Use an text logo

Most of us think of logos as graphics that can only be used on Web sites or in graphic files, but you can create a text version of your logo and add it to your e-mail or discussion group signatures. Just come up with a combination of text characters that looks like your logo. It doesn't have to be a faithful reproduction, as long as it's recognizable. Here are some keys to making a text logo:

* Don't use more than one space between characters, and don't use spaces to align text on your screen. Spaces change when viewed in different fonts or at different screen resolutions, and your carefully-arranged letters can move around as a result.

* Don't use special symbols, because they may not exist on every computer where your logo is being viewed. Stick with the symbols you can see on your keyboard, and you'll be okay.

* Check out your finished logo on as many different computer systems as possible. This is your best insurance against a logo that becomes unrecognizable when viewed on other computers; it gives you a chance to spot and repair problems in the logo's design.