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Color Crash Course: Using Color in Your Brand

Spencer Smith • May 04, 2023

Color Crash Course: Using Color in Your Brand


Color is an essential aspect of brand design. The colors you choose for your brand have the power to evoke emotions, communicate your message, and make a lasting impression on your audience. Understanding Color Theory can help you make informed decisions when it comes to choosing the right colors for the face of your business. But, before we discuss applying color to your brand identity, let’s take a look at some Color Theory basics. 


What is Color Theory?


Color Theory is a set of principles that explain how colors work together and how they can be used to influence different moods and emotions. It includes the study of color hues, saturation, brightness, contrast, and harmony. There are three primary colors: red, yellow, and blue. All other colors are derived from them and the words below help explain how these colors are described. Below are some helpful terms we use to describe color:


  • Hue: Hue refers to the actual color itself, such as red, blue, or green. It's what we typically think of when we think of color.
  • Saturation: Saturation refers to how intense or pure a color is. Highly saturated colors are vibrant and intense, while desaturated colors are more muted and subdued.
  • Brightness: Brightness refers to how light or dark a color is. A bright color is lighter and more white incorporated, while a dark color has more black incorporated and is more somber.
  • Contrast: Contrast refers to the difference between colors. High contrast means that two colors have a significant difference in brightness or hue, while low contrast means that the colors are similar.
  • Harmony: Color harmony refers to the way that colors work together in a design. When colors are harmonious, they create a pleasing and unified visual experience. Different color harmonies include complementary, analogous, and monochromatic color schemes.



Color Psychology


Color psychology is the study of how colors affect human behavior and emotions. Different colors can evoke different emotions and reactions in people. For example, red is often associated with passion, energy, and excitement, while blue is associated with calmness, trust, and professionalism. Color psychology has been used in marketing, advertising, and design to create specific moods or emotions in the viewer. By understanding the psychology of color, you can make informed decisions when choosing colors for your designs and marketing materials that evoke specific emotions and achieve their desired outcomes.


Color is Subjective


Color is a subjective experience that is relative to the viewer. The way we perceive color is influenced by a number of factors, including our genetics, environment, and cultural background. The lighting conditions and surroundings in which we view colors can affect our perception of them. Additionally, cultural associations with color can influence the way we interpret and respond to different colors. As a result, creators must be mindful of these differences when selecting colors for their designs, and consider how their target audience may perceive and respond to those colors.


Using Color in Brand Design


Here are some ways you can use color in your brand design:


1. Consider your brand's personality


The colors you choose for your brand should reflect your brand's personality. Are you a fun and playful brand, or a serious and professional brand? Different colors can help communicate different personalities. For example, bright and bold colors are often associated with playful and energetic brands, while muted and neutral colors are often associated with more serious and professional brands.


2. Use color to communicate your message


Color can also be used to communicate your brand's message. For example, if you're a green energy company, you might use shades of green to communicate your commitment to sustainability and the environment. Similarly, a wellness brand might use calming colors like blue and green to communicate relaxation and balance.


3. Create a color palette


Creating a color palette is a great way to ensure consistency across all of your brand's materials. Your color palette should include your primary colors, secondary colors, and any accent colors you might use. A good rule of thumb is to use no more than four or five colors in your palette.


4. Consider color contrast


When using multiple colors in your design, it's important to consider color contrast. Contrast helps ensure that your design is legible and easy to read. For example, if you use a dark background, you’ll need to use light text to create a clear contrast.


5. Test your colors


Finally, it's important to test your colors in different contexts to ensure they work well together. Consider how your colors look on different devices, in different lighting conditions, and in print materials. It’s also important to understand several types of color codes that designers and developers use to identify and specify colors accurately across different platforms and devices. Here are some of the most common types:


  • RGB: RGB stands for Red, Green, Blue. It's an additive color model used in digital devices to create a wide range of colors. In this model, colors are created by combining red, green, and blue light in different intensities. RGB color codes are expressed as three numbers between 0 and 255, representing the amount of red, green, and blue in the color.
  • CMYK: CMYK stands for Cyan, Magenta, Yellow, and Key (black). It's a subtractive color model used in printing to create a wide range of colors by subtracting light from white paper. CMYK color codes are expressed as percentages of each color, with 0% representing no color and 100% representing full color saturation.
  • HEX: HEX codes are six-digit hexadecimal codes used in web design to represent colors. Each digit represents a value between 0 and 15 in the RGB color model. For example, the HEX code for pure red is #FF0000.
  • HSL: HSL stands for Hue, Saturation, and Lightness. It's a cylindrical color model that specifies colors based on their hue, saturation, and brightness. HSL color codes are expressed as three values between 0 and 360 (for hue) and 0% to 100% (for saturation and brightness).
  • Pantone: Pantone colors are a standardized color system used in printing and graphic design. Each Pantone color has a unique code, making it easy to reproduce colors consistently across different platforms, devices, and printable surfaces. 



Understanding these different color codes can be helpful for designers and developers to ensure accurate and consistent color representation across different mediums.


Who knew that so much goes into color? Color Theory is a powerful tool in brand design. Understanding the psychology of color and how colors work together can help you create a strong and effective brand. When choosing colors for your brand, consider your brand's personality, message, and the emotions you want to evoke. But, don’t forget that color is subjective. Knowing the rules of Color Theory can help you effectively break them. By creating a well thought-out color palette and testing your colors in different contexts, you can create a memorable and impactful brand that resonates with your audience.

