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- 5 email marketing metrics you should be tracking
Email marketing is fundamental to any growing online business. It works because it’s one of the easiest ways to communicate with customers and has one of the highest returns on investment (ROI) of any marketing channel. It’s so easy, anyone can send beautiful newsletters, invitations and promotions. In fact, over 1.5 million businesses already use Wix's email marketing service to motivate, engage and retain clients (learn how to connect your email to Wix website ). Of course, a great email marketing service does more than just know when to schedule your next product update email (Saturday and Sunday have the best open and click rates on average). There are easy methods to measure and optimize specific metrics to help you better engage with your audience and get more value for your spend. Our own experts gave us their 5 most essential email statistics you should be tracking. With these helpful tips and our collection of email marketing examples you’ll be able to promote your site with a more precise marketing strategy. List growth Conversion rate Unique opens Click-through rate Bounce rate 01. List growth What : The rate at which your subscriber list is growing. How : (New Subscribers – Unsubscribed / Total Subscribers) x 100 If you don’t have a list strategy as part of your email marketing effort, you may as well be wandering in the dark. The more subscribers you have, the more traffic and conversions you’ll get. Get started with a list by grouping all of your contacts together, then segment them based on location, interest, demographic , device and whatever other variable that may make for a more targeted email blast. Goal number one is to make more people sign up as quickly as possible every day. List growth usually starts with your website or blog as new visitors opt in to receive your latest updates. There are various email marketing tools to help you build your email list. Most users prefer to fill out contact forms , which you should consider using in various points on your site to make it easy to access. When new visitors land on your blog and read through an entire article, try using a pop-up to offer them an update on a relevant feature or something related to your post. Despite their reputation, well-used pop-ups are known for driving subscriptions up. A must-know: An important email marketing tip is to never use third party lists. Email service providers can easily detect them and shut you down. If you notice unengaged subscribers, try to provide them with more incentive to interact. If after numerous attempts they remain inactive, best practice dictates removing them completely. Keeping your lists healthy improves your overall email metrics and sender reputation. If you see your lists dropping, ask yourself what’s causing people to unsubscribe. Are your emails meeting the recipients needs? Do they provide enough value? Perhaps you may want to reduce your volume or segment your list again. Focus on what you can do to get more engagement from those that have the potential to be engaged and leave the rest behind. 02. Conversion rate What : Percentage of subscribers who clicked within the email and completed a desired action. How : (Subscribers Who Completed Action / Total Emails Delivered) x 100 Every email should be sent with a single purpose in mind. That purpose is to drive the recipient to take a specific action that will result in a conversion. The conversion rate essentially measures the effectiveness of an email campaign. This rate will often depend on the difficulty of the action you’re requesting from your audience and how many steps they have to go through to complete it. Simple requests such as ‘Get This Song’ will convert much better than more complex and time-consuming requests such as ‘Fill Out This Questionnaire’. The goal is for your audience to take the action that your email has asked them to take. This will generally require highly engaging content or incentives like coupons and other giveaways that will draw a click. The process should be simple and highly relevant to what your recipient signed up for. When your audience isn’t moving to the landing page or store as you expected, assess what possible variables could cause them to drop off. Perhaps you made the email mistake of offering them too many alternative choices that distract them from the conversion. Are there links in your email that take readers away from your main goal? Is your text clear? If this is the case, you need to simplify your users’ choices or provide a more compelling reason to act. 03. Unique opens What : Percentage of recipients who open your emails. How : (Total Opens / Total Delivered) x 100 Unique Opens is the percent of distinct recipients who’ve opened your email. The difference from Total Opens being that no matter how many times a person has reopened an email, it only counts as one. Unique Opens is essentially a measure of your recipient’s interest in the "from" category and the subject lines of your email, since these are the only two fields affecting their decision. While there is no one winning formula for writing strong subject lines , there are many methods to help you succeed. Try to think about what kind of subject line would make you personally click to open an email. In order to be effective, you must target your audience with content they desire. Another good rule of thumb is to keep your subject lines short and include a question or call-to-action. The more you test different subject lines, the faster you’ll improve the performance of future campaigns. Testing a subject line can be as simple as creating two separate emails with the same body of information but using different subject lines for each half of your recipient list. Measure the open rate for both and see which one performs better. This is the basis of A/B testing. Every audience is different, and with enough effort, you’ll find out what works best for yours. 04. Click-through rate What : The percentage of recipients who clicked on a link within the email. How : (Total Unique Clicks / Total Delivered Emails) x 100 Click-Through Rate (CTR) describes the email recipients who not only opened your email but also interacted with it by clicking on one or more links you placed inside. This is the most popular metric email marketers like to track because it lets you easily calculate performance for every individual email you send, and is used for determining the results of A/B tests. The CTR provides insight into how many people on your list were interested in your content and how well you converted that interest into click-throughs. The more targeted your content, the better your CTR will be. Certain blasts will always do better than others. For example, advocacy appeals perform better than fundraising, but you should still always try to match your content and audience carefully. Your descriptions and visuals should be clear and compelling. Changing your email format may have dramatic effects on user experience, particularly with eNewsletters. About 35% of people still prefer plain text emails, so a hyperlinked text-based call to action above the header can ensure your audience is seeing your message even when images are disabled. Try and test different methods to improve your email click-through rate to determine what really works with your list. 05. Bounce rate What : Percent of unsuccessful delivery. How : (Total Bounced / Total Sent) x 100 When an Email doesn’t reach its intended recipient it is called a ‘bounce’. Bounces are inevitable but with some work can be reduced considerably. They come in two forms: Hard bounces can be a result of invalid emails or simple misspellings. They should be removed immediately because internet service providers may mark your business as spam and even place your account under review if you breach terms of use. You want to maintain a quality list, not a long one. Soft bounces tend to occur when an email server encounters an issue like reaching capacity. These should be removed after a few attempts as well. You don’t want to jeopardise your business’s reputation or your delivery rate, so these are important to keep a look out for. The best way to fight bounce rates is using an email marketing solution that has a bounce management system in place to detect and process all bounced emails by flagging or removing anything invalid. Employing verified opt-in lists will make certain that the email addresses you are marketing to are healthy. Also, when your lists include additional contact info of your subscribers, you can follow up and request a valid email address for future email blasts . Wix Email Marketing helps you do just that. Not only will you be able to create and share beautiful emails in minutes, you can easily track and optimize your campaigns to grow your business.
- 12 wedding business ideas to inspire your next venture
Start generating business ideas with the Wix Business Launcher → The wedding industry offers tremendous profit potential for savvy entrepreneurs if you strategically select and market the right business idea. When assessing wedding ventures, carefully examine what each concept requires in terms of upfront investment, needed capabilities and time commitment. Setup costs range widely from minimal to extensive. Some wedding niches demand specialized skills or training, while others rely more on strong creative vision or planning abilities. Working hours also fluctuate dramatically between wedding domains—full-time planners and on-demand coordinators follow very different schedules. Learn more: How to start a business Still not sure which business idea is best for you? Weigh your options with the Wix Business Launcher, which uses AI to match you with the right business idea based on your skills and goals. The Wix Business Launcher equips you with market research, earnings strategies and a launch kit for every idea, so you can get started with confidence. 12 wedding business ideas to start today Jumpstart your entrepreneurial journey in the wedding industry with these 12 diverse and promising business ideas . From setting up a trendy wedding boutique to personalized wedding planning services and sustainable wedding services, there's something for every aspiring wedding entrepreneur to explore and kick-start today. Wedding boutique Custom wedding stationery Wedding planning and coordination Wedding photography and videography Wedding catering Bridal beauty and makeup services Destination wedding planning Eco-friendly wedding services Wedding floral arrangements Personalized wedding favors Handmade wedding décor Wedding alterations and dress repairs 01. Wedding boutique A wedding boutique can be a physical shop or an online store that offers a curated selection of wedding dresses, accessories and décor items. Often with a specific style or theme, these boutiques carefully select their inventory to provide couples with unique and popular wedding looks. A boutique can be an excellent wedding business idea to start if you're looking to tap into the ever-evolving world of weddings. You can cater to a specific target audience with distinct tastes, such as vintage wedding enthusiasts or eco-conscious couples. By offering a personalized and unique wedding shopping experience, you can build a loyal customer base. Check out: The Euni & Co. wedding boutique, offering events and an online store. Begin by researching your target niche and identifying the most sought-after wedding styles. Then source wedding dresses, accessories and décor items from wholesalers or designers that align with your boutique's theme. Next, you'll need to create an appealing and user-friendly online store or choose a physical space to set up your wedding boutique. Then, your focus will need to be on promoting your wedding business to your target market. Read more: Boutique business names to get your creative juices flowing. Learn how to make a boutique logo to represent your brand. 02. Custom wedding stationery A custom wedding stationery business allows couples to personalize wedding invitations, save-the-date cards and other stationery items with their designs, graphics or text. Custom wedding stationery is an attractive wedding business idea if you're looking to channel your creativity and design skills into a business. It also involves working with couples to help them choose or plan the best designs for their wedding invitations and stationery. If you plan on creating the stationery yourself, you'll need to invest in the necessary printing and design equipment. However, if you're looking for a low-cost business idea to start, consider offering digital designs or partnering with a printing service to fulfill the orders. Custom wedding stationery can be run through an online store or an eCommerce website that allows couples to upload their designs or choose from your selection. You'll then need to market your business across channels where your target customers can be found. Learn more: eCommerce business ideas 03. Wedding planning and coordination A wedding planning and coordination business involves helping couples plan and organize their weddings, ensuring that everything runs smoothly on their special day. Starting a wedding planning and coordination business is a solid choice as a business idea, as couples often seek professional assistance to relieve the stress of wedding planning . By offering a comprehensive range of services, from venue selection to coordinating vendors and managing timelines, you can provide couples with a seamless wedding experience. Before starting your wedding business idea, it's a good idea to gain experience in event planning and make sure you understand the latest trends. You can then decide on the specific services you want to offer, such as full-service planning or day-of coordination. Establish a strong online presence through a professional website and social media profiles, showcasing your previous weddings and client testimonials. Networking with local vendors and venues can also help you build a reliable network for your wedding planning business. 04. Wedding photography and videography Weddings photography and videography business specializes in capturing the special moments of a couple's wedding day through photos and videos. Starting a wedding photography and videography business is an excellent idea because couples prioritize capturing memories that will last a lifetime. By showcasing your skills in creating beautiful and emotional wedding visuals, you can attract couples looking for a talented photographer and videographer. Learn more: How to create a photographer business plan Before starting this wedding business idea, invest in high-quality photography and videography equipment. Build a portfolio of your work by offering your services to friends and family or collaborating with other wedding vendors. Create a professional website to showcase your portfolio, pricing and contact information. Use social media platforms to share your work and engage with potential clients. Offering package deals that include both photography and videography services can also make your business more attractive to couples. Coco Gonser , a German-based photographer showcases her work using a portfolio website . Build your online portfolio with full creative freedom using the best website builder 05. Wedding catering A wedding catering business creates and provides food and beverage services for weddings, ranging from intimate gatherings to large celebrations. Wedding catering is a lucrative niche within the wedding industry for several reasons. Couples often seek unique and delicious catering options to enhance their wedding experience. With the right culinary skills, attention to detail and a well-set catering business plan , a wedding catering business can become a profitable wedding business idea. Start your business by researching the latest trends in wedding catering, including popular cuisines and dietary preferences. Develop a diverse menu that caters to different tastes and dietary restrictions. Consider offering tasting sessions for potential clients to showcase your culinary expertise. Build relationships with local wedding planners and venues to secure catering opportunities. Establish an online presence through a professional business website and social media to showcase your menu, past events and client testimonials. Learn more: How to start a catering business 06. Bridal beauty and makeup services Bridal beauty and makeup services involve providing professional makeup and beauty services for brides and bridal parties on their wedding day. Starting a bridal beauty and makeup services business is a great wedding business idea to help brides look and feel their best on their special day. By offering personalized and high-quality beauty services, you can become a go-to professional for brides seeking a flawless and memorable bridal look. Learn more: How to start an eyelash business Before starting, you’ll need to acquire the necessary makeup and beauty skills through training and practice. Build a portfolio showcasing your expertise in bridal makeup. Establish an online presence through a professional website and different social media platforms. Offer trial sessions for brides to experience your services before their wedding day. Collaborate with local bridal shops, wedding planners and photographers to expand your network and reach potential clients. 07. Destination wedding planning A destination wedding planning business involves coordinating and planning weddings in exotic or destination locations. According to Statista, the destination wedding market is booming , making it a highly lucrative niche to explore. Starting a destination wedding planning business is an exciting wedding business idea as many couples dream of a unique and memorable destination wedding experience. By specializing in destination weddings, you can offer services that go beyond traditional wedding planning, such as travel arrangements and cultural experiences. Before starting this wedding business idea, research popular destination wedding locations and venues. Develop relationships with local vendors and suppliers in those locations. Understand the legal and logistical aspects of planning weddings in different destinations. Consider learning how to make a website and creating marketing materials that highlight your expertise in destination weddings. Use social media and online platforms to showcase your past destination weddings and attract couples seeking a one-of-a-kind wedding experience. 08. Eco-friendly wedding services An eco-friendly wedding services business focuses on providing environmentally sustainable options for various wedding elements, such as décor, favors and invitations. Eco-friendly wedding services are gaining popularity as couples become more conscious of their environmental impact. This wedding business idea allows you to offer sustainable and ethical alternatives to traditional wedding elements, attracting environmentally-minded couples. Start by researching eco-friendly and sustainable practices in the wedding industry. Source materials and products that align with eco-friendly principles, such as recycled paper for invitations or biodegradable décor items. Highlight your commitment to sustainability in your marketing materials and on your website. Collaborate with local vendors and venues that share a commitment to eco-friendly practices. Use social media to showcase your eco-friendly wedding services and connect with couples who prioritize sustainability. Tip: This can be a great scalable business idea , as it presents the opportunity to build a sustainable eCommerce business. 09. Wedding floral arrangements A wedding floral arrangements business involves creating and providing floral designs for weddings, including bouquets, centerpieces and ceremony décor. Starting a wedding floral arrangements business is an appealing wedding business idea because flowers play a significant role in enhancing the beauty and ambiance of weddings. By showcasing your creativity and floral design skills, you can become a sought-after florist for couples seeking personalized and stunning floral arrangements. Learn more: How to start a flower business Before diving in, gain expertise in floral design and arrangement techniques. Create a portfolio showcasing your previous wedding floral arrangements. Establish relationships with local flower suppliers to ensure a steady and diverse supply of flowers. Develop pricing packages for different floral services, such as bridal bouquets and venue décor. Build an online presence through a professional website and social media platforms to showcase your work and attract potential clients. 10. Personalized wedding favors A personalized wedding favors business involves creating and providing unique and customized favors for wedding guests. Starting a personalized wedding favors business is a creative wedding business idea that allows you to offer couples a way to express their gratitude to guests with personalized and memorable tokens. By providing a range of customizable favor options, you can cater to diverse tastes and wedding themes. Before starting this wedding business idea, research popular and trending wedding favor options. Source materials and products that can be easily customized, such as engraved items or personalized packaging. Create a catalog of customizable wedding favors and pricing packages. Establish an online presence through a professional website and social media to showcase your personalized wedding favors. Collaborate with local wedding planners and venues to expand your network and reach potential clients. 11. Handmade wedding décor A handmade wedding décor business involves creating and providing handmade decorations for weddings, including signage, centerpieces and other decorative elements. Starting a handmade wedding décor business is a unique wedding business idea that allows you to showcase your artistic skills and offer couples one-of-a-kind decorative elements for their wedding. By providing handmade and personalized décor, you can contribute to the overall aesthetic and theme of a couple's special day. Learn more: How to sell crafts online Before starting this wedding business idea, hone your crafting and design skills in creating wedding décor items. Develop a signature style that sets your handmade décor apart from mass-produced options. Create a catalog of handmade wedding décor items and pricing packages. Establish an online presence through a professional website and social media platforms to showcase your work. Participate in local bridal shows or wedding fairs to display your handmade wedding décor and connect with couples seeking unique and personalized touches for their weddings. 