Quick Poll

[gcpets]

♥♥ A QUICK POLL ♥♥

What does the below logo mean and represent in your opinion (without having to "google" it) ?

Would it "mean" anything to you if you saw a website with this logo on it ?

[Chris Bates]

Honestly, I don't think it's a very STRONG logo.

What does it mean to me though? Nothing really. I see an association with pets (dogs specifically), but that's about it.

The text is too small to read unless the logo is larger, so I can't use that to help me associate with it.

[gcpets]

My intention is to really see the value I'd get from being a member of this organisation compared to anything else. At the moment it's mainly held in high esteem by those in the pet care industry - groomers, kennels, and such like. I'm trying to see what the 'general public' thinks of the organisation without knowing anything about it. Thus if there really is any real value in that respect to being a member. Don't want to waste my money by being a member if 'the public' doesn't really 'understand' what it means (compared to other organisations which I feel I am benefitting from being a member).

[Chris Bates]

I think you'll find the public DON'T know what they do/are/represent. Doesn't mean there's not value in it - it's an association not an accreditation. I'd guess it's more concerned with helping the owners rather than the consumer?

A public member seeing this badge on your website/marketing might think something of it - but it's not going to be a selling point.

I would be asking more what YOU will benefit from the membership? What do they offer YOU?

[Tecknowoman]

I'm with Chris...singing "this means nothing to me..." I read the replies before posting in case I'd misunderstood what you were asking. People really don't care about you just what you can do for them.

[melbstrip]

A friend of mine faced a similar situation when she started her own massage therapy business. Starting out her biggest challenge was to establish credibility to her qualifications.

So I knocked up a little website for her (please no comments about how bloody awful the website is, I would do it alot differently now) and under her "profile" stated her qualifications including she was AAMT Registered, then put the AAMT logo in the footer. See here: Fit Muscle Massage

A similar approach may work for you, as like others have commented, that logo really did ring any bells for me as meaning anything.

[Matthew Keath]

The dog looks kind of sad it my opinion - I would think it an animal welfare type organisation.

Most professional associations have pretty week logos, this is no exemption. If you have the logo linked to another page with more information, I can't see what harm it could do.

[JakeThomas]

Sorry to go against the crowd, but I think it adds credibility.

I know a lot of associations and organisations have a standard and compliance that you need to uphold - The ones that don't normally don't last very long anyway.

I know with Accountants and builders for instance, you need to do a certain amount of hours training a year to maintain membership - I'd get the impression that this association is something similar.

- Jake

[Chris Bates]

Jake,

I agree with your concept - but I disagree with the reality. 99% of the public who see that logo won't know nor care what it means - whether it's an self-regulating body or a government one.

Some people, like yourself, may see it and feel comforted that the business is part of an association. But at the core of the issue, I don't think that alone justifies the membership fees some places like this charge.

I mean, I could say I am (I'm not really) part of the Australian Web Industry Association - and that might give you some more confidence in my abilities and promises. But I think the real purpose of these associations is an internal desire for regulation and guidance, and it's members join them to hold themselves up to higher standards - not as a marketing tool.

[JakeThomas]

Chris,

Vanessa didn't ask what impression the logo would leave me 99% of the population, she asked what impression the logo would leave with me.

- Jake