One of the first things I did when I started Plentyoffish is hire a graphics designer to create a logo for my business cards. I never ended up using it online.   But after browsing some of my directories yesterday I found it again and have started using on the site.
April 20, 2007 at 4:59 am |
After seeing this image, I felt compelled to respond.
That truly is a horrible logo. For several reasons. One, since you’re a dating site, the picture of a deformed-looking, asexual fish with a “come-hither” pose is damn off-putting. It’s scaly and blue with white spots, in a murky gray fishbowl… even the other fish in the distance seem to look worried.
Then the name of the site says “plentyoffish” which is your url, not your site name. Shouldn’t it be “Plenty of Fish”? Something readable would do better, and something besides a straight font dumped to screen would make it more of a “logo”.
If you want to take the literal approach, you really should have some cute little guppies swimming around, something like that. This looks like a biker tattoo, sorry.
April 20, 2007 at 5:37 am |
Heh, the logo is pretty bad, but I have to admit it does match the rest of the site.
Plentyoffish, the site, looks like it is put together by a 12 year old. Things are just thrown together in no particular order, no common naming scheme, wrapping issues ALL over the place, its just one big mess.
Markus seems to be on a “virtual gift” obsession lately too, first roses, now general gifts. Apparently this is what he considers “innovation” in the online dating world.
To be honest I’m amazed he has no real competition… yet.
April 20, 2007 at 5:46 am |
That is one of the ugliest logos I have ever seen…then again, it’s better than what you had on there before
Anyway, whatever works for you!
April 20, 2007 at 6:43 am |
[.. wiping coffee off monitor]
Cough.. splutter.. yup, I’d agree with the above – its hideous – the stuff of nightmares.
I’d also agree it suits plentyoffish perfectly.
April 20, 2007 at 7:06 am |
Logo is shit. Adapt or die mate. ha ha
April 20, 2007 at 7:34 am |
Let the man use that logo. It is not that bad Markus. However, you will not be able to brand that logo… it is hard to remember.
April 20, 2007 at 9:18 am |
This logo sucks hard. I was very put off when first seeing it. Now let me explain using an analogy you will certainly understand. You know how it is said that some things are better left to the imagination? Such as a woman actually leaving some clothes on?
It goes like that with your website plenty of fish. When I read the site name and say it in my mind I conjure up my own version of a pleasant image relating to the name “Plenty Of Fish”. Maybe a group of fine ladies who all suddenly notice me and smile etc.
When I see that horrid fish I just want to puke. Git rid of it or you will lose people as they start to form a negative image of the phrase “Plenty Of Fish” instead of conjuring up their own pleasant image as I do when I read the name of your site.
If you just have to have a logo then use a pod of sleek looking dolphins or whales swimming together and make them very sleek and a-sexual looking.
###
April 20, 2007 at 1:34 pm |
Im shocked your even using it
April 20, 2007 at 1:49 pm |
Looks a little … offish ….
April 20, 2007 at 2:16 pm |
mrrbob: It does suck hard, everyone agrees with that, but the point is that making a eye-sore of a site attracts the average punter (case in point: MySpace)
Not trying to be facetious but I really think Markus’ lack of taste/whatever is what made PofF so successful. Professionally made websites look very intimidating to the average user.
April 20, 2007 at 3:04 pm |
africa: I don’t buy that at all, people don’t flock to a site because it looks like crap. They usually flock to a site that makes the core functions simple, and to the point. That’s how POF started out, it is slowly moving away from that as he adds all kind of crap that just gets in the way of actually finding someone.
Look at how fast FaceBook is taking off… It is an extremely simple design, but it looks good.
I do believe however that you can very easily “over design” a site that would put people off just as much as making it look crappy. Your “OMG” factor, while it does work to get someone to check it out for the first time, will NOT keep someone coming back, so you’re really shooting yourself in the foot. Its kind of like a car accident, people want to look, but once they get a glimpse of the pool of blood on the pavement, they regret it.
A well designed SIMPLE site will always attract more people, and keep them attracted longer then any crappy looking site, assuming a level playing field.
Saying that people relate better to sites that look like crap is like saying people like cars that look like crap, or clothes that look like crap too. Its just not the case.
April 20, 2007 at 4:23 pm |
Honestly its bad, sorry but i think after reading all these kind comments you will know what to with your logo design. Your taregt market is looking for something nice and pretty.
A have question here Does a logo have to be a literal meaning of the name or it could reflect the nature of business or the nature of firm.
Sultry fish
Cute fish
Sober fish
No fish at all
In this case especially the name is self explanatory. What else we can use if not a fish in the logo?
April 20, 2007 at 4:48 pm |
[...] just could resists quoting “Mike” from PlentyOfFish blog comments, since his post precisely support my point: “I don’t buy that at all, people [...]
April 20, 2007 at 5:03 pm |
Is it April 1st?? (Checks calendar) Hm, nope.
April 20, 2007 at 5:04 pm |
Markus,
I would be happy to create a great one for you. Let me know if your interested…
April 20, 2007 at 5:33 pm |
Mike: I honestly hope you’re right, although I fear the majority of POF users may prefer golden unicorns singing Jingle Bells on their dating sites:
(taken from the current POF front page)
“I LIKE TO THINK OF MYSELF AS AN ANGEL…”
” ive got 2 dogs and im in to tropical fish boring i no lol”
“I’M THAT GUY THAT’S NOT ON HERE TALKING A WHOLE LOT OF BULL sh*t, I’M JUST BEING REAL. LADY”
April 20, 2007 at 6:00 pm |
There is no dount what so ever that the logo is terrifying!
