Love this quick and easy (well, ish) start to the week! I am happy with my logo, i already spent the 4 hours in canva creating it a few months ago haha...but I love this reminder to not worry and fiddle too much. I haven't yet used my logo as a post thumbnail so I will play with that, and liked the inspo to put my logo at the bottom of each post, as this will make my branding more cohesive. I've been focussed consciously on sharing a lot more of me (my face) but will now think about my branding too.
So I have been using this casual photo of me as a placeholder since creating my substack space. I'm torn now whether to keep it as is (or update my headshot) OR to use the image that rests at the end of almost every post - a blue ink mandala on regular notebook paper, with themes of circle, moon, spiral, compass and ship's wheel... The photo of me is warm and personal, but the ink doodle may feel more "spacious" - I'm uncertain. OR maybe there's a third option I haven't even thought of!
This is beautiful Sarah and I love the blue colour and hand drawn feel. Did you watch Lauren’s branding class in diamond? I think it will support you to decide and go deeper with this. ✨
That is a tough call! I, too, have a photo of myself as the logo because I haven’t found/designed/had the money yet to put into a logo. I’m also still settling on the overall aesthetic and finding the groove, so I’m not sure what it would even be. I like the photo because it feels tonally appropriate and makes it seem more connective to the audience. But a good logo is so universal!
Thanks for this feedback! even if I try the ink doodle logo I will still make sure photos of me are present too for exactly those reasons you list. :-)
This is beautiful Sarah and I love the blue colour and hand drawn feel. Did you watch Lauren’s branding class in diamond? I think it will support you to decide and go deeper with this. ✨
This is beautiful Sarah and I love the blue colour and hand drawn feel. Did you watch Lauren’s branding class in diamond? I think it will support you to decide and go deeper with this. ✨
I like the blue ink mandala! If I had to vote, I'd choose that. It looks like your accept color is green. What about switching the mandala to green to pull your colors together? Or using blue as your accept color instead? Food for thought 🥰
Your suggestions re color are opening my mind! And I find I want TWO colors! Come on Substack let us have a blend. For now I'm keeping blue doodle and green tonalities...we'll see how it feels. Thanks for your feedback!
I’m pretty happy with my current logo for Zestful Zen - I tweaked it a little recently (same colours, different font). I think the colours convey zest and I find it readable on screen and in the phone app. Though I’m curious if others have difficulty making the words out. Thanks for the tip on adding it to the bottom of posts, something for me to play with!
Funny you should suggest that Claire, I’ve done that for the favicon for my business website. But for the logo it felt like just the two letters didn’t really convey any context or meaning! I need one of those businesses that’s just a 2 or 3 letter word 🤣
Yes and I think because now in notes people don’t see our logo… I just wonder… it’s such a subtle thing. We don’t need to think too much but it used to be the logo pulled through with the articles but now it’s the social preview image
This was a great inspiration to redo my logo. But I did it and I like how I simplified it. I think it works. I'm a little behind 7 day project. here's my page. https://hmariaarmijo.substack.com
Brilliant Claire! I just have the picture portion of my logo visible but Iove the reinforcement. I am changing my words in the middle to be more on brand (with colour) and changed my background colour from navy to something else (still deciding what exactly)to be more welcoming - Thanks
I'm defo in the camp of spending ages overthinking and tweaking with my logo as practically the first thing I did on substack 🙈.
I like the colour and font and think it works ok at the top of the page, but is less successful as the small image; I'm thinking maybe I could tweak that further and just put '(Un)'. Also like the idea of putting the logo at the bottom of posts, will start doing that going forwards. My next step is to think how else I could bring my colours into the page, use it as a post thumbnail sometimes for sure.
so I purchased an image online when i first created my substack in a flurry - i really like the image, but it's AI generated, which I understand tends to turn people off? i don't know how to use Canva and don't want to spend hours learning... so feeling in a bit of a quandary . thoughts? wondering what the logo image evokes for people. Cheers. :)
I definitely didn’t overthink my logo! It’s a quick AI-assisted Canva doodle that I made when I first set up my substack and wasn’t sure what I’d be writing about. It’s meant to illustrate my substack’s name (Writing Aloud) but not sure how much it does! I’d probably pick something different logo-wise and/or colours if I was starting over.
I used a logo for my Substack that I created years ago. It contains the colours of my Substack and no wording, but the lines are a bit weak. If I felt like faffing around I would be tempted to recreate it in bolder form. I use it repeated to make a wavy line in my newsletter email header. https://felicitymartin.substack.com
I just changed my logo to a photo of a road. It looks fine in the back end, but on my site it’s flipped so the road isn’t at the bottom anymore. Does anyone else have experience of their images bring rotated?
