Checking before you put a logo on a handout

Put a logo on a handout only when the organisation has agreed, and only when the logo tells the truth about who made the sheet. If you are simply sharing a resource, plain text naming it is usually the honest choice.

A logo is a small picture that carries a big message. Readers see it and think “this group made it”, “this group approves it” or “this group will look after me”.

What does a logo tell the reader?

It tells them whose voice they are hearing. A neighbour pinning a note to the surau noticeboard is sharing. A teacher with a certificate running a class is teaching. A clinic is giving care.

Sharing is passing on something you found useful. It does not carry the organisation’s authority, and your handout should not borrow it.

What should I check first?

Go through these questions before the sheet goes to the printer.

• Did the organisation say yes, in writing, to this exact use?
• Does its website have a page on how the logo may be used?
• Is the version you have the current one?
• Would a reader think the group wrote, checked or endorses your handout?
• Is there somewhere on the sheet that says who really made it?

If any answer is “not sure”, leave the logo off. Nothing is lost by writing the name in plain text.

Try this: a five-minute logo check

Do this once per handout, before printing.

1. Write the one sentence you want readers to believe, for example “A neighbour is passing on a free resource.”
2. Look at the draft and ask whether the logo makes any other sentence believable, such as “This is an official class.”
3. If it does, remove the logo or ask the organisation for written permission.
4. Add a line near the top: “Shared by [your name]. Not made or checked by the organisation named.”
5. Name the resource in plain text and give its own web page, so readers can read the source themselves.

How do I ask the organisation?

Keep the message short and specific. Say who you are, what the handout is, where it will be shared and who will see it.

Ask a yes-or-no question: “May we place your logo on this handout?” Attach the draft. If the reply is slow or unclear, treat it as a no for now.

What if the handout is about a meditation resource?

Be extra clear that you are sharing, not teaching or giving care. A handout from a friend is not a class, and it is not a replacement for a doctor or counsellor. Say so in one plain sentence, and link when to get more support for readers who need more than a handout.

If you also explain the difference to a group, our guide on resource sharing versus guiding a session helps you find the words.

Fitting it into a real Malaysian week

Handouts can travel further than planned. A sheet for the residents’ association ends up in the family WhatsApp group, then in an office chat. Each time it moves, the logo travels with it, and so does the impression that the organisation stands behind it.

Put your name and the date on the sheet. Our guide on keeping source dates on a printed handout shows a simple footer. For the images you use, see original previews that show the resource accurately.

Where to go next

Wording matters as much as pictures. Try a short optional invitation to try a resource for sentences that invite without pushing. Everything on this theme is gathered on the sharing calm with family, friends and groups page.

When your handout is ready, you might sit for a few minutes yourself. Sadhguru’s free seven-minute guided meditation in the Miracle of Mind app is there if you would like it, and it is entirely optional.