HOWEVER;
what you guys fail to recognize is the ‘esthetics of ugly’,
who has more customers: Prada or WalMart?
April 20, 2007 at 7:47 pm |
There was a reason you did not use the logo when the “designer” first produced it. I hate your former banner, but even that was better than this.
April 20, 2007 at 9:20 pm |
Trust in your success. Evaluate what others have told you, but go with your gut. It’s served you well in the past.
And for those who slice and dice:
“The credit belongs to the man who is in the arena…”
April 21, 2007 at 2:09 am |
I think it’s fun as a caricatue, but that looks like it could seriously hurt your site. I think it would work better as a comic strip type of thing. As a logo, it just doesn’t work. Or maybe it looks like it could work on the cover of the New Yorker or Atlantic Monthly if they ever do a stoy on your site.
April 21, 2007 at 2:12 am |
Uhhhg. just checked your site…my eyes… take it down ..take it down. I hear your Adsense plummetting. I also think it would work a playboy magazine article as well. Yep, I think that is definitely magazine article art.
April 21, 2007 at 2:56 am |
You really need to ditch the logo because it has very negative connotations. I don’t see how anything positive can come out of using it… Better to have plain text.
April 21, 2007 at 3:17 am |
Just as I said before, let your own mind create the picture of what Plenty of Fish is. Keep with plain text on the site.
April 21, 2007 at 11:51 am |
It looks very vulgar and cheap, but then again, if you’re marketing a mass market site free dating site, you don’t necessarily want to aim high. My main problem with it is that it’s too blue. It will appeal to men but totally put off women.
April 21, 2007 at 12:42 pm |
Disgusting Logo. It was a good idea to pull it.
April 21, 2007 at 10:15 pm |
Vastly different effect in different markets both positive and negative. I changed to much stuff at once and can’t tell what is effecting what so i yanked it for later. Oddly enough it was increasing signups.
April 22, 2007 at 3:44 am |
I’m not a fan of the logo either. However, how about using some of the POF community and set up a contest (with member voting/feedback) for say 500 bucks or so, to the best design for a new logo.
I think with the hordes of people on the site, a handful will jump at the prestige and bragging rights amongst their peers as the new logo designer.
I feel awkward bringing up this next point, but with the huge surge on Facebook in response to the Virginia Tech shootings, do you think this will push myspace off the map in the next year?
April 22, 2007 at 4:24 am |
you should make a contest.
Money is not an issue for you.
for a couple houndred bucks you gill get pieces of art for your logo.
seriously do it. like smashing magazine did it. look at all the logo options they had.
April 22, 2007 at 6:27 pm |
Markus, you always provide a good laugh, I think thats why I keep coming back.
“I changed to much stuff at once and can’t tell what is effecting what so i yanked it for later. Oddly enough it was increasing signups.”
Way to contradict yourself.
April 22, 2007 at 8:39 pm |
OH BS, you would not have pulled it if it was really increasing sign ups. Watch out Markus as we are not stupid and seeing through that one was not too hard.
April 23, 2007 at 7:40 am |
Far too complex for a brand. – The simplest logos work in my opinion.
April 23, 2007 at 7:40 am |
On another subject
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&viewitem=&item=280107022484&rd=1&rd=1
April 23, 2007 at 7:42 am |
It increased signups a lot in certain countries, in others (australia) it totally killed it. There is a world beyond the USA….
April 23, 2007 at 9:21 am |
Martin,
why are you backing out of the game?
April 23, 2007 at 10:09 am |
ohh my head hurts too much from trying to expand it big – Its doing well, but I cant seem to hit the big time and feel I have reached my own personal limits. – Of course Id happily discuss any deals where a partnew might benefit. my msn is msn (at) criteria (dot) uk.com if anyone is interested.
Of course, If I had the flow of traffic, I could make the site entirely free and so the same as Markus
April 23, 2007 at 10:10 am |
What Id really like is for Markus to have my site with his traffic
I think we’d do well!
April 23, 2007 at 10:19 am |
Who’s up for a merger
!
April 23, 2007 at 2:46 pm |
Markus… buy the man out!
April 23, 2007 at 2:48 pm |
Best of luck Martin in your future endeavors!
April 23, 2007 at 3:10 pm |
hey, cheers! – have to see what happens. I’ll hang around for now anyway
April 23, 2007 at 3:34 pm |
Markus.
At least a ligh-hearted question for you, how well do you think your members would receive http://www.cheekyflirt.com if they were on it?
I know our members are quite addicted to it, Im sure your members are to yours – just thinking out loud, but would welcome your thoughts.
April 24, 2007 at 7:26 am |
oh i hate being ignored.
April 26, 2007 at 2:23 pm |
I’m afraid I agree with the majority of others here – as soon as I saw that logo I was a little repulsed! I really hope you don’t use it on your site, and also hope you aren’t using it on your business cards! People will think you are some kind of third-rate fishmonger!
April 27, 2007 at 2:16 pm |
aww, maybe i’ll go free
May 14, 2007 at 10:20 pm |
Hi Markus, I do like the logo. It’s not a logo, it’s a statement, a fishy statement. It fits perfect within the POF touch (if this exsists). It’s authentic, stubborn and provocative. So use it!!
Best regards & lots of success,
Arthur
Amsterdam
The Netherlands
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October 7, 2007 at 11:12 pm |
I’ve taken a lot of inspiration from you Marcus, what you have done with your site has helped me to make some good money in other verticals as well as dating. As far as the logo goes I’m not a fan – sorry.