Lately I’ve noticed lots of small business owners creating their own logos using online design tools. It’s an affordable and creative way to get started, but there’s one trend that pops up again and again: the circular logo.
While round logos can look cute and polished on their own, they don’t always play nicely with websites or other digital layouts. Let me share my opinion about why that happens, and how to make sure your logo works beautifully everywhere your business shows up.
Why circular logos can be tricky
A circle-shaped logo often looks best when centred or framed, for example on business cards, stickers or social media profile images. But on a website, your logo usually sits in a narrow header area. A round logo can look too small or take up too much vertical space, which can make your menu or layout feel unbalanced.
If your circle logo has detailed text around the edge, it can also lose clarity when it’s shrunk down for mobile screens.
How to make your logo more versatile
The best way to future-proof your brand is to create a small logo set rather than a single design. This gives you flexibility across all your platforms and keeps your visual identity consistent without feeling forced.
Here’s what I recommend including:
- Primary logo – your main design, usually horizontal so it fits nicely in website headers and emails.
- Stacked or square version – a more compact layout that works for print, packaging, or profile images.
- Icon or submark – a simplified symbol (often just your initials or a graphic element) for watermarks and social media.
- Transparent and solid background versions – so you’re ready for both light and dark backgrounds.
- High-resolution and web-optimised files – so your logo looks sharp everywhere.
Keep these design tips in mind
- Avoid tiny text. If you can’t read it at thumbnail size, it’s too small.
- Think about shape. A wide, rectangular logo usually works best for websites.
- Stick to simple fonts. Clean, easy-to-read typefaces feel professional and are easier to scale.
- Test it out. Drop your logo into a few mockups like your website header, social media profile, or email signature to see how it performs.
Your logo is one of the hardest-working pieces of your brand. Creating a small logo set instead of a single design gives you the freedom to adapt and grow without needing a full rebrand later.
If you’re building your own logo and want a designer’s eye to make sure it works well online, I’m always happy to take a look and offer feedback. Sometimes a few small tweaks can make all the difference.
While I don’t design logo packs myself, I can recommend a graphic designer if you need a more professional branding strategy.