12. Wedding alterations and dress repairs A wedding alterations and dress repairs business offers services to modify, adjust and mend wedding attire. This may include resizing garments, fixing tears, altering dresses or even redesigning pieces to suit a client's preferences. Wedding alterations and dress repair services can be in demand because couples often seek expert tailoring services to ensure their wedding attire fits perfectly. Starting this wedding business idea allows you to tap into a steady market and you can build a reputation for quality workmanship. Begin by acquiring the necessary sewing and alteration skills or hiring experienced seamstresses as part of creating your wedding business plan . Set up a physical location for your business, such as a small shop or a home-based studio, where clients can drop off their wedding attire. Alternatively, you can offer on-site alterations if you have the equipment and skills. Create a pricing structure for various alteration and repair services and promote your business through local advertising, word of mouth and online listings. Building a reputation for quick turnaround times and quality craftsmanship is key to success in this field. Check out these best small website builders to get started. Wedding business ideas FAQ How can I differentiate my wedding business idea from competitors? To stand out among competitors in the wedding business, consider offering distinctive and high-quality items or exclusive designs. Focusing on a specific niche or target audience, emphasizing sustainable and ethical practices and delivering excellent customer service, including fast communication and convenient services, are key differentiators. Employ creative marketing strategies, strong branding, influencer collaborations and community-building to further distinguish your brand. What are some of the main costs involved in starting a wedding business idea? The main costs involved in starting a wedding business idea may include: Business registration and licensing fees. Equipment and supplies specific to your chosen wedding business, such as floral arrangement tools or photography equipment. Marketing and advertising expenses to promote your wedding business. Website development and maintenance costs for an online presence. Rental fees for physical locations, if applicable. Costs associated with obtaining necessary certifications or training, depending on your chosen wedding business. Inventory costs for items you plan to sell or use in your wedding business. What are some challenges to consider when starting a wedding business idea? Some challenges to consider when starting a wedding business idea may include: Seasonal fluctuations: The wedding industry often experiences peak seasons and managing demand during busy periods while sustaining the business during slower times can be a challenge. Competition: The wedding industry can be competitive and standing out among numerous vendors and businesses requires strategic differentiation. Client expectations: Meeting and exceeding client expectations is crucial in the wedding industry, where emotions run high and the stakes are significant. Marketing and visibility: Effectively marketing your wedding business to reach potential clients and building a strong online presence are essential for success. Vendor relationships: Establishing positive relationships with other wedding vendors, such as florists, venues and photographers, is important for collaboration and referrals. Legal considerations: Complying with local regulations, obtaining necessary permits and addressing legal requirements specific to the wedding industry are important aspects of starting and running a wedding business. Decide on the legal structure of your business, such as a sole proprietorship , LLC or corporation . Read more: How to start an LLC Other business ideas to consider Service business ideas Businesses to start with little money Unique business ideas Online business ideas Low-cost business ideas Side business ideas Outdoor business ideas Home-based businesses Mobile business ideas Consulting business ideas Freelance business ideas Reselling business ideas Business ideas for couples Rental business ideas Small town business ideas Cleaning business ideas Print on demand business ideas Tech business ideas Finance business ideas Music business ideas Travel business ideas Marketing business ideas Art business ideas Restaurant business ideas Fitness business ideas Dropshipping business ideas
- What are flash sales? A step-by-step guide with examples
Get started by: Creating a website → | Getting a domain → Many online sellers have a love-hate relationship with flash sales. When done well, a flash sale can serve as a powerful eCommerce marketing tool, with the ability to attract new customers, strengthen existing relationships and bring a surge of revenue in a short period of time. On the flip side, a poorly executed flash sale can be costly. It can erode brand loyalty, attract the wrong kind of customers, and cheapen your brand. This step-by-step guide will help you develop a flash sale strategy that works for your business. Learn how to run a flash sale, avoid common pitfalls and view a real-life example of a successful flash sale. Read Also: How to start a business What are flash sales? By definition, a flash sale runs for a limited amount of time—usually between two to three hours, all the way up to 72 hours. A flash sale offers specific products at a can’t-miss price and taps into your buyers’ sense of FOMO to prompt impulse buying. Some of the most famous flash sale events include Amazon Prime Day(s) and Cyber Monday. These events rake in billions of sales annually, with Amazon Prime topping $12 billion in July 2022 and Cyber Monday expected to reach a record-breaking $11.2 billion . Buyers eagerly await these events, some hoping to nab items that they’ve been eyeing for months prior. The pros and cons of running a flash sale Before you jump right into running your first flash sale, here are the benefits and potential risks that you need to be aware of. Pros Boost revenue quickly: The greatest appeal of a flash sale is that it can drive tons of purchases. We’ve found that, on average, online stores increase monthly gross merchandise value (GMV) by 64,000% when they run a flash sale. Attract new customers : Drive traffic to your online store , plus nudge new shoppers to try your products for the first time. Win them over and you could have a customer for life. Earn repeat customers: A solid discount is a great way to show some love to your best customers. When customers love your brand and feel appreciated, they’re more likely to buy from you in the future. Get customers who are on the fence to take action : The average abandoned cart rate in eCommerce is inching towards 70%, according to the latest data by Baymard Institute . A flash sale is one way to bring people back to their carts and retain shoppers. Clear excess inventory : Unload out-of-season or excess products via a flash sale. This ultimately helps to reduce operating and inventory costs, plus make room for newer, in-demand products. Cons Erode your profits: Poorly calculated flash sales can end up killing your profit margin, or worse—cost you money. This could hurt your business in both the short-term and long-term. Attract the wrong customers: If you bring in too many one-and-done shoppers, you won’t see much of an increase in brand loyalty. Fatigue your shoppers : If you’re pushing flash sales too hard or too often, you risk “flash sale fatigue.” Customers can become numb to your marketing tactics and promotions, making it very hard to re-engage them. Damage your reputation: Customers could be deeply disappointed if you’re not set up to deliver on fast shipping or an outstanding customer experience. This could then prompt a series of poor online reviews. In addition to this, relying too much on deep discounts may wrongly position your brand as a discount merchant. 3 mistakes to avoid with your flash sale strategy The eCommerce space (see our guide on what is eCommerce ) is littered with flash sales, and many businesses have paid the price for failed flash sales. The most common reasons for this include: 01. Website crashes A website crash can bring your sale to a dead stop. Crashes often happen due to server overloads and not having the right amount of capacity to handle the surge in traffic. To avoid this, find an eCommerce platform that can handle the extra load. For example, Wix’s autoscale infrastructure allows for limitless scalability and is built to prevent an eCommerce site crash. Alternatively, if you use apps or tools that rely on API calls to your website, make sure they have the right amount of bandwidth on their servers to handle traffic surges. 02. Overselling If you lack the tools for proper inventory management , you run the risk of selling more products than you have on hand. As a result, you could wind up having to cancel customer orders or keeping your buyers waiting for much longer than expected to receive their products. Therefore, it’s imperative to have a system that updates your listed quantities in real time across all of our sales channels. With Wix, you can rest assured knowing that your inventory levels are synced with your integrated fulfillment solutions. 03. Shipping delays The joy a shopper feels from your flash sale may quickly fade if it takes weeks for your item to ship. When this happens, the customers you worked so hard to win over may start to feel negatively about your brand. To avoid this, make sure to provide clear and accurate shipping information, and to smooth out any inefficiencies in your operations. Use an eCommerce platform that automatically routes orders to the right fulfillment partner, plus simplifies other backend operations. Flash sales example: How The Spice Suite uses flash sales and sells out in minutes every time When she moved her brick-and-mortar spice shop online, Angel Gregorio used a flash sale model to grow The Spice Suite’s web presence. Today, she has sold more than $2 million worth of products from both her online and offline stores—and more than 25% of those sales are specifically from online flash sales. Here’s why a flash sale approach has worked so well for her: She builds on her success : Gregorio’s first online sale showed her that she could easily manage online orders with Wix, and could tap into an even wider audience with a buzz-worthy online sale. “To see that first online sale was just affirming,” she says. “It made me think, you know what—if there’s one, there’s more.” She prepares for flash sales in advance: Gregorio has prebuilt spice boxes at the ready before each sale, in addition to up-to-date product details and inventory information. “The day of the spice drop, no matter what I'm doing, I literally just have to go into Wix and make [my settings] visible…and folks are ready to purchase,” she says. She invests in promotion : Gregorio relies on social media to announce dates and build the buzz about her flash sales. Her most valuable platform: Instagram , where she has amassed more than 133,000 followers. She builds a sense of FOMO with her customers : Gregorio runs flash sales every time new inventory arrives, and her followers have grown to anticipate these sales. The best part? Her products sell out in five minutes—every single time. “It’s like a sport to get a spice box now because they sell out so quickly,” she says. She delivers outstanding customer service - As soon as a flash sale ends, Gregorio and her team are able to efficiently pick, pack, and ship orders to their customers. This is all thanks to their ability to plan ahead, and somewhat ':' their approach to flash sales. How to run your own flash sale: A step-by-step guide Set a goal and choose the right products Define your target audience Choose the right timing Set the right price Get your payment solutions in order Get your inventory in order Optimize your shipping and fulfillment workflows Create a strong promo plan Create a sense of urgency 01. Set a goal and choose the right products The best flash sales start with a specific goal. Do you want to acquire new customers, improve customer retention, or drive deeper customer engagement? Once you know your goals, you can build an effective sale strategy to help you reach that goal. As a few examples of how it could play out: If you’re looking to attract new customers, you could boost brand awareness by selling your signature products at a discount. Or, you could put your best sellers up for sale, as well as trending products. If you’re looking to retain existing customers, your flash sale may involve products that get lots of views but are low-converting. Switching up their price could be all it takes to trigger orders, and can simultaneously help to inform your pricing strategies from here on out. Alternatively, you could put newly released products up for sale in order to build up momentum and initial interest in unfamiliar items. Tip: Regardless of which type of customers you’re looking to attract, it helps to choose one particular category, product line, or theme so that it’s easier for your customers to understand what you’re offering at a discount and why. 02. Define your target audience Narrow down your target audience so that you know exactly how to tailor your messages and can confirm that they’ll get value out of your sale. Too broad of an audience can cause confusion or result in messaging that’s too broad to resonate with any single customer segment. Meanwhile, a well-defined target audience can give you a clear path forward. It can help to boost your conversion rate, lower your ad spend, and increase your overall ROI. 03. Choose the right timing Many sellers have found that running a flash sale either before or after the holiday season can yield great results. A flash sale timed right before the holiday season (e.g., September) can help to build brand awareness prior to the biggest shopping season of the year. Meanwhile, a flash sale held right after the holiday season (e.g., January) can help you to reclaim revenue you may have lost due to post-holiday returns. However, every business is different. Review your historical sales data and customer behaviors, and see what sells best when. It additionally helps to check when email open rates are highest to guide your marketing efforts. Use this data to your advantage, and monitor the impact that your flash sale has on baseline performance. 04. Set the right price It goes without saying that deciding on the right price is crucial. Price your item too low and you could lose money. Price it too high and you might repel shoppers. If your brand has unique products and seldom holds sales, then 10% might be an enticing enough sale. But if you sell more common products and already run regular promotions, your shoppers may expect a heftier discount. A good rule of thumb is to set a price that’s equivalent to or just a tick higher than the discounts you offer on Black Friday or Cyber Monday (i.e., slightly higher than your lowest possible price). 05. Get your payment solutions in order Your flash sale is worthless if your customers can’t pay you, or if your payment provider won’t approve your sales or payouts. Make sure you’re ready to accept payments online and get paid out by taking the following steps. Connect a payment provider and verify your account before you start selling. If you’re adding or switching payment providers, make sure your account is verified and approved before the sale begins. The verification process can take time, so you’ll need to set up your account in advance. Remember that if you don’t do this, all payments from your site will be refunded. Be responsive to customer requests and understand that some customer refunds will happen. Make sure you respond quickly and refund clients before they turn their refund request into a chargeback. This will negatively affect your chargeback ratio and bank history as a merchant. Clearly communicate your refund and return policy on your site. Make sure your policy is clearly visible on each product page. This can help to prevent false expectations and complaints. Keep records of emails and calls with dissatisfied customers who happen to contact you. You can use these to help manage disputes for potential chargebacks later on; they could be the deciding factor in your favor. 06. Get your inventory in order Poor inventory management can turn your flash sale into chaos. If you’re relying on manual inventory processes, trying to keep up with the frenetic pace of sales will be impossible. To avoid this problem, establish strong workflows that include an automated and centralized system for managing inventory across all of y our sale channels. This will allow you to: Check the accuracy of your website’s inventory numbers and add inventory quantities to your product pages so customers will know how many—or how few—on-sale products remain. Sync inventory data between all of your sales channels, warehouses, brick-in-mortar locations, and fulfillment partners. Keep enough buffer stock so you don’t accidentally oversell, especially as you receive orders from multiple channels. Retain full visibility over inventory movement, plus stay in constant contact with buyers, should a mistake occur. 07. Optimize your shipping and fulfillment workflows Prepare your operations to support timely shipping, i.e., give your third-party logistics partner (3PL) a heads up about your upcoming sale, send enough inventory in ahead of time, and specify any special requirements related to packaging. For your customers’ sake: make sure to provide accurate delivery times. If you’re not set up to offer two-day shipping, don’t offer it. Accuracy and honesty are far more important than speed. If it comes down to it, you can even make up for slower shipping times by offering free shipping and/or express shipping at an additional cost. 08. Create a strong promo plan There are plenty of ways to spread the word about an upcoming sale, so you’ll want to take the time to plan your strategy ahead of time. Among the many options at your disposal, you could: Target your competitor’s customers with ads. Look for competitors offering similar products and customers who left them negative reviews. Target your social ads to them, using messaging that speaks to their values and pain points. Run limited-time Google Ad campaigns using keywords associated with your sales products. Take care to select keywords that attract users with an intent to buy. Partner with micro-influencers on social media who resonate with your target audience. Ask them for help promoting your flash sale products, though influencers should ideally be happy users of your product before being asked to promote your store. Give loyal customers exclusive or early access to your flash sale. Send invitations via email or SMS. This will help your best customers feel special, as you reward them for their loyalty. 09. Create a sense of urgency Keep in mind that you’ll only have a short amount of time to promote your flash sale. As you use multiple channels to generate interest, create a sense of urgency by: Creating a flash sale landing page on your website, from which you can clearly list the products that are up for sale and promote relevant messaging. Sending pre-promotional emails and include the discount amount in your email subject lines. Using a countdown timer before and during your sale to amp up the race against the clock. When your sale reaches its final hour, remind your customers that time is running out. Using concise copy to emphasize that time is of the essence, and point out when this is the “last sale of the season” or “your only chance to buy our best sellers—40% off!” Manage everything from landing pages to inventory under one roof—test drive Wix for eCommerce today. Flash sale FAQ What is the best day for flash sales? The best days for flash sales are typically during major shopping holidays, such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday and New Year's Eve. These days are when people are already in a shopping mood, so they're more likely to be receptive to flash sale offers. However, you can run a flash sale any day of the year, as long as you promote it effectively. Is a flash sale good or bad? Flash sales can be a great way to boost sales, clear out inventory and build customer loyalty. However, they can also be risky and damage your brand if they're not done correctly. How long should a flash sale last? The duration of a flash sale can vary based on several factors, and there is no one-size-fits-all answer. The optimal length for a flash sale depends on the nature of your product or service, your target audience and your marketing strategy. Here are some considerations to help determine the duration of a flash sale: Product type and complexity Target audience Marketing goals Platform and promotion Previous success and industry norms Ultimately, the ideal duration for a flash sale is a strategic decision based on your specific circumstances. Test different durations and analyze the results to refine your approach over time. Additionally, it's important to clearly communicate the start and end times of the flash sale to create a sense of urgency among potential customers. What are daily flash sales? Daily flash sales are brief, time-limited promotional events where products or services are offered at significantly discounted prices for a single day. Designed to create urgency and drive quick purchases, these sales leverage scarcity to motivate consumers, often occurring on e-commerce platforms or through targeted marketing channels. Are flash sales effective? Yes, flash sales can be effective marketing tools. By creating a sense of urgency and offering limited-time discounts, they stimulate immediate customer action, boost sales and generate excitement around a product. However, success depends on factors like product relevance, target audience and proper promotion to maximize the impact of these time-limited promotions. Can flash sales be profitable? Flash sales can be profitable when strategically executed. They generate quick revenue, clear excess inventory and attract new customers. However, potential drawbacks include decreased profit margins, customer expectations for continuous discounts and the risk of eroding brand value. Profitability hinges on careful planning and alignment with overall business goals. Flash marketing vs flash sales Flash marketing involves creating a sudden, time-sensitive buzz around a product or service through promotional tactics like social media campaigns. Flash sales, on the other hand, are time-limited events where products are offered at discounted prices. While flash marketing builds anticipation, flash sales aim to drive immediate purchases by leveraging scarcity, both contributing to effective short-term promotional strategies.
