My blog is a year old & I’m tired of the red. Many of you have seen the new blue on Twitter. This week I’m launching a CMS (content management system) site for my blog, resources, & Community Manager Training courses. My sister has been busy building it. She does freelance work at SolutionsByHeidi.com
Today the web designer from Techrigy humored me by putting together some ideas. Bob’s a great guy! And he was excited to hear that I was going to ask your opinion. So here’s a sneak peak at the site www.CommunityStrategist.net
Here are some choices for the header. And feel free to add additional ideas!
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
I look forward to your ideas!
November 9th, 2008 on 4:02 pm
I go with number 1.
@stiennon
November 9th, 2008 on 4:04 pm
6. one seems better… hope it will be a delicious resource for all community managers… good luck…
November 9th, 2008 on 4:05 pm
I love the screenshot, very cool font!
Other than that, I guess i’d go with #1, somehow it gave me a personal feeling. I don’t think the C frame is necessary, the name does the work.
Another idea is to make the icon different (blonde?) but yeah, I definitely like #1.
November 9th, 2008 on 4:05 pm
I agree with Stiennon. #1 is good. I see a boob (or a pacifier) in #5 and #6 so avoid those 2.
#1 is my vote.
November 9th, 2008 on 4:07 pm
I vote for 1.
November 9th, 2008 on 4:08 pm
I like #6 it has a more professional appeal to the eye. The colors blend well together. Good luck in your new venture.
November 9th, 2008 on 4:09 pm
6 or 1
November 9th, 2008 on 4:09 pm
I like the screenshot, too.
November 9th, 2008 on 4:10 pm
I think that logo number 1 appears “friendly”, inviting a relationship. Since relationships are the beginning of everything, I vote for that one!
November 9th, 2008 on 4:14 pm
1 for the simplicity but 6 for the conglomeration of meanings.
November 9th, 2008 on 4:14 pm
Ilike number one. For fun, I would also try the three people only (no c) with the rss-looking echo lines.
November 9th, 2008 on 4:23 pm
I like the fun typeface in the screen capture. Although I can see the point of using something more professional in all the other examples, I’d suggest looking for a typeface that strikes a balance between the two.
I like #6 but lose the nipple on the boob, to quote Leesa’s comment–just the angled-up radiating waves going out from the C, without the final dot in the distance.
@BarbChamberlain
November 9th, 2008 on 4:24 pm
You are all so awesome!! What a great community to make crowdsourcing so fun!
There are more ideas coming in Twitter & Plurk that I’ll port over.
November 9th, 2008 on 4:24 pm
I am liking 6. Maybe a little darker on the C and additional artwork around it (not the people), but that works for me. Not sure about the .net part on 3-5.
November 9th, 2008 on 4:32 pm
Connie, I like the screenshot the best, then #1. However, two things: 1) move the name a bit to the right to give the “C” more white space from the left, and 2) remove the think black band from the photo.
It looks like a bereavement photo. The frame needn’t be that thick, and the black doesn’t match with anything above the fold.
Your picture is light and airy: give it an understated frame that enhances rather than detracts from it.
Nice work by your sister!
November 9th, 2008 on 4:40 pm
I’d say go with #1, personally. I think it represents your overall message better.
November 9th, 2008 on 4:40 pm
Number 1. But consider changing the font. It doesn’t work well with any of your graphics. Try something in all lower case, in maybe the font Futura or another san-serif font.
November 9th, 2008 on 4:42 pm
Also, something else to think about is your profile photo. Do you have a great pic of you out working in the community. I think it will drive home your message and make a louder statement.
Hope this helps! I’m gonna have to change my photo too – someone told me I look like a realtor not a graphic designer! lol
November 9th, 2008 on 4:47 pm
a photo of me talking? (I have to make an effort to quit talking when photos are taken).
It’s a good idea though! Valeria Maltoni & Francois Gossieaux both have action shots.
November 9th, 2008 on 5:15 pm
That’s easy, #1 – but I agree with @creativewisdom, the font should be different
November 9th, 2008 on 5:48 pm
I vote for #1.
November 9th, 2008 on 6:15 pm
I will vote for number 3, as it reflects the community sense, even I will take away the .net
November 9th, 2008 on 6:38 pm
Gotta go with #6
November 9th, 2008 on 6:47 pm
I say number one all the way! It’s fresh and I like the font.
