We often meet clients who ask us if they can use an internet image for their logo. They find it convenient because a random image on the internet that closely reflects their thought can be acquired with least effort. In some cases, people recreate a google image or imitate it to claim that it is original! However, none of these will help build a good brand.

A casual google search for images on any topic will return thousands of images. In fact, there are millions of free logo artworks available too! But, if you are thinking about using any of those for your logo, then we don’t encourage you do that. Here is why we say it is a bad idea to use images from the internet for your website and logos.

• Ethically wrong: Ethical conduct is one of the most important ingredients in the core values of most successful companies. A lot of time, money and creativity is spent in creating a logo. Using the works of others with no regard to their efforts puts a huge question mark on your business ethics. Do not compromise on your core values at any cost.

• Copyright infringement: Copyright laws protect the owner of the image against theft, and anyone who wants to use a particular image will need to take prior permission from its owner before doing so. Otherwise, the consequences can be serious for you. In case you want to use any free images for a non-commercial purpose, you need to be careful in choosing those which are not protected by copyright.

• Reputation is at stake: Your company’s reputation is something that you never want to compromise. Do not fall into illegal practices and tarnish your company’s reputation. Big corporate companies pay a lot of attention to the companies they associate with and business ethics matter a lot. If your customers or prospects visit your website and see that your logo is an imitation of another, it will give them a lousy impression about your company.

• Logos have more than one meaning: Logos aren’t what they appear at the first glance or the straight look. They can be tricky. A logo can have different hidden meanings when seen differently. It is possible that your logo can mean differently to different people. If you just pick a nice image from the internet without paying attention to any different message it would possibly send, then you end up in a risk!

• Your Logo must be unique: It is the face of your company, and is the first thing appears in the minds of people when the name of your company is mentioned. So, it is important to create a customized logo that reflects what your company stands for. Using some random image for your company’s logo will deprive you of the opportunity to have a logo that is customized and reflective of your company.

• Imagine your logo is same as another! :  If you have taken the logo from the internet, the same image may be used by another person too. Now imagine, that your logo is same as your competitor with just a name change! Scary, isn’t it? Also, following the law of Karma, if you have taken someone’s logo, someone else can also copy your logo and you will have no legal hold over it since it is not your intellectual property. If you have an original logo that is copyrighted, then one may not dare steal it due to fear of legal consequences.

• Not costly to create logos: With a bit of research, you are sure to find companies that provide logo designing service at reasonable and pocket-friendly rates. The advantages that professionally created customized logos provide easily outweigh the money you spend on it. Typically small-medium sized companies, start-ups, emerging brands and event organizers spend anyway between Rs. 7000 and 12000 for a corporate logo design.

In the technological arsenal available today, internet is massively ubiquitous and influential. No company that takes its business seriously can turn a blind-eye to this fact. One of the most basic ways in which companies can make use of the internet is through websites.

Here, we provide 20 compelling reasons why you should have a website for your business:

1. Adds credibility: 75% of customers judge a company’s credibility based on its website design. A carefully designed website gives the impression that your company is trustworthy, well-established, and professional to your prospective customers.

2. Increases visibility: With more than 2.4 billion people using the internet every day, the internet is teeming with activity and is perfect to gain global exposure. Your website puts your company on this stage and helps your company receive the spotlight.

3. Customers are on the internet: The market is where the buyers are. 90% of internet users make an online purchase, or contact a company annually. A website provides you the opportunity to tap into the big online market.

4. Online brochure: A website is a great place to talk about your company, and the products and services your company offers. With 60% of people visiting a brand or product website to find relevant information about it, your website can become your company’s most effective spokesperson.

5. Communicate updates: Whether you are introducing new products and/or services, expanding to new regions, or updating your existing offerings, a website is a fast and effective way to ensure that the updates get maximum reachability.

6. Attract new customers: With 60% of people visiting a brand or product website to find relevant information about it before making a purchase, website is a great way to convert such prospects to customers.

7. Testimonials: Your website is a great place to showcase the satisfaction of your past customers to prospective customers, and persuade them to trust your company. Testimonials act as certificates for your promises and reputation.

8. Portfolios and galleries: Your past accomplishments speak volumes about your company’s credibility, and are the most powerful trust-building agents. Your website can host portfolios and galleries which are effective ways of showcasing your accomplishments and capabilities.

9. All around the clock access: The internet never sleeps, and neither can your business. Your website allows you to be always there for your customers, no matter what time zone they are in.

10. Global visibility: Your website puts your company on the global stage, allowing people from any part of the world to get to know your company. In a globalized world, the global visibility that your website provides is crucial to stay competitive and grow your business.

11. Branding: Your company’s website can play a major role in enhancing your brand and making your brand look bigger and more appealing to your customers and prospects.

12. E-commerce: With a revenue of $30 billion in 2016, the booming e-commerce market in India is expected to reach a staggering $120 billion in 2020. An e-commerce website opens up a host of opportunities for your company such as the ability to sell your products 24/7, reach-out to new markets globally, and provide buyer-convenience.

13. Save money: Your website can help you save money by reducing your expenditure on customer support by hosting frequently and commonly needed resources such as FAQs, external links, product information, contact information, and so on. When customers can find information online, your information/help desk receives lesser calls.

14. Improve customer service: Your website can become another channel for your customers and prospects to interact with you. By providing support information like FAQs, product manuals and technical documentation, online resources, and enquiry forms on your website, you can improve the ease of doing business for your customers.

15. Receive feedback: You can use your website to receive feedback from your customers through feedback forms. Feedback is extremely valuable in helping you improve your customer service and in gathering new ideas.

16. email@mywebsite looks professional: Having an email address of your own company will provide you a professional image and makes it easier for your website’s visitors to remember the email address. Your website can also host other additional contact information like social media, other branch phone numbers, etc.

17. Connect via blogs: By incorporating blogs in your websites, you can talk about your expertise, educate customers, and promote your latest offerings. This heavily contributes to your online brand visibility.

18. Social media integration: Your website can convert your company’s social media presence and popularity to business. The prospects who visit your social media spaces can be redirected to your company’s website to make them your customers.

19. Link to apps: If your company has apps built for various mobile platforms, you can provide links to these apps on your website. Your website can help in increasing downloads of these apps and in gaining you a tech-savvy image.

20. Track traffic to assess market share: Your website can help you come up with better business-strategies by helping you assess the traffic on your website. Insights on distribution of traffic across various geographical regions, age groups, hours of the day etc., can be gained through your website.