- What are the 4 Ps of marketing and how to use them
When it comes to building effective marketing strategies , understanding the four Ps—product, price, place and promotion—is fundamental to achieving sustainable growth and success. These four pillars form the foundation of any successful marketing strategy, guiding businesses in crafting compelling propositions that resonate with their target audiences. Mastering the four Ps not only help you to reach the right customers, but also ensures your products are readily available, priced competitively and effectively communicated. Below, we dive into each of the four Ps. Whether you’re working on a social media campaign or using a website maker to create your website, the four Ps are there to help you with every aspect of your promotional efforts. Build your online presence with Wix . The 4 Ps of the marketing mix The idea of the marketing mix was first popularized by Neil Borden, a professor of advertising at the Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration. In 1964, Borden published an article titled “ The Concept of the Marketing Mix ,” which discussed different advertising tactics that companies could use to target consumers. It was here that he highlighted the marketer as an artist—a mixer of all the ingredients needed to achieve the firm’s marketing objectives. Still, there was no real consensus about what should be included in the mix until 1960, when E. Jerome McCarthy, a marketing professor at Michigan State University, identified four basic ingredients known as the four Ps of marketing. Since then, the four Ps have been widely adopted by marketing professionals as the core pillars of an effective marketing penetration strategy. And while there have been a few changes and additions over the decades, the fundamental principles remain the same. What are the 4 Ps of marketing? Below we’ll define the four Ps of marketing and show you why each ingredient plays an important role in increasing sales, building a competitive advantage and building a smart strategy for promoting your business. 01. Product This one’s easy—products refer to the good or service that you offer to customers. Whether you’re launching a new product or seeking to improve an existing one, making sure that it meets the demands of consumers is a core pillar of marketing. For your product to be effective, it should either satisfy an existing consumer need or create demand so that people believe they need it. Familiarize yourself with product differentiation and what it means for your marketing efforts. In addition, you should be familiar with your product’s life cycle—meaning its introduction into the market, its growth, maturity and decline. From a marketing standpoint, this lets you adapt your messaging, KPIs , pricing and target audience according to each life cycle stage. To master the product element of the marketing mix, ask yourself the following questions: What is your product? Who is it for? How and where do customers use your product? What existing needs does your product satisfy? If it doesn’t satisfy an existing need, how will you create a new need in the market? What specific features does your product have that will directly address those needs? Are there any features you may have missed? What are the key elements of your product design and user experience? Do they work together to meet the needs of your consumers? What is your product called? How will you brand your product? How does your product differ from the competition? When you create a marketing plan for your business, the answers to these questions will help form a set of guidelines. 02. Price The price is what consumers pay for your product. As simple as that sounds, determining what to charge can be tricky. You’ll need to make a profit, but you also want consumers to feel that the price corresponds with the product’s value. Whether your product is a budget option, luxe option or somewhere in between, the price you charge greatly affects the language you use in your promotional messaging. It’s also deeply interconnected with the kinds of customers you’ll market to, as well as the country or region where you plan to sell your product. It might also impact your customer acquisition costs as well. To come up with the pricing, ask yourself the following questions: What is the perceived value of your good or service to the buyer? How will you align your marketing strategy with consumer perception of the price of your product? How does the price compare with that of your competitors? Is your audience price-sensitive? Will decreasing the price help you capture more customers, or will it decrease your profit margin? Conversely, will increasing the price gain you more profit margin, or will it result in a loss of customers? Can you use different pricing tiers (for instance, a basic versus premium package) for different customer segments depending on how you understand each customer journey? 03. Place The third P of marketing is place. This refers to the location of your marketing and distribution activities. Place can be a physical location, like a brick-and-mortar store that primarily targets local community members. But it can also refer to online locations, referring to the various platforms and marketing channels you use to promote and sell your product. Place is an important factor to consider as you market your product or services, since it helps you understand what kind of buyer persona has access to it. The bottom line is to promote and sell your product in view of the types of people who need it and can get it. If you market to an audience who ultimately decides that your product is too hard to find or inconvenient to purchase and use, you’ll likely hit a wall with your marketing efforts. Are you focusing on local marketing , or something broader? Similarly, this concept applies online when you determine the most effective channels for promotion. If your product is U.S.-only, there’s little reason to promote it on an Italian news site. If you’re selling a product for grandparents, you probably shouldn’t start by creating paid ads on TikTok. When factoring place into your marketing strategy, ask yourself the following marketing intelligence questions : Where is your target audience located (both in person or online)? Not sure? Time to build out your marketing analytics tracking and reporting plan Where do people look for your product? If they look in a store, what kind (e.g., a boutique versus a large chain)? If they look online, what platforms are they using? Use these to build better customer segments to target. What kinds of distribution channels and outlets can you use to sell your product? Where are your competitors selling? What physical locations and online channels are they using? 04. Promotion Promotion is the fourth P of the marketing mix. This all encompassing ingredient involves using the factors you identified in the previous three Ps—product, price and place—to craft your messaging and spread the word about your product via advertising and marketing campaigns. To incorporate this final pillar, ask yourself: Where can you get your message across to your target market ? Online channels like social media? PR? TV, radio or podcasts? Print advertisements? Email marketing? What sort of language, media and personas does your audience connect to most in these online and offline locations? When is the best time to promote? Is your product seasonal? Are there events or other external factors that might affect your messaging? How, when and where do your competitors promote their products? The answers to these questions—as well as the ones listed earlier—will help you to to create a strong small business marketing strategy that promises to meet consumer needs, offers value in relation to its price, reaches consumers using the right channels and uses the right messaging. Examples of the 4 Ps of marketing To help you better understand the four Ps of marketing and apply them to your business, let’s go over some real-world examples: 01. Apple Apple has a top-notch marketing strategy, especially when it comes to its popular iPhones. Certainly, a big reason why consumers love the iPhone is because Apple used the four Ps of marketing to put together the ideal product, price point, distribution channels and brand messaging. Product: The first iPhone directly addressed consumer needs at exactly the right time. Cell phones were already becoming more stylish (who can forget the appeal of the Blackberry?), and Apple took full advantage of that trend. But the iPhone wasn’t only sleek and well-designed. It also addressed the need for an improved user experience. The product eliminated the hassle of a keyboard or stylus, reduced the need for a separate music device and added other key features (on-the-go internet, a decent camera, fun apps and a user-friendly screen). Price: The iPhone became a pioneer in the mobile world, promising quality and extra value that prior mobile devices didn’t have. On top of that, it was produced by a reputable and well-loved company. As a result, customers were willing to pay a premium price compared to other brands. This pricing strategy worked well for Apple and continues to do so over the years, attracting middle and upper class consumers thanks to maintaining the brand’s high-end appeal. Place: Apple has cultivated an aura of exclusivity by authorizing specific stores to sell their products. While this might limit their reach, it helps establish the company as a designer brand. This also lowers the brand’s distribution costs so that it can invest in other areas instead. Promotion: Apple’s promotional strategy for the iPhone often takes the form of commercials and print ads. Their advertisements tend to be highly visual, emphasizing the high-quality screen and camera features while showcasing the brand’s sleek, stylish aesthetic. Their goal is to prove to their audience that their product stands out against the competition. The brand further promotes their products through Apple Keynote events, presentations given to the press two to four times a year. This is a great opportunity to supply them with quality PR while establishing Apple as a thought leader and visionary. 02. Spotify Spotify is another big brand that’s achieved success by strategically applying the four Ps. Here’s how: Product: Spotify’s main product is music streaming. Before this technology came along, people could only hear their favorite artists by purchasing CDs, buying digital albums or songs, listening to the radio or pirating music. Music streaming solved this problem, filling an important niche in the music industry by providing consumers affordability and convenience. Price: Spotify has a broad audience—everyone who listens to music—and it maintains a wide reach by offering various pricing tiers. Using a freemium model, they allow users to listen to content for free, but offer extra perks (such as ad-free listening) to those who pay for a premium subscription. They additionally upsell their product by offering bundle packages to couples and families, and incentivize young adults to go premium with student discounts. Place: Music streaming solved a huge accessibility problem. People no longer needed to go to the store to buy a CD, find music to download illegally, or listen to the radio in hopes of finding their favorite tunes. Spotify made its product available online so that it can be instantly accessed in nearly every country. Promotion: As an online platform, Spotify does most of its promotions on the web with the goal of driving traffic to their website . Because the product satisfies an important consumer need and is easy to use, fans of the platform also tend to spread word of the product to their friends. This makes social media marketing—and influencer marketing in particular—an organic promotional strategy for the brand. 5 quick tips for applying the 4 Ps in your own marketing Now that you’ve seen some examples of the four Ps in action, think about how to apply these principles to your own marketing strategy. This marketing mix can be used to improve existing marketing campaigns and products, or starting a fresh one from scratch. Here’s how: Identify the good or service you want to promote and then match each of the four Ps above as they relate to your chosen product. Review your answers to the four Ps and challenge them by providing alternatives: What would happen if you raised or dropped the price, changed the color or design, advertised on a different platform, or sold through a new channel? Put yourself in the shoes of your target audience. As the customer, does the product meet your needs? Is it priced according to your values and perceptions? Can you learn about the product or service and purchase it in places that are relevant and accessible to you? Do marketing promotions reach and resonate with you? This might mean conducting market research and user testing your product. Iterate the process and don’t hesitate to run A/B tests with your pricing, promotions and messaging along the way. Keep asking questions and tweaking your answers until you’ve created the optimal recipe. Run marketing audits of your campaigns and approaches regularly. Remember that even once you’ve created your ideal marketing mix, the journey isn’t over. Your product will most likely evolve, new marketing trends will take hold, and your customers, competitors and the environment will change over time. Because of this, it’s important to revisit your marketing mix on a quarterly, biannual or yearly basis, depending on your product’s lifecycle. The four Ps of marketing aren’t static and should be continually strengthened to adapt to the changes around you.
- How to calculate sales tax for your online store
Understanding how to calculate your sales tax, can be stressful and complicated, especially for online businesses with a global reach. That’s because when calculating sales tax for your online store , there's rarely a one-size-fits-all-approach. Instead, you have to navigate city, county, state and country regulations to understand your tax obligations. Read Also: How to start a business In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about sales tax. You’ll learn what sales tax is and if you even need to charge sales tax. Then, we’ll share a variety of different formulas to help you figure out how to calculate sales tax for your business. What is sales tax? Sales tax is a type of consumption tax that makes up a small percentage of the total sale amount. You only need to charge sales tax when someone buys goods or services from you. Upon receiving it, you then pass it on to the government. Sales tax is governed at the state level, with forty-five states and Washington D.C. all collecting sales tax to pay for things like schools, roads, and public safety. However, each state creates its own rules and laws - within a legal framework - when it comes to administering the tax. For example, the amount of sales tax you need to charge and the types of products and services that are taxable vary from state to state. Most states also allow local areas like cities and counties to have their own sales tax, so the total sales tax amount may be made up of three or four smaller components (the state tax rate, the county tax rate, and the county district tax rate, for example). Learn more: Best business ideas to start with little money Do you need to charge sales tax? For traditional brick-and-mortar businesses, it’s easy to determine whether you need to charge sales tax and how much. If you only sell from one location, you would need to find the sales tax rate and charge that rate to all customers. Selling online, however, adds extra layers of complexity. Whether or not you need to charge sales tax depends on a few factors: 01. Are the items you’re selling taxable? Many physical items, like furniture, electronics, and books, are taxable, but certain services (like consulting or home repairs) are not subject to sales tax. Some items are also considered “necessities” and may not be taxable in all states. For example, grocery items, clothing, supplements, and digital products (books, music, movies, etc.) may not be taxable. Again, these guidelines vary by state, so make sure to check with each state’s taxing authority to find out if the products you sell are taxable. 02. Where are your customers located and do you have a nexus there? Sales tax generally depends on the ship-to location of the item (if you’re shipping an item to a customer in California, you may be required to pay sales taxes in California) and whether you have a strong connection to the state (referred to as a “nexus”). You’ll always have sales tax nexus in your home state, however the following business activities may subject you to that state’s sale tax regulations: Having an office, warehouse, store, or other physical presence of business Having an employee, contractor, salesperson, or other person doing work for your business Storing inventory Working with affiliates or someone who advertises your product in exchange for a portion of sales Having a dropshipping relationship (like a third-party that ships to your customers) Some states also impose sales thresholds for sales tax nexus. For example, if you have more than $100,000 in sales, you may be required to pay sales tax in that state. To understand your business’ tax responsibility, start by researching nexus laws in states where your business has a physical presence or meets economic nexus thresholds. Once you’ve listed these states, it’s a good idea to confirm your list with a certified accountant. How to calculate sales tax Once you understand your sales tax obligations, it’s time to figure out just how much sales tax you need to collect. Identify the sales tax rate for each state where you pay taxes Calculate the total transaction amount for an item Calculate the sales tax percentage from the total 01. Identify the sales tax rate for each state where you pay taxes First, identify the sales tax rate for each state where you are required to pay taxes. Then, multiply that rate by the selling price. When doing this step, don’t forget to transform the percentage into a decimal, so that 8% becomes .08. (Cost of the Item) * (Sales Tax Rate) = Total Sales Tax For example, in Seattle, the sales tax rate is 10.1% . If you wanted to calculate the sales tax required on a $50 item, the formula would be: 50 [Cost of the Item] * .101 [Sales Tax Rate] = $5.05 [Total Sales Tax] 02. Calculate the total transaction amount for an item If you wanted to calculate the total transaction amount for an item, combining the selling price and total sales tax required, you would multiply the selling price by 1 + the sales tax rate. (Cost of the Item) * (1 + Sales Tax Rate) = Total Transaction Cost Taking the same $50 item, the formula would be: 50 [Cost of the Item] * 1.101 [1 + Sales Tax Rate] = $55.05 [Total Transaction Cost] 03. Calculate the sales tax percentage from the total What if you want to figure out how to calculate the sales tax percentage from total? This could be helpful if you have receipts for the total transaction amount, but aren’t sure what percentage of that amount should be allocated for sales tax. The formula to calculate the sales tax percentage from total is: Total Sales Tax / Cost of the Item * 100 = Sales Tax Percentage from Total If you knew you sold a $50 item, with $5.05 in sales tax, you would use this formula to figure out the sales tax percentage: 5.05 [Total Sales Tax] / 50 [Cost of the Item] * 100 = 10.1 [Sales Tax Percentage from Total] Simplifying sales tax for your online store Calculating sales tax on your own can quickly become a manual, burdensome process when starting a business . Not only do you have to keep track of all your sales tax nexus locations and ensure you’re charging the right amount, you also have to stay on top of ever-evolving tax regulations. An easier way to manage sales tax is to use an automated sales tax solution. With an automated system, tax calculation for your business is hassle-free—all you need to do is select the states where you do business and the software takes care of the rest. Wix Merchants can take advantage of an automated sales tax integration with Avalara, which automatically calculates sales tax for each location you sell to, so your customers always get real-time rates as they shop and check out. There’s no longer a need to rely on ZIP codes or rate tables because your sales tax rates are updated and calculated based on the most current rules worldwide. This automated system can reduce the time you spend on tax-related activities by 50% or more. To connect your Wix online store to Avalara: Log in to your Wix account. From your Wix site dashboard, click Settings. Select Store Tax. Click Get Automated Tax on the top right. Click + Add Country to add the regions you sell and ship anywhere in the world. Avalara will automatically calculate the tax compliance rate for each geo you add. Here are some guides to setting up your sales tax automations if you sell in home rule states or Canada . Don’t have your online store up and running yet? Create your eCommerce site and start selling today. How state tax is determined State income tax is a tax levied by state governments on the income of individuals and businesses within their jurisdictions. The specific way that state income tax is determined varies from state to state, but there are some general principles that apply. Determining taxable income The first step in determining state income tax liability is to calculate taxable income. This is done by taking the taxpayer's gross income and subtracting any allowable deductions and exemptions. Gross income is defined as all income from whatever source derived, including wages, salaries, tips, interest, dividends, capital gains, and rental income. Deductions are expenses that are allowed to be subtracted from gross income to reduce taxable income. Common deductions include standard deductions, itemized deductions for mortgage interest, charitable contributions, and state and local taxes paid. Exemptions are amounts of money that are subtracted from taxable income before tax is calculated. Common exemptions are for personal exemptions and exemptions for dependents. Calculating state income tax Once taxable income has been determined, the next step is to calculate the state income tax liability. This is done by applying the state income tax rate to taxable income. State income tax rates can be flat, meaning that the same rate applies to all income levels, or they can be progressive, meaning that higher rates apply to higher income levels. State income tax credits In addition to deductions and exemptions, many states also offer tax credits to reduce state income tax liability. Tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions in the amount of tax owed. Common tax credits include credits for child care expenses, education expenses, and renewable energy. State income tax withholding Most states require employers to withhold state income tax from their employees' paychecks. Withholding is a pay-as-you-go system that helps to ensure that taxpayers pay their state income tax throughout the year, rather than owing a large sum of money at the end of the year. State income tax filing Taxpayers are required to file a state income tax return if their taxable income exceeds the state's filing threshold. The filing deadline for state income taxes is typically April 15, but some states have different deadlines. Here are some additional factors that can affect state income tax liability: State residency: Taxpayers are generally required to pay state income tax to the state where they reside. However, there are some exceptions to this rule. For example, many states allow non-residents to credit taxes paid to their home state against their state income tax liability. Income from multiple states: If a taxpayer earns income from more than one state, they may be required to file tax returns in multiple states. This can be complex, and it's often advisable to seek professional tax advice. State tax changes: State income tax laws are constantly changing, so it's important to stay informed about the latest changes. The best way to do this is to consult with a tax advisor. How to calculate sales tax FAQ What states don’t have sales tax? There are five states in the United States that don't have a statewide sales tax: Alaska Delaware Montana New Hampshire Oregon These states generate revenue through other means, such as income taxes, property taxes and excise taxes. What states have the highest and the lowest sales tax? Highest sales tax: California (9.25%) Lowest sales tax: Colorado (2.9%) What is nexus? Nexus is a legal term that refers to a connection between a state and a business. If a business has nexus with a state, it's required to collect and remit sales tax on sales made to customers in that state. There are two types of nexus: physical nexus and economic nexus. Physical nexus: This means that the business has a physical presence in the state, such as a store or office. Economic nexus: This means that the business has a significant economic presence in the state, even if it doesn't have a physical presence. For example, if a business makes a lot of sales to customers in a state, it may be considered to have economic nexus with that state. What is value-added tax (VAT)? Value-added tax (VAT) is a type of consumption tax that is imposed on the value added to a product or service at each stage of production and distribution. The tax is paid by the final consumer, but it's collected by businesses at each stage of the supply chain. VAT is a common type of tax in Europe and Asia, but it's not used in the United States.