November 9th, 2008 on 7:26 pm
Connie I like #1 and #6 – Have you thought about putting the People from #6 alone with Community Strategist like you did with #1 and the single person? (in other words removing the C and rss looking symbol? on #6)
November 9th, 2008 on 7:44 pm
I like blue header in the screenshot version but think the scribbly black font is overpowering. My vote is for the blue background seen in the screenshot with the font & logo of number 3.
November 9th, 2008 on 8:07 pm
I really like #3.
November 9th, 2008 on 8:12 pm
Personally I like No. 1 and then No. 3. Great looking logos1
Although, a different more vibrant font would make it pop more than the current one.
November 9th, 2008 on 10:07 pm
I really like #6..it’s innovative.
November 9th, 2008 on 11:08 pm
(I totally missed the “boob” thing) Here’s my 1.5 cents:
On your site, the black text on that blue lacks the contrast and light/happiness that is you (no matter the font). I tossed an example together here of white, tight drop shadowed:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lalunablanca/3017651669
On the logo, I concur with the others about losing the “C”. I’d vote for #1 if there were at least more people there.
November 10th, 2008 on 12:26 am
I concur with Dave Barger
Logo #1 with a few more people in there to better represent the community aspect. I’m looking forward to the new website.
November 10th, 2008 on 7:57 am
I like the third color (cream or yellow) in #1 and the conversation icon but I like the overall effect of #6. I would add the cream color to one of the people and the conversation icon to #6. I think it invites conversation and community. And that’s my 2 cents worth!
November 10th, 2008 on 9:57 am
I’m going with #3. Simple, balanced, and easily understood. As a designer and social media ’student’ that’s my perspective.
-shalom!
November 10th, 2008 on 12:03 pm
I like #3 – the font of the C is smoother, more ‘enclosing’ than in #2.
I didn’t see the boob, but I didn’t see the RSS symbol either until #6; those extra lines looked like cartoon movement lines to me, while in #3, as a singleton, it looks like a lens.
And I’m still struggling to recognise the symbol in #1 & #2 – paper clip? tuning fork? I’m sure it’ll be obvious when I get it in the right focus …
But it looks like you’re getting a whole range of favourites, so I don’t know how you’re going to decide!
November 10th, 2008 on 1:24 pm
I like number one but I would add the .net since it’s less common than .com.
November 10th, 2008 on 5:46 pm
I favor a combination of 5 and 6. I like the black but like the way the logo descends from the corner. I don’t know whether or not you need the .net as part of it but I would be fine with you including it. I think this logo looks “techy.”
November 10th, 2008 on 9:07 pm
Me again
.
I’d go with .com . Time and time again, I tell someone right to their face “blabla.NET” and they’ll type in “blabla.COM” almost every time. I saw pjbfcp’s post and thought for a second (in horror) that you didn’t have the .com secured, but now see that you do.
November 10th, 2008 on 9:24 pm
Thanks Dave for worrying about me! The URL’s are a bit goofy right now.
After my sister does her magic, this is how it will be:
communityStrategist.com will point to that home page
CommunityStrategist.net will go to the forums page (my sister just used it temporarily now) – and
conniebensen.com & conniebenson.com will point to the blog (which will be added to the site)
November 11th, 2008 on 2:28 pm
I like the design in 3 best, but the gray color might not work; if only because you or someone might want to print your logo on white paper.
So I’d suggest 3, but in black, unless you don’t care at all about print or you expect it’s always be on that blue background. (You almost can’t use any colors other than gray or black because the blue background 688b9f makes that a bit tricky in terms of color complements. I was curious, so checked with a color scheme generator and the complements/triads, etc. all are a bit muddy.)
Scott
November 11th, 2008 on 4:35 pm
#1 by miles.
November 11th, 2008 on 9:22 pm
#3 if you were to ask most graphic designers. #1 or #6 if you ask a typical client.
November 12th, 2008 on 6:26 am
I may be the only one, but I see a person getting a giant needle in #1. I don’t like it.
The clean lines of #6 work best for me, but once I read others’ comments about the boob / pacifier, I found it hard not to see them…
The screenshot looks fantastic! I look forward to watching your new site evolve.
November 12th, 2008 on 10:20 am
I choose number 1!
November 20th, 2008 on 12:27 pm
I’m a big fan of that last one. I like the little “emitting” symbol
November 22nd, 2008 on 9:28 am
I like the color scheme of #3 but the design of #6. Here’s a shameless plug for my favorite community of logo designers. Have you mentioned crowdSPRING to Bob. He could use it as a tool to really expand the spectrum of ideas.
November 30th, 2008 on 9:37 pm
# 1
Good luck w/ it-new design, new energy!