea Virus, well worth a read.

Remember Dave - you don't want to drive the trains, or be the one who manages them. You should want to own them! for more analysis of the technician, manager, entrepreneur split as demonstrated by the trains, try reading The E-Myth Revisited by michael gerber.

There are a number of other books out there that are well worth reading, for any new business:

e-myth revisited (just this one, not his others as they are pap)
four hour work week - tim ferriss
the 80/20 principle - richard koch
7 habits - stephen r covey
rich dad poor dad / rich dad poor dad2 - robert kiyosaki
idea virus
corey rudl's internet marketing books
t harv eker - millionaire mind
success principles - jack canfield
richard bransons autobiography
grinding it out - ray kroc
anyone can do it - by the people who made coffee republic
pouring your heart into it - howard schultz

and many many more - happy to provide any personalised recommendations. The above will help in many ways!!

 

[DTS]

Dave, I'll ask this question as someone who ran a successful business for a number of years and provided business training and marketing advice to various other small businesses.

Is it so important to build the brand around your own name?

I mean this as opposed to setting up a business with a more eye-catching name/more expansive "brand" that points to the services you provide, or more importantly, the problems you help your customers solve? Not only does "Dave Baker FS Ltd" not provide a great deal of room for expansion, it also doesn't do much to differentiate you from the myriad other John Smiths in the market. Putting personal recommendation to one side for a moment, what would motivate someone to call Dave Baker Financial Services rather than Richard Smithers Financial Services for instance?

My advice would be to think through the eyes of the consumer you're trying to attract. When they come looking for you, what are they searching for? If you don't mind me provoking you, they're not looking for Dave Baker (those who haven't been referred to you anyway). What they're really looking for is the answer to a problem, a way to understand something they don't understand, a better way to do something, etc.

When you look at Andy's business "Outstanding Branding", you already know what you're going to get and, if you're looking for some outstanding branding, you're perhaps more likely to place the call with his company than with any vanilla John Brown / Peter Smith Ltd.



I remember reading a book a number of years ago called Purple Cow marketing which is all about, funnily enough, standing out from the herd and doing certain things to avoid just blending in. It's a bit cheesy and American but the message is pretty effective. How can you be remarkable and interesting? How can you draw attention to yourself in a world full of other cows?

If I'm being brutally honest (and you did ask for opinions - albeit for the logo), I think you're planning to become another "Me Too" in a "Me Too" industry. Having met you on a number of occasions, I think you can achieve far more than that.

Cheers G,

All very valid points. I think in hindsight I should have thought a bit more about the name when registering it. I am now all but done with the FSA process under that name so might be too far to turn back now.

I worked initially on the principal of using my own name as I think I have a good name with past clients etc and I wanted new clients to know that they are dealing with the top man so to speak (All be it the only man)

The only thing I would say I guess which gives me some comfort is that the bulk of IFA's are one/two man band - You do get your multinationals AWD for example but there is not much inbetween.

Gives me plenty of food for thought for the weekend......

 

[South Bank Hank]

Bottom line Dave - very best of luck mate!!

 

[DTS]

Bottom line Dave - very best of luck mate!!

Cheers mate,

Has got me thinking I have got to say.