What Part Does Colour Play in Branding

Branding Colours: Everything You Need to Know

Humans are very visual creatures and are known to respond to different colours both mentally and emotionally, which is why the worlds biggest brands put a lot of time and money into their branding and choice of colours. In this blog, we will discuss why you need to choose your colours carefully and why the colours you choose can play a more significant part than you might think!

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Why Does Colour Matter in Branding?

If you speak to the general public about colours in branding, they will be more likely than not to say maybe a few choice words about exciting or eye-catching. Still, not many will know that companies can spend vast amounts of money choosing their branding colours and why. The choice of colours and shades used can speak volumes about the business they represent they can:

• Envoke emotions and feelings towards the brand. 
• Speak volumes about the brand.
• Make a brand instantly recognisable.

The colour choice for your brand could give the right or wrong impression; for instance, if you are selling meditation services and your branding is very excited and bold, you could be even at a subliminal level putting potential customers off. We will dig into the relationship between colour and emotion below in more depth. 

What Emotions Do Certain Colours Represent?

Everyone portrays colour differently, in fact, most people see colours differently, but there are a few colours you can rely on to know what they mean. For instance, there is no secret why brands like Lego and Virgin use red – as it evokes feelings of excitement and youthfulness. Facebook, Twitter and Ford all use blues as they provoke feelings leaning towards trust and dependability. Here are a few more:

• Yellow: Warmth, clarity, optimism.
• Orange: Cheerful, confident, friendly.
• Red: Bold, youth, excitement, danger.
• Purple/pink: Creative, imaginative, wise.
• Green: Growth, Eco-friendly, healthy, peaceful.
• Blue: Strength, dependable, trustworthy, futuristic.
• Grey: Calm, neutral, balanced, luxurious.
• Rainbow: Entertaining, flexible, inclusive. 

How to Define Your Brand Identity Using Colours

Getting your business brand identity right from day one is imperative, as once your business is up and running, rebranding can be both expensive and time-consuming. To get it right, you need to decide on a few things:

• What you want your brand to represent: Do you want to be perceived as trustworthy, exciting, dependable or something else?
• Who is your target market: Choosing colours that appeal to the younger generation when your sell stairlifts, for instance, would not benefit your business. 
• Consistency: Will the brand colours help you stand out among your competitors and not just blend in? Equally, will they fit in with the industry you are aiming to work within? 

What Part Does Colour Play in Branding Summary

You might have thought that the colours used by brands were just chosen at random, but now know that each colour used by a business is selected for a reason. Here at Morgan Branding, we know what works – after all, it is in our name! We have been helping small and medium business owners get their branding right since 2015 and what we have learned is that colour choice is critical to get right, not from 3 weeks in, not from a year in, but day 1. It defines how the rest of your marketing should look, your website, your uniforms and social media presences. 

Need further advice? Get in touch with us here at Morgan Branding we have a fully dedicated team ready to help you and your business get ahead online. You can get in touch via our contact page or get social with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or LinkedIn! 

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