Colour Psychology is a vital key in branding.
You might think the colour you choose to represent your brand just needs to be appealing to the eye, right? Wrong, your brand colours tell the viewer a lot more about your brand than you might realise. Today we are going to take a look at the psychology of colour and what it means for you.
Colours evoke emotions and have a strong impact on customers. In fact, Brand Minds state that 80% of consumers believe colour enhances brand recognition and can raise visual appearance by 93%. That’s a lot of influence so it’s important to get it right.
Choosing the right colour and then using it effectively will have a real impact on your business. Let’s explore each colour in detail.
Red is the colour of passion. It increases you heart-rate and provokes excitement. It’s energetic, aggressive and intense. It also encourages appetite making it a great choice for McDonalds.
Purple exudes luxury and elegance. It’s the colour of royalty and often associated with high-end products such as Rolex. It also conjures feelings of mystery and spirituality.
Blue is one of the most popular colours used by brands. Associated with feelings of trust and security it gives the viewer a sense of confidence and can boost customer loyalty. LinkedIn uses this effectively to give its brand a sense of credibility.
Green symbolises wealth and serenity. It is often associated with health and tranquility and not surprising environmentally friendly brands. Hello Fresh uses green to promote themselves as a safe and fresh food brand.
Yellow is the colour of happiness and positivity. Giving off feelings of hope and optimism, it’s a high energy and uplifting colour. Snapchat embodies the feelings associated with yellow so it’s no wonder they have integrated it into their branding.
Orange is a creative and cheerful colour. Blending the passion of red and the brightness of yellow it gives off a warm and friendly vibe that Amazon has used with great effect.
Brown embodies simplicity and nurturing. Associated with the earth it is a very grounding colour but needs to be used carefully. Gloria Jean’s is a great example effectively using brown to evoke comfort.
Black is a classic choice. Sophisticated and timeless, it can elicit strong emotions or add an air of class. Well used by high end brands like Nike and Ralph Lauren, it’s another luxurious colour choice.
And last but certainly not least is White, the colour of purity. It’s a simple and clean colour eliciting feelings of trust and innocence. The symbol of new beginnings and neutrality it’s a favourite of cosmetic brands and cleaning products alike.
What does all this mean for you. Think about what your brand represents and use the psychology of colour to bring you closer to your target audience.
What are your brand colours? Do you agree with these meanings? Share your thoughts in the comments.