- How much does a POS system cost? A full breakdown for SMBs
Starting your business can be exciting and filled with many decisions, one of the most important being choosing a point of sale (POS) system. A modern POS system is indispensable for small business owners, especially those engaged in multichannel selling. It streamlines transactions and integrates various sales channels, providing a unified eCommerce platform to manage your operations. However, figuring out POS system costs can be daunting. There are a lot of parts making up the total costs. From the initial hardware purchase to ongoing software subscriptions and transaction fees, there are many things to consider. In this guide, we’ll dive into the cost components of a POS system so that you know what to expect and how to choose the best solution for your ecommerce business . The cost components of a POS system Let’s break down the costs into manageable chunks to get a better view of how much a POS system costs. There are six factors that make up the total POS system cost. 01. Hardware: one-time fee paid upfront You can expect a full suite of POS hardware to cost anywhere from $750 to $1,700. A complete system usually includes: A touchscreen A credit card reader A barcode scanner A receipt printer A charging dock for each item A lockable cash drawer Some providers offer each of these pieces individually, but you usually get a better deal by purchasing an all-inclusive package. Keep in mind that the hardware you choose depends on your business needs and will impact the total cost. For instance, if you manage a brick-and-mortar retail store, you’ll benefit most from a complete package that includes all POS hardware components. For Wix, the Complete POS Register costs $1,699 . The setup includes: A terminal with customer display Wix POS software A cash drawer A barcode scanner A receipt printer A mobile card reader A mobile card reader dock If you mostly sell on the and only need a mobile card reader and charging dock, Wix’s Mobile Card Reader is available à la carte for a one-time fee of $69 . Alternatively, you can get the Mobile Card Reader + Dock bundle for $99. 02. Software: ongoing fixed subscription fee (or free) Most providers charge between $40 and $100 monthly to access their POS software. Others charge a one-time fee when you purchase the system. However, some, like Wix, offer cloud-based POS systems with integrated software. The pre-installed native software allows Wix platform users to start selling offline right out of the box at no monthly charge. That said, when evaluating POS software options, find one with features that align with your business type. For example, retailers need software that syncs inventory data with your product catalog. Service providers need software that enables booking and managing appointments. And event hosts need software with features to sell and check tickets at the door. 03. Payment processing fees: variable usage cost The third part of POS processing system costs you need to be aware of is the processing fees for credit card payments. Every POS transaction on your system incurs these charges. Fees are handled by either your POS provider’s internal payment processor, like Wix Payments , or a third-party processing company, like Square. The cost is usually a percentage of your payment plus a fixed amount and varies from provider to provider. Think of the fixed amount as a sort of minimum payment safeguard for the processor. For example, Wix Payments POS charges 2.6% of the transaction amount with no flat fees. Others, like Square, charge 2.6% of the transaction with an additional flat fee of $0.15 per in-person transaction. POS in-person transaction cost* Provider % per transaction Flat fee per transaction Software Wix 2.6% $0 Free Square 2.6% $0.15 Free Shopify (Retail) 2.6% $0.10 Free POS systems with native online payment solutions are often more cost-effective and provide smoother operations, support and maintenance because you can manage all your transactions in one place and deal with a single provider. 04. Registration POS fees The cost of setting up a new POS system will depend on your provider. Some offer it for free, while others might charge a registration fee. This fee covers the cost of creating your account, configuring the software to meet your needs and sometimes training your staff to use the system. Normally, most POS providers waive registration fees entirely for smaller businesses or those opting for simpler setups. However, a Magestore study found the costs can be as high as $10,000 for big restaurants that need more complex setups, like multiple countertop POS registers with tablet stands and kitchen printers. If the provider includes registration charges, they might add the fees to the overall cost or charge them separately. Always ask about any additional fees during the evaluation process to avoid unexpected expenses. 05. Location-based POS fees Location-based POS fees often apply if you want to install the POS software in more than one POS terminal or in multiple stores. These fees are a bit of a wildcard and significantly depend on the provider and the complexity of your setup. Some POS solutions, charge per month for each additional location, while others charge per location and the number of registers. So, the more registers and store locations you have, the more you pay. Since location-based charges and how they're calculated vary widely, be sure to get details when evaluating POS system costs. Otherwise, surprise charges could torpedo your budget. 06. Fees for add-on features to POS Add-on features can significantly enhance your business operations with extra functionality, but they also impact your overall POS system costs. The specific features you choose and your provider will influence costs. For example, some POS systems may charge a flat monthly fee for each additional feature, while others set up tiered pricing models based on how many users you need or groups of features. With Wix, upgrading to the POS plan activates valuable add-on features like: Adding more staff members to your POS system as site collaborators Accepting additional payment types, including credit/debit cards and gift cards Allowing customers to exchange items Tracking staff member hours Loyalty point tracking for your online and brick-and-mortar stores How to choose a POS provider for your business Before settling on a provider, it's important to do your homework. Start by jotting down key features you need for your sales channels and ensure the software can handle it all. Next, take a close look at the pricing structure and available discounts, especially if you're dealing with high volumes. Check for any long-term commitments and extra costs for add-on services as well. Finally, weigh the pros and cons of each option. Look at how each one fits with your business strategy and budget. Ultimately, you'll want to choose the solution that most closely matches your needs and goals. Questions to ask when evaluating POS providers Asking questions is the best way to ensure a POS provider meets your business needs. Here are some questions to ask when evaluating POS providers: What features does the POS system offer? Ensure the system includes every functionality you need, such as multichannel inventory management, live inventory status and automated sales tax. What are the costs involved? Beyond the initial POS system cost to purchase, ask about ongoing costs such as software updates, transaction fees and any charges for add-on services. Is the system scalable? As your business grows, your POS system must keep up. Ask whether the system can handle increased transaction volumes and if more locations or staff can be easily added later. Can it integrate with other channels? Your POS system should seamlessly connect with your other sales channels so that inventory can automatically sync whenever you sell a product. How is customer support? Reliable support is a must. You can’t afford to be left without help if something goes wrong. Check that support is available during your business hours and how you can reach them. How secure is the system? Security is a must for businesses dealing with sensitive customer data and payments. Ask about the security measures in place, such as end-to-end encryption and EMV-certified card readers. Four popular POS purchase options Now that you know what to look for when choosing a POS provider, let’s cover four popular options for buying a point-of-sale system. 01. Purchase from an all-in-one provider If you already have an online store, your best bet is to get your POS system from the same eCommerce platform where you built your website . Having everything from one provider helps simplify and streamline operations, allowing you to manage everything in one place. Purchasing an all-in-one option can also be a way to save on POS system costs. Some providers offer all-inclusive bundles with their POS hardware and software, payment solutions and website-building tools , which is ideal if you're into omnichannel retail . This option often saves money on transaction fees compared to a third-party payment provider. Plus, you’ll avoid the hassle of building custom integrations connecting one system to another. 02. Use third-party hardware Another option is to keep things separate with a third-party POS provider. For this option, you’ll need a payment provider that already partners with your eCommerce platform. Otherwise, you’ll incur extra costs creating custom integrations that sync your online and in-store operations. For instance, if you're using Wix, you can choose from several integrated providers, like Square POS in several global markets or SumUp in Europe. The risk of a fragmented business view from juggling different systems is the biggest downside of using third-party hardware. Since your eCommerce platform will handle the online part and the POS provider will manage the offline side, you'll have to piece together your payment history and inventory count from different sources. Learn more: Best online payment solutions SMB online commerce 03. Install POS software on your tablet device Since consumer tablets and iPads are so powerful, some providers offer the option to install their POS software on your device instead of buying a stand-alone display. While it’s a great option if you’re selling on the go and need something more robust than a basic card reader, it’s not very scalable or a good long-term solution for a permanent store. Personal tablet firmware and processing power might limit your business with slow performance or glitches, causing extra troubleshooting headaches. Plus, your tablet doesn’t enhance the customer experience. In contrast, retail POS solutions with stand-alone customer-facing displays make checkout smoother and more engaging for customers. Many providers, like Wix, avoid a software-only option because of concerns about poor performance. So, using a consumer tablet limits your provider options and often prevents managing your entire business from a unified system since you won’t have an all-in-one provider. 04. Lease a POS The last option is to lease a POS system so you can spread the cost of hardware over time. This can be an ideal solution for short-term events or pop-up shops. However, it falls flat as a long-term solution. Over time, the monthly lease payments add up to more than the original cost of the POS system. That said, some providers, like Wix, offer the option to split your POS hardware costs into interest-free payments at no additional cost to get the best of both worlds. When shopping for POS options, ask yourself, "How long will I use this system?" before considering a lease. Questions to ask when evaluating your purchase options As you analyze your POS options, here are some points to help you make the best decision: Are you running a brick-and-mortar store, or do you sell on the go—like at markets, pop-up shops or a food truck? Your business type dictates certain features you'll need and the type of POS system and purchase option you choose. How much are you willing to spend on a POS solution? Know your spending limits and set a budget that fits your financial plans. Does your website building platform offer a unified POS system? Combining your website builder and POS system provider makes managing online and offline sales easier. Are you looking for a POS solution that will serve you for the long haul, or do you need something just for a short-term event or seasonal sale? Knowing how long you need the system makes a difference when picking a POS system. You may need something flexible and low-cost or scalable and long-term. Want to learn more about Wix POS? Book a call with a POS expert today. Your options at Wix Here are the POS options available to you as a Wix merchant: Wix POS System Complete POS Register Essential POS Register Mobile Card Reader + Dock Price $1,699.00 $1,199.00 $99.00 Hardware included Elo Terminal with Customer Display Mobile Bluetooth Card Reader Mobile Card Reader Dock Pre-loaded Wix POS Software Epson Thermal Receipt Printer (WiFi/Bluetooth/Ethernet) Zebra Wired Scanner DS2208 13' Cash Drawer (4 Bill / 5 Coin) or 16' Cash Drawer (5 Bill / 5 Coin) Elo Terminal with Customer Display Mobile Bluetooth Card Reader Mobile Card Reader Dock Pre-loaded Wix POS Software Mobile Bluetooth Card Reader Mobile Card Reader Dock In-house payment solution (Wix Payments) Yes Yes Yes Processing fees 2.6% + $0 2.6% + $0 2.6% + $0 Best for Wix Stores users with a permanent brick-and-mortar location(s) Wix Stores users looking for a lean solution or just getting a retail business off the ground or managing a seasonal business or running a temporary retail pop-up shop Wix Stores, Bookings, Fitness and Events users who sell on the go or outdoors (at pop-ups, farmers markets, events and more) Wix POS is available only in the U.S. and Canada. U.S. pricing and Canada pricing documents provide more details. POS system cost FAQ What is the average price of a POS system? POS system costs can vary widely, but generally, you can expect to spend anywhere from $750 to $1,700 for a full suite of POS hardware. This typically includes items like a touchscreen, credit card reader, barcode scanner, receipt printer, charging dock and cash register or drawer. An all-in-one package might be a better deal as you typically get a discount compared to buying each component separately. For instance, if you purchase a complete retail POS package from Wix, you get a terminal with a customer display, card reader, cash drawer, barcode scanner and receipt printer. You also save on POS software costs as Wix bundles it with its hardware. How much does a POS transaction cost? POS transaction costs are payment and credit card processing fees. These fees are typically a percentage of each card transaction plus a small fixed amount. These costs can add up quickly if you have a high sales volume. What variables factor into POS cost? Several factors influence the cost of your POS system. They include: Type of business: Different businesses have different needs. A small retailer might need a basic package with a single full set of hardware, whereas a pop-up produce stand might only need a card reader. Scalability and number of locations: If your business is growing or you have multiple locations, you'll need a system that can scale with you. This might mean additional costs for extra terminals and hardware accessories. Add-on POS features: Added functionalities like customer relationship management (CRM), advanced sales reports, employee management, online ordering and customer loyalty programs can add to the cost. How much does a self-checkout POS system cost? Self-checkout POS systems can have a wide price range based on features, capacity and the provider. Basic models, like a simple self-service kiosk, can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $10,000, according to Korona POS research. If your business needs something more advanced, with features like RFID scanning, costs can exceed $20,000. It's all about your specific needs and how much you're willing to invest to get the right system for your setup. Can I open a POS system for my small business without monthly fees? Yes, you can. Some providers, like Wix, offer cloud-based POS systems with no monthly costs. With Wix, you get a POS system with native software pre-installed, allowing you to start selling offline immediately without monthly subscriptions. This can be a great option if you’re just starting out and want to keep costs low. *Editor’s note: All pricing and information are current as of March 7, 2025.