I've had my profile picture and my logo as the same picture as me (my upside down one), and I've just changed it over to a watercolour forest to match my theme. But, how does it look to you guys? Would you mind taking a look and letting me know what you think? It's an image rather than a tyical logo with text. Does it all work together? Thank you! 🥰https://findingsimpleandcalm.substack.com/
I am excited to learn about these things and I am curious about the colours you have on this page- the pinks, will you tell us about how to custom design this in more detail, or is there a previous post I have not seen about this?
In my old website I used a photo of red cloth as my logo thumbnail. I felt it read well as my color is red and I've never settled on a logo shape.
Currently for Substack, I have a photo of myself. What I like about it is that it has a red background so that the color is consistent. What I don't like about it is that it doesn't separate my brand from myself. It appears as if everything is me, personally. It just occurred to me that I could switch the photo to a different photo of me so I have my profile photo (nice, close-up headshot) and a photo of me for my logo space. I'm thinking, for brand consistency, I could use the photo of myself that I use for my podcast (me in upward dog pose in a red dress with mountains and river behind). (Here's my last podcast, in case anyone's curious: https://soulyogaretreat.substack.com/p/whats-hd-got-to-do-got-to-do-with )
UPDATE! I changed my logo and love it!!!
I will be looking to get some updated headshots (I need something updated to submit with a chapter to a publisher!) and this is an excellent space to create two unique photos that both represent my brand.
Love the examples. I think having the photo creates a connection with my readers, which is my main reason for being on Substack! I do notice that I have one photo as my logo in the upper left and I have this photo which is more personal that shows with my comments.
Love this quick and easy (well, ish) start to the week! I am happy with my logo, i already spent the 4 hours in canva creating it a few months ago haha...but I love this reminder to not worry and fiddle too much. I haven't yet used my logo as a post thumbnail so I will play with that, and liked the inspo to put my logo at the bottom of each post, as this will make my branding more cohesive. I've been focussed consciously on sharing a lot more of me (my face) but will now think about my branding too.
Beautiful and remember you can duplicate drafts so you only have to set it up once.
Great logo Jo! It’s very readable but also has a real vibe to it and communicates what your Substack is about. 🌿
Thanks so much for this feedback Holly! ☺️💜
So I have been using this casual photo of me as a placeholder since creating my substack space. I'm torn now whether to keep it as is (or update my headshot) OR to use the image that rests at the end of almost every post - a blue ink mandala on regular notebook paper, with themes of circle, moon, spiral, compass and ship's wheel... The photo of me is warm and personal, but the ink doodle may feel more "spacious" - I'm uncertain. OR maybe there's a third option I haven't even thought of!
I'm linking to my most recent post in case anyone wants to weigh in on the decision from a "first impression" perspective. (Please and thank you!) You cand find the ink mandala at the bottom of the post. https://aninvitingspace.substack.com/p/reflections-on-what-it-might-mean
This is beautiful Sarah and I love the blue colour and hand drawn feel. Did you watch Lauren’s branding class in diamond? I think it will support you to decide and go deeper with this. ✨
I will make time for this Claire thank you!
That is a tough call! I, too, have a photo of myself as the logo because I haven’t found/designed/had the money yet to put into a logo. I’m also still settling on the overall aesthetic and finding the groove, so I’m not sure what it would even be. I like the photo because it feels tonally appropriate and makes it seem more connective to the audience. But a good logo is so universal!
Thanks for this feedback! even if I try the ink doodle logo I will still make sure photos of me are present too for exactly those reasons you list. :-)
Sarah - for what it's worth, I really like the ink mandala.
Me too
gonna try it for a while and see how it feels. :-)
Thank you - I'm going to try it and see how it feels to me.
This is beautiful Sarah and I love the blue colour and hand drawn feel. Did you watch Lauren’s branding class in diamond? I think it will support you to decide and go deeper with this. ✨
This is beautiful Sarah and I love the blue colour and hand drawn feel. Did you watch Lauren’s branding class in diamond? I think it will support you to decide and go deeper with this. ✨
I like the blue ink mandala! If I had to vote, I'd choose that. It looks like your accept color is green. What about switching the mandala to green to pull your colors together? Or using blue as your accept color instead? Food for thought 🥰
Your suggestions re color are opening my mind! And I find I want TWO colors! Come on Substack let us have a blend. For now I'm keeping blue doodle and green tonalities...we'll see how it feels. Thanks for your feedback!
