Color My World
Written by Deb Dorchak - September 1, 2011 0 Comments
Have you ever thought about how color affects the visitors to your website? The colors you choose have more of an impact than you may realize. The wrong colors could instantly drive traffic away, while the right colors will actually encourage someone to stay on your site and click around.
People spend years studying the science of color. But since we don’t have years, I’ll tell you a little bit about how each color can evoke specific responses from the visitors to your site.
Red. This color is a mover and shaker. It’ll rev people up and get them moving…and if you’re not careful with how you use it, they’ll move right off your site. Red is best used sparingly, unless you have a food blog. It’s no mistake McDonalds’ logo is ketchup red and mustard yellow. Those colors stimulate the appetite.
Orange. Orange is all about energy, too. In fact, any of the warm colors are. Traditionally, Orange represents grounded creative energy. In softer shades it can be soothing as a sunset. Make it too bright and it will be as jarring as too much red.
Yellow. Yellow is a fun mood booster. It reminds people of sunshine and you can’t help but smile when you think about it.
Green. With green we start to cross over into the cooler, more tranquil colors. Green can be just as tricky as Red. Use too much of it and in the wrong shade, and you run the risk of visitors going “Ew!” and running away. Green is the color of summer and nature. It can be stimulating or soothing, depending on whether you have a green with more energizing Yellow or calming Blue.
Blue. This color is probably the most common and most versatile of all the colors when it comes to websites. Blue is a favorite of corporate sites because of its professional bearing. Blue can be fun, light and energizing, or it can be as tranquil and soothing as a zen garden.
Black and White. There’s an ongoing debate about sites with black backgrounds. Some will say black is good for photography sites because it makes the images “pop”. Others will say no. As our friend Laurie said over at Artist Geek, “Have you ever seen a painting hanging on a black gallery wall?”
I have to admit, I’d never thought of it that way before. Personally, I like images on black backgrounds. I also don’t mind light text on a dark background. For me and others, the white is too glaring. But, for a majority of people, the opposite is true. There really is no wrong or right on this one, it really depends on your audience.
White is another story. It can be clean and sleek…if it’s done right. White does not mean Empty. Minimalist designs may look easy to accomplish, but they’re really the among one of the hardest looks to pull off and do it well.
When considering a redesign on your site, or if you’re doing a site for the first time, sit yourself down and really think about what your colors are saying about you and your business. Just because you like purple and pink doesn’t mean you should use it on your site if it doesn’t fit the way you want to brand yourself.
Do some research, check out your competition and look at what they’re using. Learn what your target audience would find appealing and attractive.
Get your colors right and you’re on your way to a better site.
Want to learn how to conquer your fear of success and get back on track?
Read the Comments
No Outstanding Responses to "Color My World"