- How to manufacture a product in 6 steps
Maybe you sketched it on the back of a cocktail napkin or jotted it down in the middle of the night. Maybe it's been in the back of your mind for months—or even years. What is it? It’s a brand-new product idea and you have a hunch it could be a success. Transforming that inspiration into concrete reality—much less a product on a store shelf—can seem like a pipe dream. But with perseverance and plenty of research, you can design and manufacture a quality product that will resonate with customers and help you start your business . We’ll cover all the main steps in this blog. How to manufacture a product: 6 steps to get started Get clear on the concept Protect your idea Build a good-enough prototype Find a manufacturer Plan and test logistics Start manufacturing and monitoring 01. Get clear on the concept While a burst of inspiration may have gotten you started, you’ll need a much more concrete concept before moving forward with manufacturing . To get a clearer picture of what your product is, answer these questions: What is it? You might have a single object in mind or something that’s part of a larger set. Will buyers assemble it themselves, or does it come ready-made? If multiple sizes, styles, or colorways are involved, consider how many you’d like to offer, given that each variation adds to your initial production costs. Pro tip: Research your options for raw materials, and keep sustainability in mind: 77% of consumers want to make more sustainable choices and 49% have paid a premium for products labeled eco-friendly or socially responsible in the past 12 months, a survey from IBM found. Who will be interested in it? Conduct research to understand the size, makeup and location of the potential market for your product. Identify other brands that serve a similar audience and study their offerings—as well as styles, features, and pricing that seem to resonate with buyers. Consider surveying your potential audience and tap experts in the industry through professional organizations and trade shows. This additional background research will not only help cement your product concept, it can help you flesh out a business plan, plus attract investors or secure a bank loan to finance development. Where can it be sold? If the ideal marketplace for your product is through a major retailer, your strategy will be different than if you plan to sell it exclusively through an online store . In general, selling directly online is a quick way to move your goods into the market while waiting to finalize dealer and retailer partnerships. What’s your unique selling point ? Your product may not be an entirely new invention but iit may offer updated technology, features that appeal to a specific audience, or new style options. Define what makes your product different from other products that are like it. 02. Protect your idea Once you have a concrete product idea to introduce to potential investors, suppliers, and manufacturers, take proactive steps to ensure you retain ownership and creative control. At this stage, it’s a good idea to consult an attorney. Create an NDA As you begin sharing your concept and seeking manufacturing bids, a well-crafted non-disclosure agreement (NDA) helps to protect against improper use, copying, or sharing of your idea or the information you’ve collected and created in the process. An NDA also requires any designers or producers who work on your product development to return materials they’ve created or used once their work is done, ensuring that your trade secrets stay secure. File a patent with the help of an attorney If you believe your idea is inventive, you can research existing patents and publications to determine whether your product may be patentable. With a patent, you can prevent others from making, using, or selling your invention without your consent. A patent can cover both your product and any innovations in materials or processes you use, according to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. A working prototype is not necessary before filing a patent application, so making early preparations to file can streamline the process and save on legal fees when the time is right. Protect your branding Consider obtaining a federal trademark registration for the name, logo, or other branding of your new product once they’ve been created. Where applicable, you may want to make a copyright registration for any associated artwork, creative designs or original music. Make sure you’re in the clear If you’re building on someone else’s technology or incorporating existing designs into your products, run a check on existing patents, trademarks, and copyrights. That way, you’ll avoid accidentally infringing on others’ work and can obtain any required licensing upfront, without needing to pay costly fines or legal fees. In addition to preventing others from copying or stealing your work, these safeguards may come in handy when selling via retailers and third-party marketplaces. The U.S. government has identified more than three dozen online marketplaces as hotbeds for counterfeits and pirated products. In response, multiple marketplace sites have begun vetting sellers to ensure they own or have permission to use intellectual property associated with their wares. 03. Build a good-enough prototype With solid research, a concrete product idea, and legal protections in place, it’s time to make the physical product for the first time. Start with a prototype, which can be a single item or a limited-production run to test how your idea actually works in real life. Hire professionals to help You may need to enlist engineers, designers, artisans or other experts to build your product. This will enable you to obtain a reliable and realistic prototype that you can confidently show as an accurate representation of your idea. At the same time, don’t wait for perfection In fact, you may want to use the concept of a minimum viable product (MVP) to guide development. Rather than waiting until every detail is exactly right, you can create an MVP with the most essential product features and begin collecting feedback from testers to shape the final version. If speed to market is a factor—e.g., a competitor is planning to launch a similar product and you’d like to be the first to market—you may even decide to launch the MVP version to the public and add other features in an upgraded edition later (though tread carefully). Think about product packaging Use your prototype to start designing the product packaging . Bulky or oddly-shaped items might be costly to transport, and extra labels and materials may be necessary to pack component parts, so getting an early start on packaging can influence the product design itself and inform the initial price of your product. 04. Find a manufacturer Once your prototype is tested and refined, you’re ready to find manufacturers and put your project out to bid. Finding the right partner to transform raw materials into your finished product is a complex process. Logistics, sourcing relationships, pricing, and other considerations may influence your decision, so weigh your options carefully and don’t rush this step. Start with very specific requirements Assemble detailed specifications, measurements, schematic drawings, and even swatches or samples of raw materials that you have in mind to help manufacturers understand the scope of the undertaking. It may also be worthwhile to connect manufacturers with the designers or engineers that helped you design the prototype and/or sharing testers’ feedback as you talk through the options for producing at scale. In addition, consider what quantity you need to launch, how often you think you’ll be replenishing your stock, and how quickly you’ll need items to ship. Are you planning to store inventory at a retail location or warehouse, or will you dropship items on demand? Ask about your manufacturers’ capabilities upfront and document details like production turnaround and order lead times. Evaluate the pros and cons of domestic and overseas options Overseas manufacturers are plentiful and tend to offer lower prices than manufacturers in the U.S. But the past two years have shown how an unstable global supply chain can impact even the smallest retailers, so consider whether the risk is worth the cost savings. Additionally, domestic manufacturers enable more control over the safety, quality, and provenance of raw materials—all important considerations, given consumers’ growing expectations around sustainability and sourcing transparency. Working conditions for employees are another potential flashpoint; domestic manufacturers will by and large adhere to U.S. labor laws. Meanwhile, you may need to request that overseas manufacturers follow a code of conduct you specify, but you may have no legal recourse to enforce that behavior. Obtain quotes and order samples Once you have a list of prospective manufacturers, request price quotes based on the detailed information you’ve provided. Select at least two top contenders for comparison and request that they make samples. Evaluate these samples for quality, durability, and safety. Compare your original specifications to the finished product. Did the manufacturer follow your instructions thoroughly? This stage is a good time to gauge how easy it is to work with manufacturers, as well. While you don’t want to invent reasons to complicate the process, don’t hesitate to request assistance, provide feedback, and even ask for multiple samples in different styles, sizes, or colorways. Is your manufacturer responsive to emails, text messages, or calls? How detail-oriented are they? How do they handle supplemental requests? Negotiate terms and finalize the agreement While manufacturers may ask for payment upfront for an initial shipment, expect and negotiate for more flexibility when it comes to subsequent orders, e.g., 50% payment when placing the order and 50% when products are received. Before you sign on the dotted line, make sure timeframes and other expectations are spelled out clearly, and consider having an attorney review the contract to ensure that it’s clear, legal, and enforceable. Learn more: Product sourcing 05. Plan and test logistics Once you have a manufacturer agreement in hand, finalize the logistics of moving your goods from the factory to customers. More than four in five consumers say they won’t return to a brand after a poor delivery experience, according to a survey from FarEye , so it’s essential that you invest time during the pre-launch period to streamline the process. Get a holistic view of fulfillment Use a solution, such as Wix for eCommerce , to centralize your inventory management across all of your sales channels, apps, and fulfillment partners. Having a source of truth (or a unified system) is the first step to avoiding costly errors due to inventory mismanagement. Get your multichannel operations in order If you store and fulfill orders through a program like fulfillment by Amazon (FBA), make sure that you’re fully aware of any product prep instructions, lead times and other factors that impact your logistics. Prepare for good problems and headaches When your product launches, you may experience a rush of orders that outpaces production. This is a good problem to have, but one that can lead to customer dissatisfaction if you don’t have a system in place to expedite backlogged orders. Your manufacturer agreement should include pricing and expectations for placing rush orders, and you may want to consider building up a reservoir of emergency stock. Once your product has a track record of typical monthly or seasonal demand, you’ll be able to predict inventory needs and can judiciously reduce the reserves. Don’t forget about reverse logistics Prepare in advance for returns with a robust reverse logistics operation and a plan for returned merchandise, whether resale or recycling. Double-check the agreement with the manufacturer to ensure that costs are shared in the event of returns due to product defects or recalls. 06. Start manufacturing and monitoring As you ramp up production at last, take a moment to celebrate. But remember that your work is just beginning. Monitor operations closely for quality control, and stay in close communication with your manufacturer as products begin rolling off the assembly line so that you can respond to any unforeseen glitches. Launch a marketing campaign to drive interest Let new and existing customers know about your product using a tool like Wix’s eCommerce marketing features. Consider incentivizing orders with special thank-you gifts, extra loyalty points, and hashtag contests on social media. Don’t forget to give your manufacturer a heads up so that they’re not surprised by the influx of orders. Use early customer feedback to perfect product content If early buyers are flooding customer support with questions or complaints, re-examine your online product content to ensure that images and descriptions are accurate and set realistic expectations. (Need inspiration? Check out these standout product page examples .) Consider proactively addressing the most frequently-asked questions in how-to videos, FAQs, or in your product descriptions. Respond to reviews promptly and respectfully. Document recurring feedback so that updates or future iterations of your product can incorporate customers’ suggestions. How to manufacture a product FAQ What are the crucial main steps when it comes to manufacturing a product? Product design and conceptualization Material sourcing and procurement Prototyping and testing Tooling and setup Production and assembly Quality control and assurance Packaging and distribution What are the 5 P's of manufacturing? The 5 P's of manufacturing are: 1. People : Skilled workforce and management 2. Product: Design, quality, and features 3. Process: Production methods and efficiency 4. Plant : Facilities, equipment and location 5. Planning : Scheduling, inventory management and forecasting How do you manufacture a new product without having a complete factory? You can manufacture a new product without owning a complete factory by partnering with contract manufacturers or co-packers who handle production for you. These companies produce goods based on your specifications, allowing you to reduce startup costs and leverage their expertise. Shared facilities and maker spaces are also great for small-scale production or prototyping, as they offer access to professional-grade equipment without large investments. Before scaling up, focus on creating prototypes and testing to refine your product and ensure it meets quality standards. This approach helps you manage risks while building a solid foundation for manufacturing.
- How much does it cost to sell on etsy: a complete breakdown to get started
Get started by: Creating an online store → | Getting a domain → If you're thinking about selling on Etsy, then you’re likely left with an important question: How much does it cost? While there are plenty of things to take into consideration, one thing you must evaluate with any online marketplace is the true cost of selling through that channel. In this blog, we’ll cover the various fees associated with selling on Etsy, plus tips for adding Etsy to your multichannel sales strategy. With humble beginnings in a Brooklyn apartment, Etsy is now one of the leading eCommerce marketplaces on the web, offering sellers the potential to reach higher revenues and new audiences. Set up your eCommerce website with Wix and start selling today. What is Etsy? Etsy is a global eCommerce marketplace with a primary focus on handmade, vintage and artisanal items. It’s a hotspot for people looking to snag—or sell—one-of-a-kind goods you wouldn’t find in most big-box stores. Established in Brooklyn, New York in 2005, Etsy has become one of the top eCommerce marketplaces , distinguishing itself from larger players like Amazon and eBay through its specialized product offerings. According to Statista, the platform had over 95 million active buyers in 2023 and 7.5 million active sellers, with revenue topping $2.6 billion. Selling on Etsy is one avenue you can take toward diversifying your eCommerce income. Multichannel selling is an effective way to reach new audiences beyond those only visiting your website. Learn more: Amazon alternatives Mandatory Etsy seller fees for 2024 You may have seen Etsy claim that “All it takes is 20 cents to get started.” While that’s not totally off, there are several other required fees to take into account. Type of fee Amount Listing fee $0.20 per item Transaction fee 6.5% Payment processing fee 3%+$0.25 per transaction Offsite ads (high volume sellers) 12% Currency conversion 2.5% Regulatory fees Cost varies Listing fees: $0.20 per item This is where the “20 cents” comes from. For every item you publish on Etsy.com, you must pay a flat fee of $0.20 (USD). You’ll be charged this fee whether or not your product actually sells, and your account will be charged as soon as you hit “publish” on a listing. Keep in mind that there are other quirks regarding Etsy listing fees: Auto-renewal : If your item hasn’t sold after four months, Etsy will automatically renew your listing (read: charge you another $0.20). You can opt out of auto-renewal from your account, which means you’ll have to manually repost a listing once it has expired. Multi-quantity listings : If a customer buys multiple units of the same product, then you’ll be charged $0.20 per unit (unless your units are sold as a single pack). For instance, say that you list a T-shirt for sale and a customer decides to buy 10 of them in different colors. You will be charged a grand total of $2 in listing fees, or $0.20 per additional unit after the first T-shirt sold, which you already paid a listing fee for. Multipacks and pre-bundled items : When multiple products are prepackaged together and sold as a single product, you will only be charged one listing fee per pack. Private listing : On Etsy, you have the option to list certain items for sale just for a particular buyer to see. These types of listings will be subject to the same $0.20 listing fee. Transaction fee: 6.5% A transaction fee is what you pay whenever you make a sale on Etsy. It’s currently 6.5% of the total sales price and includes the cost of shipping, gift wrapping and product personalization. (However, on your Etsy bill, your transaction fee will appear as two different line items: transaction fees deducted from your product price and transaction fees deducted from your shipping cost.) For sellers in the U.S. and Canada, this fee is based on the pre-tax total. Payment processing fee: 3% + $0.25 per transaction The processing fee covers the costs of handling credit card or bank transactions when using Etsy Payments . Sellers in 52 eligible countries (including the U.S. and Canada) have access to this tool, which accepts PayPal, Google Pay, Apple Pay, credit cards and debit cards. Etsy Payments charges a flat rate ($0.25 USD) and a percentage of the final sales price (3%), including tax and shipping, for sellers in the U.S. Outside of the U.S., processing fees vary by country . Offsite Ads (for high-volume sellers): 12% Offsite Ads are ads that Etsy places on behalf of its merchants to drive more business to its marketplace. Offsite Ads appear on search and social media destinations (think selling on Instagram ), as well as other select media sites. All sellers are automatically enrolled in Offsite Ads—and if your Etsy shop has earned more than $10,000 in the last 365 days (as calculated on the first day of the month), you are required to stay enrolled. You will be charged 12% of the total sales price whenever someone purchases your product from an Offsite Ad. This advertising fee will never exceed $100 USD. You will also remain enrolled for the lifetime of your shop, even if you fall below the $10,000 threshold on a later date. The fine print : If a customer clicks on an Offsite Ad that features one of your listings, then buys something from your shop within 30 days of that click, this will be attributed to an Offside Ad. For example, say that an Offsite Ad features a $25 lamp you sell. If someone clicks on the ad and decides to buy a $500 table you offer, you’ll be charged the 12% fee even though the ad was for your lamp. Now, let’s say that within that same 30-day period, the customer purchases your $25 lamp—that too will incur the 12% fee. In addition to this, you will still be responsible for paying shipping transaction fees or other applicable fees. Currency conversion fee: 2.5% If your company attracts international business and uses Etsy Payments, you will be charged a 2.5% currency conversion fee on your total sales price (including the cost of shipping, gift wrapping and personalization). Put another way, this fee will be applied whenever the currency on your shop’s listing is different from the currency of your Payments account. Regulatory operating fees: cost varies Merchants located in select countries outside the U.S. are subject to