I’m pretty happy with my current logo for Zestful Zen - I tweaked it a little recently (same colours, different font). I think the colours convey zest and I find it readable on screen and in the phone app. Though I’m curious if others have difficulty making the words out. Thanks for the tip on adding it to the bottom of posts, something for me to play with!
https://zestfulzenwellbeing.substack.com
I love the colours and the logo in general but the zestful is a little hard to make out ❤️ beautiful page though
I’d be tempted to try a Z and a Z. What do you think? I think it’s great though Holly! Just being picky with the readability
Funny you should suggest that Claire, I’ve done that for the favicon for my business website. But for the logo it felt like just the two letters didn’t really convey any context or meaning! I need one of those businesses that’s just a 2 or 3 letter word 🤣
Yes and I think because now in notes people don’t see our logo… I just wonder… it’s such a subtle thing. We don’t need to think too much but it used to be the logo pulled through with the articles but now it’s the social preview image
This was a great inspiration to redo my logo. But I did it and I like how I simplified it. I think it works. I'm a little behind 7 day project. here's my page. https://hmariaarmijo.substack.com
Brilliant Claire! I just have the picture portion of my logo visible but Iove the reinforcement. I am changing my words in the middle to be more on brand (with colour) and changed my background colour from navy to something else (still deciding what exactly)to be more welcoming - Thanks
I'm defo in the camp of spending ages overthinking and tweaking with my logo as practically the first thing I did on substack 🙈.
I like the colour and font and think it works ok at the top of the page, but is less successful as the small image; I'm thinking maybe I could tweak that further and just put '(Un)'. Also like the idea of putting the logo at the bottom of posts, will start doing that going forwards. My next step is to think how else I could bring my colours into the page, use it as a post thumbnail sometimes for sure.
Yeah great idea! It’s too small to read on my phone… you can defo brand up your posts then use the duplicate feature each time. 🥰
so I purchased an image online when i first created my substack in a flurry - i really like the image, but it's AI generated, which I understand tends to turn people off? i don't know how to use Canva and don't want to spend hours learning... so feeling in a bit of a quandary . thoughts? wondering what the logo image evokes for people. Cheers. :)
I think it’s really beautiful Patricia!
I definitely didn’t overthink my logo! It’s a quick AI-assisted Canva doodle that I made when I first set up my substack and wasn’t sure what I’d be writing about. It’s meant to illustrate my substack’s name (Writing Aloud) but not sure how much it does! I’d probably pick something different logo-wise and/or colours if I was starting over.
I used a logo for my Substack that I created years ago. It contains the colours of my Substack and no wording, but the lines are a bit weak. If I felt like faffing around I would be tempted to recreate it in bolder form. I use it repeated to make a wavy line in my newsletter email header. https://felicitymartin.substack.com
I just changed my logo to a photo of a road. It looks fine in the back end, but on my site it’s flipped so the road isn’t at the bottom anymore. Does anyone else have experience of their images bring rotated?
Ok it seems to have righted itself now. That was an anxious few minutes!
I've had my profile picture and my logo as the same picture as me (my upside down one), and I've just changed it over to a watercolour forest to match my theme. But, how does it look to you guys? Would you mind taking a look and letting me know what you think? It's an image rather than a tyical logo with text. Does it all work together? Thank you! 🥰https://findingsimpleandcalm.substack.com/
Looks beautiful Sophie! 💚
I am excited to learn about these things and I am curious about the colours you have on this page- the pinks, will you tell us about how to custom design this in more detail, or is there a previous post I have not seen about this?
I sure do!
In my old website I used a photo of red cloth as my logo thumbnail. I felt it read well as my color is red and I've never settled on a logo shape.
Currently for Substack, I have a photo of myself. What I like about it is that it has a red background so that the color is consistent. What I don't like about it is that it doesn't separate my brand from myself. It appears as if everything is me, personally. It just occurred to me that I could switch the photo to a different photo of me so I have my profile photo (nice, close-up headshot) and a photo of me for my logo space. I'm thinking, for brand consistency, I could use the photo of myself that I use for my podcast (me in upward dog pose in a red dress with mountains and river behind). (Here's my last podcast, in case anyone's curious: https://soulyogaretreat.substack.com/p/whats-hd-got-to-do-got-to-do-with )
UPDATE! I changed my logo and love it!!!
I will be looking to get some updated headshots (I need something updated to submit with a chapter to a publisher!) and this is an excellent space to create two unique photos that both represent my brand.
Yay! Brilliant Amanda - well done. I love to hold the mirror up and ask what do we think… we need to LOVE it! 🥰
Thanks for the shout out! So lovely! xo
✨
Love the examples. I think having the photo creates a connection with my readers, which is my main reason for being on Substack! I do notice that I have one photo as my logo in the upper left and I have this photo which is more personal that shows with my comments.
I think both work so am going with it! Thanks!