One of the most unique and interesting aspect of your business’ brand and online presence – website, social media, blogs, e-newsletters, traditional advertising, signage, etc. – is the psychology behind your brand’s colors. Certain colors are known to create a definitive feeling or emotion in people, and depending on the color and what mood is trying to be created, this can have a positive or negative effect. Even worse is the possibility that you have different dominant colors appearing on your digital channels. Consistency in branding, including your color selection, is crucial to convey stability and organization.
So just what do some popular colors say when used in your branding?
Blue demonstrates strength, trust, and dependability, and has a calming effect on people. It is a very common color for brands, and thus will require creative strategies to stand out and be noticed. More men than women prefer blue, and if you are looking to portray respect and loyalty with your business, blue is a great color to choose. Think IBM, Ford, and American Express.
Red is one of the most powerful colors to impact emotions, often creating a sense of urgency. When red is part of your color scheme, there is a sense of energy, passion, and excitement. Often red is popular with brands that are looking to portray boldness and powers. Think ESPN, Coca Cola, and Netflix.
Black symbolizes power, sophistication, and luxury, especially when the design includes simple and sleek black and white contrast. If your business is looking to display a sense of elegance and authority, a tasteful use of black as your main color can be very effective. Think Puma, MTV, and Ralph Lauren.
Green is generally a relaxing color that relates positively to health and wellness. In addition, there is a feeling of freshness, growth, and prosperity (the color of money!) when green is the color representing your brand. Think John Deere, XBOX, and Whole Foods.
Yellow is representative of youthfulness, sunshine, and happiness – all great emotions when associated with your brand! There are some design challenges when yellow is used as there is a natural lack of contrast with white backgrounds and accents, but this can be fixed when partnered with a bold, darker color. Think Best Buy, McDonald’s, and Yellow Pages.
Purple inspires thoughts of wealth, sophistication, and wisdom when it is part of your business’ color scheme. Over time, purple has always been associated with royalty, superiority, and prestige – and is a favorite color of 23 percent of women. Think Yahoo!, Cadbury, and FedEx.
Orange brings about a feeling of warmth as it is a color associated with the sun. This color inspires confidence, courage, and friendliness, and there also is an earth feeling generated as it is often associated with autumn. Think Nickelodeon, Mastercard, and Amazon.
Want to make sure your brand is on point? Reach out to Reach Beyond Marketing!
*Source: socialmediatoday.com