regulatory operating fees in addition to the standard Etsy fees. The regulatory operating fee is a fixed percentage of your total sales price (including the cost of shipping, gift wrapping and personalization). This fee ranges from 0.32% to 1.1%. Optional Etsy fees for 2024 On top of these base costs, Etsy offers optional services that carry their own costs. Etsy Ads: cost varies Etsy offers onsite ads to boost the visibility of your items. Fees for these ads are “pay per click” (PPC), meaning that you incur charges any time a person clicks on your Etsy Ad, whether or not they proceed to buy your product. The cost per click is determined based on an auction system. You can set a daily budget, which essentially tells Etsy how much you’re willing to pay for a single click on your ad. When you’re first starting out, you’ll be allowed a maximum daily budget of $25. Etsy will recalculate this limit on a weekly basis for Etsy Payments users, and on a monthly basis for users who aren’t enrolled in Etsy Payments. Offsite Ads (for lower volume sellers): 15% If your Etsy shop has generated less than $10,000 in sales over the last 365 days (as calculated on the first day of the month), you can opt out of the Offsite Ads program. Sellers below this threshold are charged a higher fee (15%) for Offsite Ads than those who exceed the threshold (12%). Shipping labels: cost varies If you choose to leverage Etsy Shipping, you can save up to 30% on shipping costs from USPS, FedEx and Canada Post. You can also print labels directly from your Etsy account. Doing so automatically marks items as shipped and adds a tracking number to the order—both of which can help boost your seller ranking and earn you Etsy’s Star Seller badge. In-person selling fee: $0.20 If you have a physical store and use Square as your POS system , you can sync your Etsy listings with your store inventory. The benefit of this is that if someone purchases your product in stores, your listed quantity on your Etsy page will be updated automatically. There’s no extra charge beyond the usual listing fees when your Etsy listings are synced with Square. However, if you sell an item via Square that’s not synced with your Etsy listings, you’ll be charged a separate $0.20 fee that shows up as a “Square manual” fee on your Etsy bill. Square charges additional processing fees for each transaction, which varies by the type of sale. Etsy Plus: $10 per month Etsy Plus is an optional subscription service that offers perks, such as: 15 listing credits each subscription cycle $5 in Etsy Ad credits each subscription cycle Etsy Shop customization Ability to accept restock requests from your shop Discounts on web domains, custom shipping boxes, business cards and more An example of an Etsy bill To put all this into perspective, let’s pretend you sell snazzy dog collars. They cost you $10 to make and you sell them on Etsy for $20. Your customer pays $5 in shipping and $1 in tax, bringing their total price to $26. You have sold less than $10,000 in the last 365 days, but you choose to pay for Offsite Ads for extra exposure. Here’s what your bill shakes out to be at the end of the transaction. Etsy takes a total of $6.61 from your sale, or 25% of the total amount that your customer paid at checkout. The bottom line: Etsy should supplement—not replace—your online store Etsy, no doubt, has its perks and can bring lots of business your way. But there’s also no denying that selling on Etsy comes with a cost (albeit, so does selling on Amazon , selling on eBay , selling on Facebook Marketplace , and selling on any other marketplace). These costs present their own challenges: Smaller margins : As the hypothetical example above shows, the costs can add up quickly, which means you may not be able to price your items competitively if you want to maintain a decent margin. Rising fees : As on any marketplace, policies and fees can change at any time. Etsy has increased its transaction fees twice since 2018. The most recent change was in April of 2022, prompting a temporary strike among sellers. Your brand is secondary : Customers come to Etsy for Etsy. Read: they trust Etsy, which is why Etsy is a great destination for both buyers and sellers. On the flip side, customers may not pay as much attention to the individual shop that they’re purchasing from, making it harder for you to establish brand recognition and earn repeat business. Popularity means more competition : Etsy’s rapid growth has attracted more sellers than ever, which means your products may not stand out unless you invest in paid placements. To avoid becoming over-reliant on Etsy and having to pay fees for every sale you make, leverage Etsy as a complement to your online store. You can start an online store with a no-hassle platform like Wix eCommerce, which includes built-in tools for inventory and price management, marketing, multichannel sales and more. Read also: Best online selling sites It’s never too early to start creating an ecosystem that belongs 100% to your brand, which is why it's so important to know how to create a website . You can control the messaging, visuals and the overall user experience, helping customers to remember your brand name and be loyal to you—not just Etsy. 3 tips for success in selling on Etsy With that said, here are some tips for striking the right balance between Etsy and your online store: 01. Curate your Etsy selection Just because you sell on Etsy doesn’t mean you have to make all of your products available at once. Consider offering a limited selection of top sellers or product lines that you believe would perform well on Etsy. Doing so can help you to better define Etsy’s role in your overall strategy, run controlled experiments and strategically optimize your Etsy listings. As a way of introducing Etsy shoppers to your brand, you can experiment with sets or sampler packs that showcase the breadth of your brand’s offering. 02. Invest in an amazing customer experience on your site When it comes to your online store, you’ll want to make sure that it’s in tip-top shape so that when an Etsy buyer (or any buyer, for that matter) wanders to your site, they won’t be disappointed. Make sure your product pages, images and descriptions are up to snuff. Ensure that your products are easy to find. Incorporate videos, social proof and other creative content that draws your shoppers closer to your brand. 03. Optimize your listings Whether on Etsy or your branded site—every listing you publish should be carefully crafted. Take the time to tailor your product description to your target buyer, which may differ from channel to channel. Offer a variety of high-quality product photos, and don’t skimp out on product attributes. One surprisingly easy mistake to make is misclassification when listing a product to multiple channels. Every marketplace has its own way of categorizing products; double-check that you’re using the best category and subcategory for Etsy, and that you provide all the details that customers expect when browsing items here. All in all, Etsy’s unique and enthusiastic audience could be a great fit for your brand. But it goes without saying that you’ll want to monitor your costs closely and have a plan for building up your brand both on and off Etsy. Read also: How to start a business , eCommerce vs marketplaces Sell on Etsy FAQ Is it worth it to sell on Etsy? Whether or not it's worth it to sell on Etsy depends on your individual circumstances and goals. Etsy is a great platform for selling handmade, vintage and craft items, but it's not a get-rich-quick scheme. It takes time and effort to build a successful Etsy shop. However, if you're willing to put in the work, you can make a good living selling on Etsy. What is the downside of Etsy? There are a few downsides to selling on Etsy. One is that the competition is fierce. There are millions of sellers on Etsy, so it can be difficult to get your products noticed. Another downside is that Etsy takes a cut of every sale you make. This can eat into your profits, especially if you are selling low-margin items. What sells best on Etsy? There are a wide variety of products that sell well on Etsy. Some of the most popular categories include jewelry, handmade crafts, vintage items and home décor. Is Etsy a good side hustle?
- 23 innovative and profitable fitness business ideas
Start generating business ideas with the Wix Business Launcher → Starting a fitness business is not just about meeting a demand. It's about becoming an integral part of the community while contributing to its well-being. Choosing the right fitness business idea is crucial, as it shapes your identity as an entrepreneur and influences how the community perceives you. Fitness businesses are in consistent demand as people try to achieve and maintain optimal health, making it a good recession-proof business idea too. Ready to build your fitness business? Sign up for Wix for free . What makes an ideal fitness business idea With the fitness industry experiencing substantial growth and a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.61% through 2027 , a career in fitness can be quite lucrative. That being said, there’s a lot of competition so you’ll want to make sure you have a good fitness business idea that resonates with your community and provides real value to your customers. Here are some key factors to consider when starting a small business under the fitness umbrella. Local demand Your idea should address a genuine need or problem within the community. Understanding specific fitness challenges or gaps in services is crucial for success in a smaller community. Community engagement Fitness businesses that involve and engage with the local community tend to do better than ones that don’t consider those factors. Focus on ideas that foster a sense of belonging and connection through health and wellness. Uniqueness A fitness business with a unique approach can stand out in a smaller market. Look for opportunities to offer something different or provide a unique twist on traditional fitness concepts. Potential for local partnerships Partnering with other local businesses or organizations can enhance your fitness business's presence and reach in the community. Personalized service In the fitness industry, personal relationships matter. A fitness business idea that allows for personalized and friendly service can be a significant advantage. Affordability Keep in mind the local economic conditions and ensure that your fitness services are reasonably priced and accessible to a wide range of residents. Consider using one of a range of small business website builders to get started. 23 fitness business ideas Ready to start a business ? These 23 fitness business ideas provide a chance to follow your passions and contribute to the local well-being. Fitness studio or gym Outdoor fitness classes Personal training services Wellness retreats Health and nutrition coaching Cycling tours or rentals Community sports leagues Fitness boot camps Mindfulness and yoga studio Senior fitness programs Dance fitness classes Nutrition-focused café Hiking or walking groups Fitness challenges Wellness workshops Fitness equipment rentals Sports equipment stores Mobile fitness training Virtual fitness classes Fitness apparel shops Outdoors adventure tours Fitness app development Fitness retreats for groups 01. Fitness studio or gym Establish a fitness studio or gym to meet the community's exercise needs. Host fitness classes, events and workshops to foster a sense of belonging. 02. Outdoor fitness classes Take advantage of the local surroundings by offering outdoor fitness classes, such as boot camps, yoga or running groups. 03. Personal training services Provide one-on-one personal training services tailored to individual fitness goals and needs. Read more to learn how to make money as a personal trainer . 04. Wellness retreats Organize wellness retreats that focus on fitness, mindfulness and overall well-being for residents seeking a holistic experience. 05. Health and nutrition coaching Offer health and nutrition coaching services to guide individuals in making healthier lifestyle choices. 06. Cycling tours or rentals Explore the town's scenic routes by starting a cycling tour business or offering bicycle rentals. 07. Community sports leagues Organize and manage community sports leagues, encouraging residents to participate in team sports and stay active. This can be a great scalable business idea , if you work with many coaches and leagues within a county, city or network. 08. Fitness boot camps Host fitness boot camps for individuals looking for high-intensity workouts and group motivation. 09. Mindfulness and yoga studio Create a studio that focuses on mindfulness and yoga classes to promote mental and physical well-being. 10. Senior fitness programs Develop fitness programs specifically designed for seniors, addressing their unique health and mobility needs. 11. Dance fitness classes Offer dance fitness classes, catering to those who enjoy staying active through dance. 12. Nutrition-focused café Combine fitness and nutrition by starting a café that offers healthy and nutritious snacks for post-workout fuel. 13. Hiking or walking groups Form hiking or walking groups that explore local trails, promoting physical activity and community bonding. 14. Fitness challenges Organize fitness challenges within the community, encouraging friendly competition and healthy habits. 15. Wellness workshops Conduct wellness workshops covering topics like stress management, sleep habits and overall health education. 16. Fitness equipment rentals Provide fitness equipment rentals for residents who prefer working out at home or in outdoor spaces. 17. Sports equipment store Open a sports equipment store that caters to various fitness enthusiasts in the community. 18. Mobile fitness training Offer mobile fitness training services, bringing workouts directly to clients' homes or preferred locations. 19. Virtual fitness classes Conduct virtual fitness classes for residents who prefer exercising from the comfort of their homes. Practice Sraddah offers online yoga, meditation and well-being workshops. 20. Fitness apparel shop Start a fitness apparel shop offering comfortable and stylish activewear for local fitness enthusiasts. 21. Outdoor adventure tours Combine fitness with outdoor adventures by organizing tours such as hiking, kayaking or rock climbing. 22. Fitness app development Develop a fitness app that provides workout plans, nutrition guidance and community support for users. 23. Fitness retreats for groups Host fitness retreats specifically designed for groups, promoting team-building and shared wellness experiences. How to start a fitness business in 5 steps Starting a fitness business involves specific steps to ensure success. Here are five key steps to get you started: Market research and idea validation Identify gaps in the fitness market and validate your business idea by engaging with prospective customers and members of your community. Create a fitness business plan Develop a detailed business plan outlining your concept, target market, competition, marketing strategy, financial projections and funding needs. This gym business plan might be a good place to start. Register your fitness business Register your business with local, state and federal authorities. Choose a legal structure (e.g., sole proprietorship , LLC or corporation ) and obtain necessary permits or licenses. Learn more: How to start an LLC Secure financing Determine how you'll finance your fitness business, considering personal savings, loans, grants or investments. Prepare a budget for startup and ongoing expenses. Promote and market your fitness business Find a suitable location if necessary and consider creating a website to establish a strong online presence through blog and social media content. Use local outreach and community engagement to promote your fitness business. Learn more: How to create a website from scratch Still not sure which business idea is best for you? Weigh your options with the Wix Business Launcher, which uses AI to match you with the right business idea based on your skills and goals. The Wix Business Launcher equips you with market research, earnings strategies and a launch kit for every idea, so you can get started with confidence. Fitness business examples built on Wix Upside Aerial Arts & Fitness This aerial fitness business offers group classes, private lessons, parties and performances in a variety of circus arts. Stax Cycle Club This cycling club in Calgary offers online spin and sculpt fitness classes that you can do anytime, anywhere. Pent Luxury Fitness Equipment This home-gym improvement business can assist in selecting fitness equipment for a home gym. They also have an online store and offer 3D modeling of the dedicated gym space. Be inspired further: Best fitness websites Fitness business ideas FAQ How can I attract clients to my fitness business idea? Effective marketing strategies are crucial for attracting clients to your fitness business. Create a business website , establish a strong online presence on social media platforms, offer promotions or discounts for new clients and engage with local community events. Building trust through transparent and ethical fitness practices is essential. Consider partnering with local businesses, organizing fitness challenges and participating in community wellness initiatives to increase visibility and attract clients. What equipment do I need to start a fitness business? The specific equipment you need will depend on the fitness services you plan to offer. Generally, you may need exercise equipment such as weights, yoga mats and cardio machines. If you're offering outdoor activities, consider equipment like bikes or hiking gear. For virtual fitness classes, you'll need audiovisual equipment and a reliable internet connection. Additionally, having a dedicated space or venue for your fitness activities is essential. How do I determine pricing for my fitness services? Consider factors such as the type of fitness service, the duration of classes or programs and your operational costs. Research local market rates and competitors to ensure your pricing is competitive. You can choose pricing models such as per-class rates, membership fees or package deals. Additionally, consider offering promotions or discounts for group sessions or new clients to attract more participants. How can I ensure the success of my fitness business idea? Ensure success by staying updated on fitness trends, providing exceptional services, building a strong professional network and continuously improving your skills. Differentiate your fitness business by offering unique classes or programs, fostering a sense of community among participants and showcasing positive client testimonials. Regularly assess and adapt your offerings based on the changing needs and preferences of the local community. How can I expand my fitness business idea as it grows? Focus on scalability by hiring additional fitness instructors, expanding your range of services and investing in marketing strategies to attract a larger client base. Consider offering specialized programs, collaborating with local healthcare professionals or introducing corporate wellness programs. Explore partnerships with local businesses for joint fitness initiatives and consider opening additional locations in nearby towns. Continuously assess market trends and adapt your fitness business to meet evolving demands. Other business ideas to consider Service business ideas Businesses to start with little money Unique business ideas Online business ideas Low-cost business ideas Side business ideas Outdoor business ideas Home-based businesses Mobile business ideas Consulting business ideas Freelance business ideas Reselling business ideas Business ideas for couples Rental business ideas Small-town business ideas Travel business ideas Wedding business ideas Print on demand business ideas Music business ideas Finance business ideas Cleaning business ideas Marketing business ideas Art business ideas Tech business ideas Restaurant business ideas Business ideas for teens
- 20 best fonts for stylish logo design and how to choose your own
