Picking the right branding colors for your website is like picking the right outfit for a big party. It’s important for your business, whether you’re just starting or thinking of changing your look. It helps you get ready to succeed.

In fact, a study from DemandGen shows that most people prefer to get information through visuals. So, when you’re designing your website, picking the right colors is a must-have. Colors affect how people perceive your brand and make choices, so by using the right branding colors, you create visuals that catch people’s eyes.

But how do you know which colors best fit your brand? Here are five simple tips to help you.

1. Understand color meanings

Every color makes us feel something. That’s called color psychology. When you’re picking colors, think about what emotions they bring, for example:

• Red. Red makes you think of fun activity. Coca-Cola’s red logo is famous for this.
• Blue. Blue is calm and makes you trust. IBM is known as “Big Blue” because of its blue logo.
• Green. Green makes you think of nature. Starbucks’ green logo shows their connection to health and growth.
• Yellow. Yellow is happy and friendly. McDonald’s yellow arches show that they want you to feel good.
• Purple.Purple is often linked to wealth and extravagance. Cadbury’s purple packaging shows royalty.
• White. White is clean and simple. Apple’s white logo is all about being modern and easy to use.

2. Consider your audience

Identify your customer personas or avatars and use branding colors that match their personalities. For example, bright and bold colors might click more with young people, while softer shades might be better for older ones. Also, colors mean different things in different cultures. In many Western places, white means purity. But in some Eastern and Asian places, it’s linked to death.

3. Look at your competitors

Check out your competitors and and see what branding colors they use for inspiration. Do their colors work well? Can you tell what they offer just by looking at their colors? This can give you an idea of what works in your industry. Then, think about how you can make your brand different. If everyone’s using red, you could use a different shade or even a totally different color to stand out.

4. Pick a color palette

A color palette is a set of matching colors for your site. It typically includes a main color, a secondary color, and some neutral colors like black, white, or gray. The color wheel is a helpful tool to find colors that go well together in a palette. When creating your palette, make sure the colors complement well. You can use tools like Adobe Color or Coolors to help you faster. Canva’s color palette generator can also create color combos quickly.

5. Test your colors

Before you settle on your colors, try them out. Make a staging site with your colors and ask friends, family, coworkers, or potential customers what they think. Listen to what they say about the colors. Take note, picking colors for your site isn’t just about going with your favorites. It’s about showcasing your brand style, clicking with your audience, and being different from the rest.

Brushing up

If choosing branding colors isn’t your thing and you’re too busy to hire a web developer or designer, just give us a call. We can do everything from web development and design, marketing to SEO. You can count on us to save you money and keep everything on brand.