The more I meet with small business owners, the more I’m amazed by them. I’m in awe of the number of people who are able to strike out on their own and create something wholly unique. It’s not an easy thing to do. There are so many factors that you have to take into account, employees, insurance, equipment and bookkeeping to name a few. Tons of decisions need to be made before you can sell a single product. This is nothing new to people who already are making a go of it.

The reasons for creating your own business are as varied as the business themselves but one thing seems to remain the same: Knowing that you can do something better or more efficiently than anyone else and wanting to make your mark. It’s that kind of entrepreneurial spirit that makes Nebraska and our country great.

When you do make your mark, you want it to be memorable. That’s where your identity comes in. Your logo, company name, colors and even your choice in font represents you. This adds a whole new set of questions you need to ask yourself. How do you want to be perceived by perspective customers? Your identity should convey your company’s values and personality. It’s more than just a random graphic with your name. It should be memorable, descriptive of what you do and immediately recognizable. Your logo is the first indicator that people have of what kind of business you are.

Here’s some examples of clever, well thought out logo designs. A professionally built identity can make all the difference in the world when it comes to standing out from your competition. No amount of clip art or software can compete with a completely unique and professionally created design. Something that you as a client have been closely involved with creating. It’s a crucial part of creating a business, make sure you have something that represents you as well as you do. Take it seriously!