Picking the right font for your brand’s logo can feel like finding a needle in a haystack. There are so many options out there, but sifting through them can get overwhelming, especially if you don’t come from a graphic design background. When you create a logo , there are many different styles you can go for. Some logos are made up of just an icon, while others merge text and image. Today’s logo trends are all about simple, yet meticulously designed, text-based logos. This kind of timeless design requires a deep understanding of your brand identity, as well as attention to detail and an informed typographical choice. To narrow things down, we’ve gathered a list of top quality typefaces to consider as you think about how to design a logo for your brand. When downloading and using any of the following logo fonts, make sure you’ve properly reviewed the licensing section. Take note that licenses differ between desktop, web, app and other usages. We'll get into the 20 best fonts for logos, both paid and free. Types of logo fonts Logo fonts play a crucial role in conveying the personality and message of a brand. There are various types of logo fonts, each with its own characteristics and suitability for different brands. Let's delve into some of the most common types of logo fonts that can help define your brand's visual identity: 01. Serif fonts Serif fonts are characterized by small lines or strokes attached to the ends of characters. These flourishes, known as serifs, give the font a more traditional and formal appearance. Serif fonts are often associated with stability, trustworthiness and professionalism. They're commonly used in industries such as law, finance and academia. Examples: Times New Roman, Garamond, Georgia Be inspired further by these professional fonts . 02. Sans-serif fonts Sans-serif fonts don't have the small lines or strokes (serifs) at the end of characters, resulting in a cleaner and more modern appearance. Sans-serif fonts are often perceived as more contemporary, which is why they're used most often in technology, fashion and design industries. Examples: Helvetica, Arial, Futura 03. Script fonts Script fonts mimic handwriting and have a fluid, cursive-like appearance. They're characterized by connected and flowing letterforms, adding a touch of elegance, creativity and personality to a logo. Script fonts are often used in industries such as fashion, beauty and food & beverage. Examples: Brush Script, Lucida Calligraphy, Lobster 04. Display fonts Display fonts are decorative and highly stylized, making them perfect for creating eye-catching and memorable logos. These fonts often feature unique shapes, exaggerated forms and intricate details, allowing brands to make a bold statement and stand out from the competition. Display fonts are commonly used in industries such as entertainment, hospitality and creative arts. Examples: Impact, Cooper Black, Bangers Learn more: Typefaces vs fonts 15 best fonts for professional logo design Avenir Agentur Canela Separat GT America Futura Recoleta Orelo Gotham Whyte Inktrap Ogg Proxima Nova Lydian Noe Display GT Super 5 best free fonts for professional logo design Raleway Cormorant Poppins Eczar Roboto Slab 15 best fonts for professional logo design 01. Avenir Geometric sans-serif | Paid/Free on Mac Design: Adrian Frutiger Foundry: Linotype Although classified as a geometric typeface, Avenir pushes the boundaries. These kinds of typefaces are traditionally based on geometric shapes. However, Avenir’s “o” is not a perfect circle, and its vertical lines (or strokes) are slightly thicker than the horizontals, giving a hint of harmony and warmth to this otherwise minimalistic font. Released in 1988, it takes inspiration from previous well-known typefaces such as Futura (see below). There are six weights available—light, book, roman, medium, heavy and black, with an oblique version for each. This gives you the freedom to experiment with anything from a light and airy logo design, to a more dominant one, depending on your brand identity . 02. Agentur Calligraphic sans-serif | Paid Design: Kenneth Knutsen Foundry: Good Type Foundry With a unique and conceptual approach to typography , each of Good Type Foundry’s designs is full of character. Agentur, released in 2016, treads a fine line between a contemporary look and a more traditional, calligraphic style. It’s optimized for both print and web, so your logo can look its best in any context. Agentur is available in one weight, but if you’re after a bolder and more distinct look, you can opt for Agentur Display, which is wider than its counterpart. Whichever style you go for, this typeface includes some highly stylized glyphs that can give your brand real character. 03. Canela Display font | Paid Design: Miguel Reyes Foundry: Commercial Type Canela is an unusual typeface in that it doesn’t fall under one particular classification; it’s neither serif nor sans-serif. The ends of its strokes are flared, but only subtly, giving it a look that is both classical and modern. You’ll also notice a stark contrast between thinner and thicker lines, an element typical of serif typefaces. This display typeface is available in six different weights, plus italics for each one. Since its release in 2016, three new styles have been added—Canela Condensed, Canela Text and Canela Deck. 04. Separat Geometric sans-serif | Paid Design: GUNMAD Foundry: Or Type This unconventional typeface can add a strong sense of personality to any logo design. It’s the uppercase letters that really stand out, with many of them having “separated” sections, making for an undeniably quirky aesthetic. Take a look at the “M,” “X” and “K,” for example, clearly distinguishing between the different shapes that make them up. Type designer duo, Guðmundur Úlfarsson and Mads Freund Brunse, released Separat in 2013. It’s available in four different weights—bold, regular, medium and black. 05. GT America Sans-serif | Paid Design: Noël Leu Foundry: Grilli Type Drawing inspiration from both traditional American and Swiss typefaces, GT America falls under the genre of grotesque sans-serifs. This means it is reminiscent of early 19th century typefaces, typically crude in their design and often used for large headlines. This extensive typeface family offers a more contemporary spin on this aesthetic. GT America is available in six different styles, from a very narrow, compressed look to a much wider version. Each of these styles consists of six widths and seven weights, so you can really play around with the options in finding the right font for your professional logo design. 06. Futura Sans-serif | Paid/Free on Mac and Adobe Creative Cloud Design: Paul Renner Foundry: Bauer Foundry Despite being released in 1927, almost a century ago, Futura remains a highly popular typeface, used both in print and website design . Its timeless aesthetic is simple and stylish, inspired by the Bauhaus design philosophy. Futura is very much “no frills,” with no unnecessary details. Instead, it’s made up of geometric shapes, straight lines that are near-even in weight, and a minimal use of curves. Futura is available in a variety of weights, styles and widths. You can see a few of them in use in famous logos , such as Calvin Klein, Domino’s Pizza and Supreme. 07. Recoleta Serif | Paid Design: Jorge Cisterna Foundry: Latinotype With a hint of 1970’s groove, this contemporary design is a fresh take on nostalgic typefaces. It’s made up of soft, fluid lines, merged with angled strokes and is sure to add a strong sense of personality to any logo design. There are many styles and weights to choose from, as well as a version with alternate characters (notice the change in the “a” for example). To start playing around with it for free, you can download the Recoleta Regular Demo version. 08. Orelo Variable sans-serif | Paid Design: Adrien Midzic Foundry: Pizza Typefaces What makes Orelo stand out from the crowd is its high contrast between thin and thick lines. In small dimensions, the hairline strokes almost disappear from view. Increasing the weight will place more of an emphasis on this striking contrast. Additional unique touches are the triangular shapes that are formed on certain strokes (for example the tail of the “y” or a capital “L”). Orelo offers you over a hundred styles to choose from. And if you really want a good logo design tip , go a step further and create an animated version, Orelo makes it a lot easier, as it also comes as a variable font. An animated logo can work well in various digital applications—something you may want to take into account when you create your own website . 09. Gotham Geometric sans-serif | Paid Design: Tobias Frere-Jones Foundry: Hoefler & Co. Since its release in 2000, Gotham has been used in many different contexts. You may recognize it from Barack Obama’s 2008 presidential campaign, as well as a number of other corporate identities, from Spotify to GQ (who originally commissioned the design). Unlike other sans-serif typefaces whose inspirations often lie in Swiss or German design, Gotham was influenced by New York City, particularly the lettering used in early 20th century signage. Gotham is available in eight weights, plus four different widths for each one. Thanks to its versatility, it’s one of the best fonts for logos, enabling you to showcase your business name at its finest. Also available is Gotham ScreenSmart, a slight variation on the preliminary design and optimized for use on the web. 10. Whyte Inktrap Sans-serif | Paid Design: Johannes Breyer, Fabian Harb & Erkin Karamemet Foundry: Dinamo This typeface embraces one of today’s most up-and-coming typography trends - highly visible ink traps. In the past, certain letterforms were designed with missing corners (in other words, ink traps), that would naturally be filled in by ink once printed. These days, especially on the web, ink traps are no longer necessary. However, typefaces like Whyte Inktrap are now utilizing this retro typography feature to form unusual, quirky designs. Whyte Inktrap comes in ten different weights (from thin to super), plus italics for each one. The heavier the font, the more apparent the ink traps become. There’s an additional version, Whyte, that is available without the ink traps. 11. Ogg Calligraphic serif | Paid Design: Lucas Sharp Foundry: Village This ornate, calligraphic typeface was inspired by the 20th century hand lettering artist Oscar Ogg. The intricate details and interconnected letterforms of the design make it a truly expressive typeface with a luxurious feel—a definite statement for a logo font. Learn more: Handwriting fonts Ogg comes in a total of five weights, with an italic version for each one. Since its release in 2013, an additional variation (Ogg Text) has been developed for use in long-form copy. You can use it for writing a blog post or a product description on your site, for example. 12. Proxima Nova Sans-serif | Paid/Free on Adobe Creative Cloud Design & Foundry: Mark Simonson Since its release in 2005, Proxima Nova has been a highly popular typeface, particularly across the web. It takes inspiration from other widely used sans-serifs, like Futura and Akzidenz Grotesk, merging their geometric and modern styles into one clean look. This logo font comes in seven different weights, plus matching italics for each one. There are also three optional widths available. 13. Lydian Calligraphic sans-serif | Paid Design: Warren Chappell Foundry: American Type Founders Released in 1938, this typeface can add a vintage feel to any logo design. It’s classified as humanist, a typography term that generally implies a more hand-made look, with organic curves and natural spacing between letters. And if Lydian looks familiar to you, you’re probably either a seasoned designer or a Friends fan, as this font was used in the end credits for the hit TV show. Lydian contains two styles (Roman and bold), plus their italic counterparts. The designer, Warren Chappell, also released Lydian Cursive, which is a more flowing and calligraphic version of the typeface. 14. Noe Display Serif | Paid Design & Foundry: Schick Toikka This expressive typeface makes a strong visual impact, with a high contrast between thick and thin lines, and triangular serifs. Counteracting these sharp edges are flowing, elegant curves, forming a dramatic look that merges genres. Noe Display is available in four weights, from regular to black, along with corresponding italics. There’s also a text version of this typeface, more suited for writing long-form text, such as the content on your website. 15. GT Super Serif | Paid Design: Noël Leu Foundry: Grilli Type While GT Super was released in 2018, its inspirations lie in typefaces from the ‘70s and ‘80s, particularly those used in newspapers from the time. The result is an expressive typeface with relatively sharp serifs and a diverse range of stroke widths within each letterform. There’s a text and display version for the typeface, so you can choose which font best suits your logo. Each one comes complete with five weights and italics to match. 5 best free fonts for professional logo design 01. Raleway Sans-serif | Free Design: Matt McInerney Foundry: The League of Moveable Type Raleway is a neo-grotesque typeface, meaning it has a clean, simple design and lies in the same category as popular fonts like Helvetica and Arial. However, there are a few special touches that make it noteworthy. It has an elegant look to it, with a subtle and unexpected tail on the lower-case “L” and a criss-crossed “W.” Originally released as a single thin weight typeface by Matt McInerney, Raleway has since been expanded into a family of nine weights, designed by Pablo Impallari and Rodrigo Fuenzalida. Now you can enjoy it in all its diverse forms, ranging from thin to black, as well as italics. 02. Cormorant Serif | Free Design: Christian Thalmann Foundry: Catharsis Fonts This typeface takes inspiration from the old-style Garamond - a family of 16th century typefaces. The main difference is that Cormorant is a display typeface, intended for use in larger dimensions. This makes it a great logo font, especially as it also works on a smaller scale. It’s characterized by its flowing curves, contrasted with sharp serifs and dramatically tall accents. Cormorant is a versatile typeface, available in nine different visual styles (Roman, Italic, Infant, Infant Italic, Garamond, Garamond Italic, Upright Cursive, Small Caps and Unicase). In addition, each one comes in five optional weights. 03. Poppins Geometric sans-serif | Free Design: Johnny Pinhorn & Ninad Kale Foundry: Indian Type Foundry Poppins is a multilingual font, supporting both the Latin and Devanagari writing systems. It’s a classic geometric typeface, made up of perfect circles and based on geometric forms. The overall appearance is clean and simple, with almost all lines being the same width throughout the different letterforms. One of the best fonts for logos with a minimalistic aesthetic, Poppins is available in nine weights, with matching italics for each. 04. Eczar Calligraphic serif | Free Design: Vaibhav Singh Foundry: Rosetta Type Foundry Eczar started out as a student project by Vaibhav Singh during his MA in Typeface Design at the University of Reading (UK). It’s a multilingual typeface, supporting both Latin and Devanagari languages. With dominant serifs that are especially apparent in the heavier weights, Eczar has a strong personality. There are five weights available for this typeface, but no italics. The bold and extra-bold weights are particularly distinctive, making for a logo font with an intriguing look. 05. Roboto Slab Slab serif | Free Design: Christian Robertson Despite its prominent serifs and mainly geometric forms, Roboto Slab still manages to exude a certain softness. A benefit of this neo-grotesque typeface is that it makes font pairing simple, having been initially created to use alongside its sans-serif counterpart, Roboto, which is also a free font. The two contrast with one another, while simultaneously forming a look that can work well as part of a whole visual identity. Developed by Google as a system font for their mobile design, Roboto Slab comes in nine different weights, from thin through to extra-bold and black. Roboto is also available in a condensed version, and it also supports Cyrillic and Greek. Looking for more inspiration for your logo? Check out these best logo makers. Main logo font takeaways Choosing the right font for your logo plays a big role in shaping how people see your brand. As Yaya Aaronsohn, head of Brand Maker at Wix, says: Each combination of design elements has the potential to evoke specific emotions, convey subtle messages and leave a lasting impression on viewers. From the choice of font to the selection of colors and the incorporation of graphic elements, every detail plays a crucial role in shaping the overall identity of a brand. Here are the main takeaways to keep in mind when you're designing your own logo: Choose a font that reflects your brand personality: Is your brand modern and innovative, or classic and traditional? Your logo font should convey the same tone and style. Consider your target audience: What kind of fonts do they find appealing? If you're targeting a younger audience, you might want to choose a more modern font. If you're targeting an older audience, you might want to choose a more classic font. Prioritize legibility: Your logo should be easy to read, even at small sizes. Avoid using fonts that are too ornate or too thin. Think about scalability: Your logo should look good at all sizes, from business cards to billboards. Choose a font that has a variety of weights and styles so you can adjust it as needed. Don't rely on color: Your logo should look good in black and white, as well as in color. This will ensure that it looks good in a variety of applications. Keep it simple: The best logos are often the simplest. Avoid using too many different fonts or colors. How to design a logo in these easy steps Designing a logo that effectively represents your brand requires careful consideration and a strategic approach. Here's a step-by-step guide to designing a memorable and impactful logo: 01. Define your brand Before you start sketching or designing, take some time to thoroughly understand your brand's essence, values and target audience. What does your brand stand for? What message do you want to convey? Who is your ideal customer? 02. Research and collecting inspiration Immerse yourself in the world of logos and design. Look at logos of successful brands in your industry and related fields. Analyze what makes their logos effective and consider how those elements could be adapted to align with your brand. 03. Brainstorming and sketching Start generating ideas by brainstorming and sketching different logo concepts. Don't limit yourself at this stage; explore various styles, shapes and symbols that capture your brand's essence. 04. Refining and digitizing Select the most promising logo concepts and refine them further. Digitize your sketches using design software or tools to create clean, scalable and professional-looking logo variations. 05. Color selections Choose a color palette that aligns with your brand identity and resonates with your target audience. Consider color pyschology and how they can evoke specific emotions or associations. 06. Typography and font selections Select fonts that complement your logo's overall design and convey the desired brand personality. Ensure the fonts are legible, versatile and work well across different applications. Explore these fonts for design inspiration: Calligraphy fonts for elegant and artistic designs Cool fonts to add personality to your creations Cursive fonts for timeless designs Cute fonts to bring charm to your designs Free fonts : a curated selection Fun fonts for playful and lively projects Futuristic fonts for cutting-edge and modern designs Graffiti fonts to infuse urban energy into your designs Handwriting fonts to add a personal, authentic touch Number fonts for creative numerical typography Poster fonts to make your designs bold and eye-catching Pretty fonts to enhance delicate designs Professional fonts for polished and formal designs Psychedelic fonts to inspire striking and retro visuals Resume fonts to help your skills stand out with style Retro fonts for a nostalgic twist in your visuals Scary fonts to give your designs a chilling edge Script fonts for a touch of sophistication Tattoo fonts to inspire edgy and unique designs 07. Gathering feedback Gather feedback from colleagues, potential customers or a focus group to assess the effectiveness of your logo design. Be open to constructive criticism and consider making revisions based on the feedback. 08. Versatility and scalability Ensure your logo works well across different sizes, mediums and applications. It should look consistent and recognizable whether printed on a business card, displayed on a website or used on merchandise. 09. Professionalism and brand guidelines Create a style guide that clearly defines the logo's usage guidelines, including color specifications, font variations and proper spacing. This ensures consistency and maintains brand integrity across all platforms. 10. Seek expert guidance If you lack design expertise or need additional support, consider seeking assistance from a professional graphic designer or branding agency. Their expertise can elevate your logo design and ensure it aligns with your brand's overall identity. Best fonts for logos FAQ What's the cleanest font to use for a logo? Generally, a Sans Serif font as they tend to be crisp and clean in their design. What's the most attractive font for a logo? There are many to choose from and it all depends on how you define attractive. Some potential candidates include Open Sans, Alegreya and Merriweather.
