What came first, the chicken or the egg? We could apply this age-old analogy to a logo and website design too. Which comes first? I want to help you answer that for your own business!

Ideally, both a logo design and website design should be done at the same time, but we don’t always have the money to throw around for this. Wouldn’t that be nice! So choices have to be made, and choices can be hard. Especially when it has to do with our business! Now, if your pockets are coming up a little empty, this post should help you decide whether you should invest in a logo design or a website design first.

If you are thinking it’s an easy choice to make because logos are cheap – I would love for you to read why a logo should never cost $50 here. A logo should be worth the money paid!

Importance of logo design first

As a professional web designer, you might think I have plenty of arguments to back up why you should invest in a website design first. Unfortunately, it’s not that obvious. You could argue that a logo helps set up the theme of the website. Therefore, investing in a logo first would make the most sense, right?

Having your logo set up with the corresponding brand elements would allow for smooth sailing in the web design process. I, personally, would not recommend creating a logo influenced by an already-created website. This can make it harder to leverage your brand in the future. If time is of the essence, a logo is also a quicker process than a website design. But by no means should either process be rushed!

I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to focus on your branding strategy. This includes both logo and website design.

What does a logo do?

First off, a logo sets your business brand apart from competitors. And that can be powerful. A logo tells your viewers who you are (or who you are not). Being the most common branding tool, a logo is usually one of the first things to be created in a business. Secondly, having a logo brings your business credibility. A logo provides a consistent and professional branding theme that can (and should) be communicated through your branding message. And remember, a logo is not just on your website, but on marketing materials like business cards and publications!

What does a website do?

I will always advocate for websites, and not just because I love designing them! But because they are SO important! I’ve given you 5 reasons you need a website. Websites are the first impression your audience has of your business. They help establish the trust relationship between you and your potential client. But can you have a website up and running without a logo? Sure. But you may be lacking the branding clarity that a logo can help establish for your business. But a logo isn’t everything! If you really want to go more in-depth, I’ve also talked about the importance of branding and why your brand is more than just your logo.

So, which one should you choose?

If you haven’t come up with your own conclusion after reading this post, then I guess it’s time to put in my own professional opinion. I am going to say that both a logo and a website should be created in unison. Why? Because one is hard to come by without the other.

Design aspects (like a logo and website) don’t need to be separated into their own categories! In the design world, almost everything is intertwined – and that includes a website and a logo. They need to complement each other, and this means they often need to be created in unison.

But if you HAD to separate them and put these two design pieces in an order for investment purposes, then you should invest in a logo design before a website design. However, I really encourage you to invest in the second one as soon as possible.

Maybe you’ve just said to yourself, “what if I don’t need a website for my business?” or “I have a strong social media presence so I’ll only invest in a logo” – I discuss why having a website trumps both of those excuses here.

If you have any questions about logo designs and website designs, I’m all ears! I would LOVE to help you with your design journey. Contact me or check out my custom website designs here.