By Kati NevillePodcast logos promote and reinforce show identity and individuality. Some people call them badges. Others refer to them as artwork. Whatever the term, a good logo is worth the investment.
Your logo is the public face of your podcast. Think of your logo as a book cover, because it is the first experience prospective listeners have with your show. It will advertise and market your podcast. Always remember that it will accompany your feed and be prominently displayed on podcast directories. Take a trip over to blubrry or PodcastPickle to see what I mean.
Now think about how some books use graphics to separate individual chapters. Sometimes editors repeat the cover graphic at the beginning of each chapter. Other times, they apply unique artwork throughout.
The same is true of podcasts. Your podcast feed needs a "cover" logo, as we have discussed. But each individual episode can also carry other images. These graphics can be the same as the cover logo, like my podcast, or altogether different.
Always attach, or "embed," an image to every podcast. Use standalone tag editing software programs, if your recording and editing program doesn't allow images. When a graphic is embedded with other relevant information about each show (like, file type and size, description, and author) it cannot be separated. The audio portion of your show becomes married to that graphic. This is important because it causes the image to appear on that tiny screen on the front panel of many portable media players.
Smart design is crucial. Here are a few more tips to consider:
Avoid complex graphics. There is a time and place for intricate artwork. Unfortunately, 200x200 dpi isn't it. Keep it simple.
Include show title. Be sure the title of your podcast is visible on your logo.
Stick with basic colors. Remember, the teeny screens on portable media players and other small devices do not render as many colors as your computer monitor.
Use authentic, recognizable symbols. My podcast is about saving money and time in the kitchen. The central image on my logo is an apron. I chose it because it's common work wear for everyday cooks. Plus, aprons evoke the frugal sensibility of days gone by. Pick symbols that reinforce your theme.
Ensure scalability. Plan to use your logo in marketing materials, your blog, in e-mail, and online. The logo must look sharp when small and large. Set clear expectations with your designer and request several sizes of the final product.
Kati Neville is coauthor of the best selling cookbook, Fix, Freeze, Feast. She is a contributing editor for The Saver's Kitchen podcast and regularly blogs on The Forklift.
Kati teaches cooking classes in the Portland, Oregon metropolitan area.
When not online or teaching, Kati enjoys writing and tasting new
recipes in her kitchen.
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