- How to add fonts to your Wix site (plus helpful tips)
You wouldn’t wear clothes that don’t suit your style, so why write in Times New Roman when your brand is more Helvetica? Whether you have a chic online store or a local restaurant, it’s important to pick the font that matches your brand. When you create a website , the typeface you choose sets the stage for your visitors and gives them a feel for your unique style. The Wix Editor already provides a plethora of free customization options, including ninety six outstanding fonts, images and video backgrounds. You can also upload your own best website fonts to the Wix Editor easily. With the ability to add any font you want—in any language—the possibilities are endless. Here’s how to add your personal fonts when you are learning how to make your website , as well as some tips and best practices from our design pros. How to upload your own fonts to the Wix Editor See a font you want for your blog, business or portfolio? Follow these easy steps to upload and implement your favorite fonts onto your site. If you have a few websites that will look great with your new typography , your fonts are now accessible from all sites in your account. To upload your own fonts: Using the Editor, add a text element to your site. Select the text element and click Click Edit Text . Click the Fonts drop-down. Click Upload Fonts to upload your own. Click Done once the font has uploaded. Tip : Uploading fonts larger than 4 MB can affect your site's performance and speed. We recommend using system fonts available from Wix, as they're optimized for your site. To use your own uploaded fonts: Click a text element in the Editor. Click Edit Text . Click the Fonts drop-down. Select the font you uploaded under My Fonts . With all the options of beautiful fonts at your fingertips, it can be hard to decide which font you want to use. The key is not to get overwhelmed and follow this guide when picking fonts that work best for you. How to choose a font family that fits the tone of your site It’s important to keep your audience in mind. Your business and brand have a personality that you should convey in your font types and colors choices. This will help you decide whether to choose serif, sans serif or script. For example, it’s a good idea to use serif for a lengthy text, while sans serifs are suggested for captions, headings and charts. Be inspired: Typography trends There are three main font families you should be familiar with: Serif, Sans Serif and Script. Serif fonts are characterized by small decorative strokes at the ends of the letters, similar to Times New Roman or Baskerville. This gives them a classic and elegant appearance, making them well-suited for print media such as newspapers, books and magazines. However, they’re less readable on screens, so they’re not as commonly used for websites. Sans serifs , on the other hand, are fonts that don’t have the same decorative trimmings at the edges. They’re classified as a modern and cleaner typeface, like Arial and Verdana, and are considered to be preferable for reading online. This is why sans serif fonts are the standard for digital and web design. Script fonts are another more decorative typeface, often used for their ornate and flowing appearance. However, they can be difficult to read for long stretches of text or in call to action statements. As a result, they’re best used for short phrases or titles. The golden rule: three’s a crowd The judicious use of fonts is essential for creating a visually appealing and readable design. As a general rule, it’s best to limit yourself to two fonts in a design. This allows you to create a sense of hierarchy and focus, and helps ensure that your message is communicated effectively. If you’re feeling ambitious, you can use three fonts, but be sure to choose them carefully and use them sparingly. How to make your fonts serve your UX UX (user experience) is where design meets function. Essentially, it’s the concept that while websites should be beautiful, they should also be user-friendly and easy to navigate. Pro tip: When choosing fonts for your brand, it’s important to consider both the needs of your brand and the readability of the text. To ensure that your fonts are used effectively, you should: Choose fonts that are appropriate for your brand's personality and values. For example, a classic serif font might be appropriate for a traditional brand, while a modern sans serif font might be more suitable for a contemporary brand. Consider the readability of the text. Avoid using fonts that are too small or too ornate, as these can be difficult to read. Use different fonts for different purposes. For example, you might use a larger font for headers and a smaller font for body text. Experiment with the placement and composition of the fonts. This can help to create a sense of hierarchy and emphasis in your design. Ultimately, the goal is to pick fonts that are both visually appealing and readable. By following these tips, you can create a design that is both stylish and effective. To mix or not to mix? If you’re feeling limited by only using two different fonts in your font pairings , play around with the contrast between bold and thin, italics or uppercase and lowercase. Spacing is also a great trick to use when wanting to accent certain words. Experiment with mixing all the options of serif and sans serif, bold and thin. Put some thought into your combos and see what works best for you. Make sure your fonts flatter each other rather than detract from one another. If you’re a bit overwhelmed, here's how to choose the best fonts for websites . The three website templates below are great examples of how to mix typefaces for the web. They represent different approaches to what typography is and how to use it. Which one do you like best? Examples of fonts on Wix websites This pilates studio website template is a great example of using a slab serif font to accent certain elements of your site, while sticking to simple sans serif for the paragraph texts: On the other hand, this branding portfolio website template uses only sans serif with different weights and styles to differentiate text elements and achieve a sense of hierarchy: This interior design company website template , a single font is used across all content elements in order to strengthen the brand identity and avoid taking attention away from the project visuals.
- The psychology of logo design: How colors, shapes and fonts impact your brand
At the heart of any powerful brand is a recognizable logo. Think of Apple, Nike or McDonald’s and without hesitation you can visualize a fruit, a swoosh or golden arches, respectively. Yet, these iconic logos didn’t make their mark overnight. Gradually, these brands forged meaningful connections with their customers and within their industries. Through meticulous and thoughtful branding decisions—and strong logo designs—they successfully get our attention, trigger our emotions and ultimately encourage us to purchase their products time and again. This article will outline the emotional and psychological implications that color, shape and font can have on logos. When creating a logo , understanding the psychology behind it will help you compose a more powerful and enduring design. Why do we prefer certain brands to others? Picture yourself at the grocery store, buying a few ingredients to make your favorite meal. You’ll grab specific products, put them in your cart and head to the cashier—but what made you choose the particular brands you’re purchasing? You may not realize it, but there are psychological and emotional responses behind each of your purchasing decisions. While some may argue that price is simply the driving factor behind these choices, this is not always the case. So, why do we favor some brands over others? Here are a few motivating factors: Familiarity Brand loyalty Self identification Social identity Status Emotional associations According to Peter Noel Murray, Ph.D., emotions influence what we buy . Murray explains, “When evaluating brands, consumers primarily use emotions (personal feelings and experiences), rather than information (brand attributes, features, and facts).” Research reveals that, “Consumers perceive the same type of personality characteristics in brands as they do in other people.” With this in mind, it’s evident that a brand’s identity must convey to prospective consumers exactly who they are, and what they represent. However, busy shoppers don’t always have time to read up on a brand, or research competitors—they often make a split decision based on instinct and emotion. Now, take yourself back to the grocery store, and imagine they’ve run out of your go-to product, what do you do next? You’ll likely scan the shelves and pick a similar option. Will your decision be based on price? Or perhaps the visual identity of the products—like a logo? This is precisely why effective logo design plays such an important role in your branding efforts. It’s the mere seconds you have to get a prospective customer’s attention, and how you will capture it that matters. The psychology of logo design First, let’s examine the concept of psychology in relation to logo design and the impact that it has. The key to good logo design is more profound than simply choosing your favorite color combinations or symbols—it’s a deeply intricate process that requires research, awareness and precision. Whether you’re working with a designer, or crafting your own using a logo maker , recognizing the meaning behind specific shapes and complementary colors and the power they have, will help you work with more intention. What message do you want your logo to convey? How do you want people to feel when they see your logo? What associations do you hope others will make to your logo design? What is graphic design and is important? These are all imperative questions to consider when understanding how to design a logo . Let’s take a look at a few concepts that can help guide your logo design process. Symbolism It only takes about 10 seconds for consumers to form an impression from a logo, however, it takes 5-7 brand impressions before someone will remember your product. Using strategic symbols can be advantageous to immediately convey a message. Symbols are often a part of our collective consciousness. Whether they appear as specific shapes, images or written marks, they have universal meanings and associations. Keeping this in mind as you design your logo will help you communicate your brand message with more clarity. Differentiation Research from the Association for Consumer Research highlights, “Product differentiation refers to marketing activities which cause a consumer to differentiate one brand from another competing brand. This is achieved when the consumer (1.) perceives that the (objective) quality of a brand is different from that of competing ones or (2.) attaches emotional feelings with a brand which differentiates it from others.” Using logos to distinguish your brand from competitors is precisely the second method, which strives to attach emotional value to a specific brand compared to others. By designing a unique logo that stands apart from your competitors, you can distinguish your brand and encourage emotional connections among consumers. Priming Priming is what happens when our brains create connections or associations to other memories. As Psychology Today puts it, it’s a “Phenomenon in which exposure to one stimulus influences how a person responds to a subsequent, related stimulus. These stimuli are often conceptually related words or images.” With this in mind, effective logos can trigger memory, perceptual processing, and ultimately influence people’s decision-making to not only choose a brand once, but become loyal to it. Gestalt theory The gestalt theory is particularly important for designers, and plays an interesting role in logo psychology. In a nutshell, the gestalt theory states that the sum is greater than the individual parts. This notion, which was conceptualized by a group of German psychologists, Kurt Koffka, Max Wertheimer and Wolfgang Köhler, seeks to understand how visuals are perceived by humans. Gestalt, which translates to “the unified whole,” can be broken down into 6 design principles: Proximity: The overall layout of each element within your logo design and how close they are to each other can denote importance or belonging. Similarity: The correlation between visual elements that share the same attributes. For example, two shapes, or even colors with similar characteristics are perceived as belonging to the same idea or group. Closure: Using negative space to fill in the blanks and the ability to visualize the whole object even when parts are missing. Continuity: The alignment of differing elements can create a perception of continuity or flow. This is particularly important in order to draw attention to a specific element of the logo. Figure-ground: The relationship between a logo’s background and foreground and our ability to perceive them as a whole. Symmetry: Not all logo designs need to be symmetrical, but this principle refers to the overall proportion and balance of a design. If you achieve these design concepts in a visual layout of your logo design, the result will feel more coherent and composed. Look at logos like the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF), Unilever or even the Olympic rings, you’ll see these principles at work. Why logo psychology matters Ultimately, the success of any logo relies not only on the visual design, but more significantly how people perceive it. In order for your logo to influence your consumer on a psychological or subconscious level, it must be relevant, meaningful and target the right audience. Psychology of logo colors When it comes to choosing your logo colors , there are many factors to consider. Specific hues can evoke particular emotions and convey unique sentiments. The colors you choose for your logo will serve to represent your brand, communicate your brand’s values and reinforce your brand identity. Logo color psychology Using color psychology , we can appreciate the influence that color has on human emotion and behavior. For example, red is associated with passion, courage and power. In some contexts and cultures, red can have negative connotations relating to danger or anger. Conversely, red is also known to trigger appetites and is frequently seen in fast food logos for this very reason. By understanding the nuances and implications color can play on perception of your logo, and in turn, your brand, you can make better decisions about design. Here is a quick overview of each color’s attributes and symbolism: Red : Passion, love, power and confidence Orange : Trust, energy, playful and optimism Yellow : Happiness, hopeful, cheerful and fun Green : Peace, nature, harmony and renewal Blue : Tranquility, calm, intelligence and trust Purple : Royalty, wisdom, compassion and creativity Pink : Optimistic, innovative, creative and childish/feminine Black : Power, modern, sophistication and strong Gray: Neutral, calm, wise and professional Brown: Natural, stable, friendly and comfortable White : Sophisticated, elegant and impactful Logo color combinations While the individual shades you choose will impact your overall design, it’s also essential to understand the interplay between logo color combinations . Each color combination can have psychological implications on your overall logo design. Here are a few things to consider: Pay attention to color schemes such as monochromatic, analogous or complementary. By integrating color theory, you will select colors that are harmonious and trigger the intended emotion in relation to your brand. Ideally, your logo design shouldn’t contain more than three colors. This is a general rule—and of course there are exceptions—but this is a good practice to follow. If you are using a logo maker, you’ll have preset color schemes that can be customized with your own brand colors . In addition, you can find many color palette generator tools online to help create the most effective combinations. Explore more ideas How to make a blue logo How to make a red logo How to make a black logo How to make a purple logo How to make a pink logo How to make a yellow logo How to make a white logo Logo color tips Consistency: Once you’ve selected your logo and brand colors from a variety of logo color ideas , be sure to use them consistently throughout all your branding assets. This will ensure your branding collateral is recognizable and reliable. Cultural awareness: Colors carry diverse meanings in different cultures. Always be sure to design with sensitivity and awareness to these differences. This is especially meaningful for global brands. Competitors and industry research: Paying attention to your competitors is critical to understanding the market and what already exists. It also helps you better understand your target audience and how to effectively communicate with them based on your competitors. Logo types: Depending on the type of logo you choose, color can impact your overall composition. For example, an emblem logo may have different color needs compared to a simple wordmark logo. Psychology of logo shapes Logos come in all shapes and sizes, and mastering the psychology behind diverse forms can make an impact not only on your logo design, but your brand identity as well. All logo shapes can be categorized into the following: Geometric shapes: circles, triangles, squares, rectangles and lines Organic shapes: natural, curved and spiral shapes Abstract shapes: abstract and cultural shapes Paying attention to the psychology of shapes, you can communicate more effectively, cultivate deeper brand recognition and foster customer loyalty. Ultimately, having the right logo shape can forge a stronger and more intentional brand identity. This will make it easier for customers to seek out your product, and build positive associations with your brand. To illustrate, let’s examine the Twitter logo. The iconic blue symbol that we all know and love has gone through its own evolution since the brand’s inception in 2006. What originally started out as a green wordmark logo later evolved into a combination mark introducing Larry T. Bird, also known as the Twitter bird. Perhaps the most profound transformation was in 2012 when the bird icon got a fresh new look, and the brand name was removed altogether. The simplified logo that continues to prevail today is merely the revised bird symbol. Designed by Martin Grasser, the shape is created by 15 circles overlaid onto each other. The subtle changes to the logo, including its shape and orientation, are impactful. For example, the bird faces slightly upward, symbolizing growth, hope and possibility. Furthermore, the geometric circles which define the bird’s shape represent the interconnectedness of networks and friends. To go more in depth, you can read our full guide to logo shapes and best practices for logo sizes. Here is a quick overview of the symbolism of different shapes: Circles : Circles represent unity, wholeness and continuity. Squares: Squares symbolize stability, order and structure. Triangles: Triangles denote power, direction and energy. Rectangles: Rectangles represent dependability, efficiency and practicality. Curved lines: Curved lines suggest fluidity, flexibility and creativity. Spirals: Spirals represent growth, evolution and expansion. Stars: Stars symbolize hope, guidance and inspiration. Hearts: Hearts represent love, compassion and care. Psychology of logo fonts There are many types of logos , some that consist of images and text, like combination marks, or others that are simply made up of words, such as letterforms and monograms. Regardless which logotype you use, it’s essential to select a font that is representative of your brand values, and instantly conveys your message. Is your brand playful and lighthearted, or serious and sophisticated? Using strategic and thoughtful typography choices can help communicate these attributes. From bold, geometric typefaces, to soft, curved roundings—the letters you choose tell their own story. In addition, the spacing (also known as kerning) between characters provides clarity and context. Learn more: Handwriting fonts When understanding the psychological implications of your typeface design decisions, remember that font psychology plays a vital role in perception. For example, serif fonts tend to be more traditional and are most commonly used in print such as books, newspapers, and magazines thanks to their readability. Alternatively, script fonts are considered more elegant and creative as they emulate handwriting. Choosing the right font pairings can further enhance your design, combining styles like a classic serif with a clean sans-serif for balance or a bold header with a subtle script for contrast. Consider the following when selecting your logo typography: Readability Functionality Brand voice Brand message Overall aesthetic For a more detailed look at logo typography psychology, you can read up on the best fonts for logos . Logo composition Taking all of these psychological logo design ideas into consideration, you must also pay attention to the reciprocity between them. As you create your logo masterpiece, you may also want to explore the latest logo trends and logo design ideas. Here are some helpful tips to remember when designing your logo: Scalability: Always make sure that your logo design will look good at any size. Ensuring that you create a high-resolution vector image that can easily be adapted or adjusted means your logo will always look its best, regardless of the context. Balance: If your logo contains symbols or icons, their size can affect the placement of other elements in your logo, like text. If a certain element is larger, this indicates importance and attracts focus. Paying attention to the overall composition and placement of each component will lead to a cohesive design. Endurance: You want a logo that can evolve with your brand, rather than jumping on the bandwagon of the latest fads. Your logo is the heart of your brand identity and must have a sustainable design. Universality: Just as colors and symbols can have contrasting meanings in different cultures, so can the layout of your logo design. For example, not all languages read left to right, and may view objects on the right or even the top of a logo as more important. Form: Consider the use of negative space, background color, layering, alignment and readability in regard to your logo’s perception. You can check out our full guide on logo design tips for a comprehensive list. Or our guide to the Wix Logo Maker.
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