A logo is designed to be instantly recognizable and make a lasting impression on those who see it. But which are considered the most recognizable logos of all time? To find out, we asked 2,000 Americans about the world’s most famous logos, and how a company’s logo and branding influence their buying decisions.
According to the survey, the simple ‘apple’ icon is the most recognizable logo in the US, followed by the golden arches of McDonald’s and the familiar typography of Coca Cola. Nike, Starbucks and Google also made the top 10 of the most popular brand logos, with Facebook, Adidas, Amazon and YouTube rounding out the list.
Brand Logo: Summary of the research
According to 2,000 Americans, Apple’s logo is the most popular company logo in the US. This is followed by McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Nike and Starbucks. It also emerged that half of respondents are more likely to use a company with a logo they recognize, and 3 in 5 would not use a company if their brand image looked terrible even if they’d heard good things about the product itself. In fact, 74% think that the ‘look and feel’ can make or break a brand.
Importance of Branding
So why branding is important? When it comes to what logos tell us about a brand, 42% say that it tells the brand’s personality, as well as the type of product provided (40%) and the quality (39%).
The study also showed that there are some things that help us recognize a logo more easily, with more than one quarter stating that the colors in a logo help them remember a brand. A fifth believe red makes for the most memorable logos, followed by blue and green. A great example is the long history of the Pepsi logo and it’s brand colors blue and red. Pink was voted the least memorable color for a logo.
What color makes a company logo memorable?
3 in 10 people say that the logo is the first thing they notice when they see a product, and more than three quarters (78%) went as far as to say that logos should be considered ‘works of art’.
The survey also looked into promotional products and branded merchandise, with three quarters of respondents stating that they are more likely to remember a brand if they receive merchandise from them. When asked what promotional products people prefer to receive, almost half (49%) of those polled prefer T-shirts, followed by pens (36%) and key chains (33%).
VistaPrint Tip
Promotional products are a great way to spread the news about your business. We offer a variety of promo items to help you boost your branding.
Branded promotional materials and merchandise
Over half (51%) said that receiving promotional products from a brand would make them more likely to buy from them.
“The research shows that getting your logo out there is extremely important,” says Llorenç Solà, General Manager for PPAG, VistaPrint. “Customers can recognize leading brands with just a primary color or a certain shape of a logo and consumers naturally trust these companies more. Everything a business puts out there should reflect their overall identity. Whether it’s a T-shirt with a logo on or branded tote bags, customers should be able to connect with the business’ story and who they are.”
Top 10 most recognizable logos according to Americans:
- Apple
- McDonald’s
- Coca-Cola
- Nike
- Starbucks
- Adidas
- Amazon
- YouTube
This online survey of 2000 US adults (General Population) was commissioned by Promotique by VistaPrint and conducted by market research company OnePoll, in accordance with the Market Research Society’s code of conduct. Data was collected between 11/12/2019 and 16/12/2019. All participants are double-opted in to take part in research and are paid an amount depending on the length and complexity of the survey. This survey was overseen and edited by the OnePoll research team, who are members of the MRS and have corporate membership to ESOMAR. Promotique, VistaPrint, Cimpress, the Cimpress logo and the VistaPrint logo are trademarks of Cimpress plc or its subsidiaries. All other brand and product names appearing in this article and Quiz may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders to which we have no affiliation with or sponsorship from.
