Make the logo bigger and other things not to say
Unlike some industries where you pay for a service and receive the work with little interaction, you (the client) have an important role to play in the design process. Let's take a look at the importance of being prepared for the journey, and a few things you can do to ensure you get the best out of the project.
Don't make the logo bigger
Ok, let's start with the what-not to say. "Make the logo bigger" - a universally painful request for any agency or designer to hear. More importantly, it's almost never a solution, and here's why. The size of the logo will not improve the logo, it won't (contrary to belief) make your brand more memorable, and it certainly won't make a customer/client any more likely to engage with you. I get it, you just spent a good chunk of money on your new brand, and you want to show it off, but talk...don't shout. Your brand is much more than your logo, it's the typefaces, the colour palette, the tone of voice in your copy, it's everything and anything that represents you and your business. Sure, the logo is arguably the centre-piece, the mark that a customer or client can always remember and associate with you, but there's no reason for it to be any bigger - seriously ;)
Have expectations and do your research
Having a vision is never a bad thing. After all, it's your brand and you've likely grown as it has. You might have very strong core values that are just as important to your customers/clients as they are to you. You might be in the process of evolution and need to convey a new message. Whatever your situation is, be clear and thorough when explaining to your designer/agency. The more detail and information you can pass directly from your mind to theirs, the more they can feel a part of the brand and buy into the same vision. This will also fuel the designer with an overload of ideas and inspiration, which is great - we are creatives after all. It's also important to do your research. If you don't already know, be sure to find out who your competition is, and take a critical eye to their brand/website. What are they doing well? What's not working? It's important to try and put yourself in the shoes of your clients/customers - remember they are the ones who are going to be engaging with your brand and deciding whether to use your services or not. You might love the colour hot pink, but is it right for your customers?
Personal space - take a step back
Whilst having ideas and a vision is great, it's equally important to be open-minded. Your designer has likely spent years studying, working and experimenting, is up-to-date on trends and has experience seeing what works and what doesn't. Giving them a bit of freedom will almost always be rewarding. Remember that you're paying for their expertise and ideas, not just their knowledge of the Adobe suite. There may be periods where there's not a huge amount of communication between the designer and yourself, and that's ok. Sometimes a bit of space to work through ideas and experiment is good. Your designer will always keep you in the loop and values your input (after all, you know the brand better than anyone), but sometimes it takes a bit of time to create something that encompasses your brand ethos and they're proud to show you.