How to Choose Your Brand Color Palette
Building a great brand is all about developing a visual trust 👀 with your audience. We all know how important it is to have a great business name, stellar services 🌟 and clients who want to buy from you, obviously, but rarely do we think about how your visual messaging can impact your business and sales goals.
When prospective clients see your social media posts, your business cards, your website, what do you want them to feel? How people feel when they interact with your brand is everything. It’s the silent support that lets a client know, oh yes, this is for ME! 👍 This is how a well-crafted brand can support your business.
Powerful branding isn’t just about logos or typography, it’s also about color 🌈. The most iconic brands have a color palette that is instantly recognizable. Think about Nike. If you were driving down the highway and saw a billboard with a grainy black and white photo with a single white check, would you know what it meant? Most likely, yes. That’s because Nike has spent decades building a visual trust with its audience. This is the power of a well-executed brand.
The consistent use of color across various channels and products not only gives these brands a consistent aesthetic but also evokes specific emotional responses from their audience. But how do you choose the right color palette for your brand? This is where color psychology comes in handy . In this blog post, we will guide you through the process of choosing your brand colors using color psychology. Let's embark on this colorful journey!
Your brand, your vibe
First things first, you need to get to know your brand as intimately as you know your favorite pair of jeans 👖. What are the core values that your brand lives and breathes by? How would you describe its personality? Most importantly, how do you want people to feel when they interact with your brand? This isn’t a time to be shy 🙈, it's time to delve deep and bring out the real essence of your brand. Ask Yourself:
If your brand were a celebrity, what celebrity would they be? 🎬
If your brand were a person, what clothing brand would they wear? 👗
How do you want people to feel when they interact with your brand? 🤝
Know Your Tribe
When you're crafting your brand, it’s not about you. It’s about your dream clients. You’re already excited and invested in your brand, now it’s time to get your clients on board. Your brand should resonate with the values and aspirations of your tribe because ultimately it's them you are trying to win over. Ask yourself:
Who are your dream clients, and what values resonate with them?
What brands do your dream clients love and why? 💗
If you need help narrowing down your dream clients and finding your tribe, head over to our Find Your FYT Blog here for more tools to help you.
The power of colors
This is where color psychology comes into play. It provides a structure that lends clarity, confidence, and cohesion to the brand design process. Your colors should reflect the values and emotions you've outlined for your business. Here's a rundown of the typical emotions associated with various colors:
Red – Excitement, Strength, Love, Energy, Boldness.
Pink – Warmth, Femininity, Caring, Intuition.
Purple – Luxury, Creativity, Respectability, Spirituality, Courage.
Orange – Optimism, Motivation, Friendliness, Freedom.
Yellow – Joy, Inspiration, Warmth,
Green – Growth, Healing, Generosity, Serenity.
Blue – Calm, Trust, Confidence, Peace.
Brown – Security, Dependability, Simplicity, Robustness.
Black – Sophistication, Drama, Power, Professionalism.
Gold – Confidence, Luxury, Abundance, Charm.
White – Purity, Peace, Simplicity, Freshness.
Start by finding photography you are drawn to since photos can capture the emotions we've identified in a more nuanced way than a single color. Ask yourself. Why would your tribe connect with it? Observe the colors you're drawn to and start pulling colors from there. Combine a few colors with a few more and start gathering palettes that will resonate with your dream clients. Keep trying until you find the right blend for your business!
Seasonal Personalities
Each of the four seasons represents distinct characteristics and personalities, and understanding which season resonates with your brand can help in crafting a memorable brand. Remember, you’re creating an experience. And experiences are remembered more by how they make people feel than how they look. Think of the characteristics of each season:
Spring: Characterized by its spontaneity, creativity, and communication, the Spring personality is light and full of life. Use light, bright colors with a delicate softness, reflecting a brand that doesn't take itself too seriously 🌸.
Summer: The Summer personality is graceful, intuitive, and highly responsible. Summer brands should use cool, delicate, and muted colors, embodying timeless elegance and quality 🏖️.
Autumn: The Autumn personality is organic, passionate, and innovative. Warm, intense, muted colors support this personality, reflecting a strong connection to nature and a love for the arts 🍂.
Winter: The Winter personality is dramatic, luxurious, and minimalist, all at the same time. Use bright, intense colors with a cool undertone to reflect a highly focused approach ❄️.
Don’t feel boxed in by your color season. You can incorporate elements from another season to balance out your brand values. The important thing is to maintain a cohesive color palette rooted in one season.
Bring Your Brand to Life
Now that you've done all the hard thinking, it's time to design your unique color palette. One that screams "YOU" and resonates with your tribe. One that ties everything together - your brand values, your tribe's values, and the emotions you want to elicit. Remember, your brand color palette isn't just a random selection of pretty color; it's a carefully designed story that weaves together everything your brand stands for 🎨.
Choosing the right color palette for your brand is a journey 🗺️, and we hope this guide has made your path a little clearer. And if you
Want more support in choosing the color palette that’s right for you? Maybe even some color inspiration? Add your details below to grab a copy of our How to Choose Your brand Colors Workbook! With fresh color palettes and exercises to help you choose!
