A lettermark is a type of logo consisting wholly of an abbreviation — usually a company’s initials. When building a brand, companies often do so using lettermarks. This is especially true when a company’s name may be hard to pronounce, or when there is difficulty translating a company’s name when doing business on an international level.

One thing to keep in mind, however, is that while the use of lettermarks can be very effective, they are not an effective solution for every company. Lettermark logos are better suited to companies that have a marketing budget large enough to allow them the time and money needed to educate the public on what their lettermark actually means.

The lettermarks listed below have been very effective in strengthening their respective company’s branding efforts, so much so that when we see them, we immediately know which companies they represent.

American Broadcasting Company

Cable News Network

General Electric

Home Box Office

Hewlett Packard

International Business Machines

National Aeronautics and Space Administration