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According to peer-review website and software marketplace G2, about 53% of marketers spend at least half their budgets on lead generation. Without the right small business marketing tips, however, you could waste that budget on ineffective strategies. Instead, consider partnering with our experienced advertising agency. Working with an experienced team can ensure your next campaign's success. You can reach new customers, boost your ROI, and accomplish lasting growth. Not convinced? Read on to discover the benefits of advertising agencies before deciding. Accomplish Specific Goals The best advertising agencies will develop personalized solutions based on your business goals. For example, perhaps you're prioritizing: Brand awareness and recognition Brand trust and loyalty Website traffic Credibility Lead generation Our team will help you develop campaigns customized with your goals in mind. We'll track key performance indicators to ensure you're accomplishing distinct goals. We'll develop a comprehensive strategy, allowing you to reach consumers on different channels. These strategies may include: Content marketing Website design and development Search engine optimization (SEO) Paid advertising Social media marketing Email marketing Together, these strategies will allow you to direct consumers through the buyer's journey. You can show consumers the benefits of choosing your brand before winning their business. Using a comprehensive digital marketing strategy will enable brand awareness to grow. According to market insight company Exploding Topics, around four in five consumers need to trust a brand before buying from it. Generating brand trust can lead to more sales and long-term customers. Your cost-per-acquisition will decline as repeat customers keep shopping. At the same time, your ROI will soar. In fact, consumers are more than twice as likely to buy first, stay loyal, and advocate for brands they trust. Generating brand trust can increase word-of-mouth marketing, allowing you to reach new customers. If you're struggling to accomplish business and marketing goals, you'll waste time and money on ineffective campaigns. Before that happens, consult our experienced advertising team. You can use our proven methods to ensure your success. Reach Your Target Audience To experience business growth, you need to find and appeal to your target audience. Relying on local business advertising solutions can help you reach these customers. Your advertising team will personalize your marketing campaigns to appeal to a specific audience. About 90% of marketers say personalization triggers a measurable lift in business results ( software review platform Business2Community ). Another 98% say personalization advances customer relationships. Building strong connections with customers can lead to brand loyalty and increased sales. Your advertising team will gather audience research to specify your target audience. We'll consider demographic and psychographic information like: Age Gender Location Salary Marital status Buying behaviors Interests Hobbies Online behaviors Pain points Recognizing the consumer's pain points will allow you to empathize with their needs. You can forge lasting connections with customers to build your audience base. Specifying your target audience will lead to more successful campaigns. You can reach consumers who want and need your offerings to generate more leads. Your ROI will improve with targeted, personalized advertising. Remain Competitive Working with our experienced advertising team allows small businesses to compete with big corporations. Our expertise will ensure you don't make costly mistakes while executing advertising campaigns. Instead, you'll gain access to our professional tools and resources. Purchasing these tools yourself (tools you may only use once) isn't cost-effective. It can also take time to use them effectively. For example, perhaps you want to advertise using Google Ads or Facebook Ads. It can take time to learn how to navigate these platforms. As you learn the ropes, you may rely on trial and error while developing your campaigns. This tactic can waste valuable advertising dollars while costing you potential customers. Instead, work with an experienced advertising team that understands your industry. We'll recognize opportunities your competitors have neglected. Relying on our expertise will help you gain a competitive advantage. Ongoing AttentionHiring an advertising agency ensures your campaigns receive ongoing attention. Otherwise, you may not recognize you're wasting money on faulty: Targeting parameters Advertising messages Display ad imagery Keeping an eye on your campaigns will ensure you're not overspending or neglecting audience groups. If there's an issue, our advertising team will make immediate changes to your campaign. This ensures you don't blow through your advertising budget prematurely. It can take time to learn how to analyze data from your campaigns to make informed changes. Our advertising team will review the data to recognize trends. Once we recognize which tactics generate results, we can adjust your campaigns to improve your ROI. Meanwhile, you won't have to spread yourself thin by checking on your campaigns. Instead, you can keep your focus where it belongs: on your budding business. Cost-Effective Advertising Methods If you're new to digital advertising, it may take time before you recognize which methods work and which are wasting your time. Rely on our advertising team's expertise instead. We'll apply proven, cost-effective advertising methods to boost your ROI. Your advertising team can use A/B testing to determine what language or imagery best appeals to your target audience. We'll target different groups and keywords to reach your ideal customers. Our proven strategies can ensure your business experiences lasting growth. Meanwhile, you can save valuable time by reaching customers immediately. The sooner you reach your target audience, the sooner your campaigns will generate results. You can stop wasting time and money on ineffective strategies with help from an experienced advertising team. As we help you expand your reach online, you can grow your business and start reaching new customers. Hire Our Advertising Agency Today To recap, what are the benefits of advertising agencies? Our experienced team can set your business up for success. Partnering with an advertising agency will ensure you generate brand awareness, reach customers, and experience long-term growth. Want to leverage local business advertising solutions to grow your business? At Bolt Marketing, we provide agency-quality services to small business owners at rates they can afford. Our all-in-one digital marketing agency can push your business forward. Trust our local expertise, proven results, and personalized approach.  Contact us now to schedule a call to discuss your goals!
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Many of them also allow you to put your marketing on hold if you hit a slow period. You'll Get More Attention One of the biggest local marketing benefits is that you'll get personal attention. With national marketing firms, this is often not the case. Why is this important? Simple: running a business is all about building relationships , and that includes marketing. When you have a close connection with a local marketer, it's much easier to let them know what you're looking for. Smaller agencies are also better at pivoting when necessary. For example, if your clients don't like a recent ad campaign, you'll need to find a quick way to regroup. A local agency should be readily available and able to change things on the fly. A smaller marketing agency also has less overhead. This gives them an opportunity to go with some bold and creative ideas. Oftentimes, that's exactly what you need to separate yourself from your local competitors. 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