Marketing With Color

​In the world of competitive online marketing it’s no longer enough just to pick a 'nice' color. 'It's pretty' or 'It fits the theme' isn't enough to make your marketing stand out in the online ocean. Here are a few tips to help you pick the right color for your next marketing project.
 
Red:
Red means STOP right? In a way yes. Red stands out and makes a person stop and look. You'll see this color used often in clearance aisles at stores. It is also the color used in heart health campaigns and romance marketing. Why does this help? Using colors people already have a preconceived notion of allows you to better capture the correct audience. Red is a good eye catcher. Use it when advertising sales, marketing things involving health and medical, and with romance-related things like 'date nights' or Valentine’s marketing.
 
Blue:
Blue is for boys, right? Well as stereotypical as it is, most men are more attracted to this color. It's also associated with law enforcement and EMS. Why does this help? In marketing towards certain audiences, you need to know what is most eye catching. When targeting a male audience blue is a more appealing color. Blue is also associated with water and good for advertising things like 'pool night' or 'lakeside camping'.
 
Green:
Green, the color of money. It's not the top eye-catching color unless paired with a big dollar sign or a lot of environmental imagery, but it can convey a very strong message. You see this color used a lot on environmentally friendly things. This is a good color to use when promoting things such as 'trash pick ups' or '10 ways to save money’ but is also a color to stay away from if you are trying to market a completely different event.
 
Purple:
Throughout history, purple has been a color associated with royalty. This is because in old times, purple dye was harder to come by and was often only affordable to royals. This is important, because this color conveys a sense of class and sophistication. You most often see it used in high-end makeup marketing every day and don't notice it. This color is great to use for a classy event, but not good for events like BBQs and park outings.
 
Orange and Yellow:
As eye popping and catching as they are, be warned that this is also the color of caution signs. These colors should be used as accents, because overwhelming amounts of these can create a sense of anxiety.
 
Black:
‘Black tie event’ is what first comes to mind, and is what many people associate with black. It's clean and professional. Sharp. Easily seen. But be warned, it should not be over used. A little black goes a long way, and people can also get tired of seeing one black-based image after another. Also remember, it's dark and hard to see in certain light. If you're designing a flyer or poster, a little black will be enough.
 
Gray:
Gray is a hard color to use because most people will associate it with an old gray man or a gray rainy day. In moderation it can be seen as a symbol of something timeless, or valuable like silver. This is the reason most gray and white flyers are overlooked. Use gray for accents, and pair it with a complimentary color that helps you convey a better message.
 
White:
This color is associated with purity, cleanliness, and grace. Things like clouds and angels are often depicted with white. White is a blank slate and allows other colors, even black, to stand out and be intensified. Use this for events such as 'church outings' or pair it with other colors such as black to add sophistication. Remember black, white, and gray are the least eye catching colors. If making a flyer or social media post, consider pairing it with a color that fits your theme such as red or blue.
 
Brown:
When you ask a child what is brown, you frequently may hear wood. This is because this is the most prevalent brown things we see every day. Brown is an earthy color which allows it to pair well with colors such as green and blue. Brown is also used in many logos as it stands out yet is neutral enough to not scream in your face.