Why your DIY logo is costing you customers (and money).
DIY logos are tempting. Canva is easy. Budgets are tight. I get it.
When you are just starting out, a quick DIY logo can genuinely be enough to get you off the ground. No shade, we all start somewhere.
But here’s the bit most people do not realise.
A DIY logo will only take you so far. And tbh it’s usually not very far at all.
Pretty soon you will want to look more professional, stand out from competitors, or start charging higher prices. That is when cracks start to show. Maybe your logo looks a bit generic. Maybe someone else pops up with the exact same Canva template. Maybe your logo fails on a website or signage. Suddenly you are back at square one, rebranding, reprinting, re-uploading everything again.
That is the stress, time and extra expense I help you avoid.
If you want to build your business properly from the start and skip the six month panic rebrand, investing in a professionally designed logo early can save you time, money, and a whole lot of stress later.
Here at Marmalade Design, I help small businesses create bold, professionally designed logos that build credibility, stand out online, and grow with confidence.
First impressions matter (like… a lot)
Your logo is usually the very first thing people see. On your website. On Instagram. On a sign. On a business card you hand over with a hopeful wee smile.
And whether we like it or not, people make snap judgements. In seconds.
A DIY logo that looks rushed, unbalanced, or a bit “template-y” can quietly plant doubt.
“Is this business legit?”
“Are they professional?”
“Can I trust them with my money?”
A professionally designed logo helps answer those questions instantly. It signals credibility. It says, “I take my business seriously.” And that makes customers far more likely to take you seriously too.
First impressions = ROI. Alwaysssssss.
Standing out in a sea of sameness
Canva is brilliant. But it’s also exactly why so many DIY logos look… the same.
Same fonts. Same icons. Same layouts. Same vibes.
If someone else in your industry is using the same template, you’ve just lost one of the biggest opportunities branding gives you. Differentiation. (Yes I’m dropping a fancy word, but it’s an important one.)
A custom logo is designed around your story, your personality, your audience. It gives your business a unique visual identity that people remember. And in a busy online world, being memorable is everything.
Generic = forgettable.
Distinct = bookable.
Consistency across everything
This is the bit most DIY logos fall down on.
A logo isn’t just one PNG slapped on Instagram. You need it to work on:
Websites
Social profiles
Signage
Packaging
Print
Dark backgrounds
Light backgrounds
Tiny favicon sizes
Big shop signs
DIY logos often weren’t built for that. Fonts go fuzzy. Icons stretch weird. Colours change. Files are missing. It becomes a whole faff.
When you work with a designer, you get a full logo suite and proper file formats. Everything ready to go. Everything consistent. Everything professional.
It’s giving “I’ve got my shit together”.
It actually saves you money long term
This sounds backwards at first.
“How does spending more now save me money?”
But here’s the reality.
If you DIY a logo now and rebrand in six months, you’ll likely need to:
Redesign your website
Reprint business cards
Update signage
Redo social media graphics
Change packaging
Update invoices and documents
That adds up fast. In time, in money, and in stress.
Starting with a strong professional logo means you build on solid foundations. No panic rebrand. No double spending. No starting from scratch again when your business finally gains momentum.
Do it once. Do it right. Save yourself the headache.
Your logo should work for you, not just look pretty
This is the bit I love theee most.
A good logo is not just “nice looking”. Of course, it should make you buzz and feel proud to show it off. But more importantly, it’s designed with your ideal client in mind, not just your favourite colours or fonts.
Because your logo is a strategic business asset. It’s there to do a job.
A professionally designed logo reflects your values, your personality, and the experience you offer, in a way that speaks directly to the people you want to attract. It pulls in the right clients and gently puts off the wrong ones. No awkward enquiries from folk who are not a good fit. Happy days.
That’s the difference between a logo picked from a template and a logo crafted with intention and strategy behind it.
And when your branding is doing its job properly, it turns:
Viewers into followers
Followers into customers
Customers into loyal fans
Branding bestie magic. With purpose ✨🍊
So… is a professional logo worth it?
If you’re testing a wee side hustle or hobby, a DIY logo might be enough for now. Totally valid.
But if you’re serious about:
Growing your business
Charging higher prices
Standing out
Being seen as credible
Avoiding a rebrand in a few months
Then yes. A professionally designed logo is one of the smartest early investments you can make.
Ready to skip the DIY stage?
I’m Steph, your branding bestie behind Marmalade Design. I help small businesses create bold, personality-packed logos that make the right people stop, look, and remember you.
If you’re ready to build your brand properly from the start, let’s have a wee chat.
