

It may not surprise you to learn that when branding your business, looks mean everything. A whopping 93 percent of consumers place visual appearance and color above all other factors when shopping, surveys from Kissmetrics show. What’s more, 85 percent say color is their primary reason for buying. Does that mean that because Pantone named Buttercup a hot color for spring you should start using bright yellow in all your marketing materials?
Not necessarily: You should always stay true to the colors and visuals familiar to your audience. On the other hand, you may just be starting out in business or ready for a branding makeover. For business owners in need of a whole new look, the importance of choosing the right colors for your branding can’t be emphasized enough.
Black: For a clean and modern look, shades of black and gray are recommended. These shades can also signify authority and power. Be careful with how much black you use, as it can imply evil. In marketing materials, black stands out the best against other colors. However, it’s not to be used as a background on websites, as it makes them too hard to read.
White: White is clean and symbolizes innocence and purity. It’s simple and light; other colors stand out best against white. Too much white, however, could come off as stark and cold.
Red: Red attracts attention and projects energy and excitement. It can also convey intensity and sometimes anger.
Green: Green is calming and can symbolize luck, generosity, peace, the environment, and wealth. Green and white look great together. Green is positive and nurturing. On the negative side, the color green can imply materialism and a possessive nature.
Blue: When people are asked their favorite color, “blue” is the most popular answer. Blue puts people in a good mood and creates a sense of calmness. Watch out, though: Some shades of blue can seem cold and institutional.
Yellow: Yellow is cheery and stimulates the brain. It is the color of new ideas and inquisitiveness. But it can also be overwhelming if there’s too much or if it’s too bright.
Purple: Purple shades have been shown to help balance the mind and calm fears. Purple can also convey royalty, wealth, femininity, and wisdom. Combining the energy and strength of red with the spirituality and integrity of blue, it stimulates the imagination and inspires.
When using color in your branding and marketing material, you need to test the colors in every aspect of your business, from business cards to your website to signage and more. Here are a few tips:
Vistaprint provides millions of business owners with quality, affordable printed and digital marketing products to help them look professional and promote their businesses. Products include business cards, postcards, brochures, signage, apparel, and promotional products. Vistaprint enables customers to select a professionally designed template to personalize, upload their own finished design to be printed, or integrate their logo or image into a design that’s right for them.
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