{"id":1009,"date":"2023-08-31T13:08:31","date_gmt":"2023-08-31T13:08:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/?p=1009"},"modified":"2023-08-31T13:09:42","modified_gmt":"2023-08-31T13:09:42","slug":"how-to-use-colour-psychology-to-promote-your-business","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/how-to-use-colour-psychology-to-promote-your-business\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Use Colour Psychology to Promote Your Business"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>You instinctively know that colour is important in pretty much anything we do, it\u2019s why we spend so much time mixing and matching our outfits, looking at colour palettes when redecorating our homes, you name it, colour is somehow involved.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1010\" src=\"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/print-colours-1024x578.jpg\" alt=\"print-colours\" width=\"1024\" height=\"578\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/print-colours-1024x578.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/print-colours-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/print-colours-768x433.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/print-colours.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But it goes beyond one colour looking nicer and the other. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.verywellmind.com\/color-psychology-2795824\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Colour goes deep into our psychology<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, underpinning our behaviours and even purchasing decisions. It\u2019s why companies spend millions of dollars figuring out what works best in any given scenario, from rebrands to marketing campaigns.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this guide, we\u2019ll give you a rundown on how you can implement colour in your printed marketing materials for maximum impact. It\u2019s not as simple as green is healthy and red is bold. It goes a little bit deeper than that.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>But Wait, What is Color Psychology?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before we delve deeper into the practical how-to aspects, let\u2019s put a definition to colour psychology. In simple terms, it\u2019s the way colours and even hues\/tones can affect how people perceive and interact.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When it comes to marketing, colour impacts brand impressions, from how we perceive the business to making purchase decisions. It\u2019s not a small deal; <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.emerald.com\/insight\/content\/doi\/10.1108\/00251740610673332\/full\/html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">in one study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, colour can account for up to 90% of snap decisions on products and brands. Compare that to texture, which accounts for just 6% of the buying decision, and sounds\/smell, which make up a tiny 1%.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1011\" src=\"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/color-psychology-e1693486718997-960x1024.jpg\" alt=\"color psychology\" width=\"960\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/color-psychology-e1693486718997-960x1024.jpg 960w, https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/color-psychology-e1693486718997-281x300.jpg 281w, https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/color-psychology-e1693486718997-768x820.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/color-psychology-e1693486718997.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Understand Perceived Appropriateness<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Consumers expect Coca-Cola to be red. Woolworths is green. Twitter is blue (oh, wait, is it?). In a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/abs\/10.1177\/1470593106061263\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">study from 2006<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, researchers found that people have a sense of <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">perceived appropriateness <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">when it comes to brands.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you choose a colour for your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/how-to-create-a-vote-winning-election-leaflet-for-your-next-political-campaign\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">marketing campaign<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, consider whether it actually fits your brand. Take it further and collect some third-party feedback on whether the colour is appropriate for the campaign itself. If you\u2019re running a sale, you\u2019re going to want a different colour palette than when selling a luxury vacation.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>What\u2019s the Emotional Response?<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you send out <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/the-power-of-print-making-your-name-unforgettable-through-effective-advertising\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">marketing materials<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, there\u2019s a design behind it, right? You want to elicit a certain response, whether it\u2019s curiosity, confidence or the scarcity effect.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Decide where you\u2019re going with your campaign <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">before <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">looking for a colour palette. Business owners often make the mistake of simply choosing colours they like, rather than picking based on the emotional response we\u2019re seeking from our target audience.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1012\" src=\"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/red-colour-print-1024x840.jpg\" alt=\"red colour print\" width=\"1024\" height=\"840\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/red-colour-print-1024x840.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/red-colour-print-300x246.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/red-colour-print-768x630.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/red-colour-print.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Mimic Other Brands<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019ve already mentioned that the big hitters in all industries put in <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">a lot <\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of Research and Development funds into the psychology of colour. They know how important colour is to their bottom line, which means you can leverage their conclusions into your own local marketing efforts.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you next<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/oldschool-marketing-money\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> get something in the post<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from a major corporation, analyse why they may be using one colour over the other. What are they trying to achieve with their marketing? How do the colours fit with the overall brand?<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Understand Different Colors<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Every colour can have a potential meaning, depending on the context and brand. We\u2019re not going to go through every single colour out there, but here are some general guidelines for some of the most popular ones:<\/span><\/p>\n<p><strong>RED<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This one tends to be used when seeking an impulsive response, as red tends to evoke a strong emotional response, passionate and intense. Studies even show that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.psychologistworld.com\/perception\/color#:~:text=Red,a%20popular%20color%20in%20restaurants.\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">red can increase your heart rate!<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1013\" src=\"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/red-example-print-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"red example print\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/red-example-print-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/red-example-print-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/red-example-print-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/red-example-print.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><br \/>\nThis is why it\u2019s often used for big sales. People will see the big red signs, excitement goes up, stimulates our senses, and consumers then load up their shopping carts.<\/p>\n<p><strong>YELLOW<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is the colour that you\u2019ve probably had the longest \u2018relationship\u2019 with. This is because yellow is the very first colour that infants respond to, which is why it\u2019s always used with toys and baby products. Yellow also causes our mental processes to be stimulated, heightening communication, and grabbing attention.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1014\" src=\"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/baby-yellow-colour-print-1024x682.jpg\" alt=\"baby yellow colour print\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/baby-yellow-colour-print-1024x682.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/baby-yellow-colour-print-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/baby-yellow-colour-print-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/baby-yellow-colour-print.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Careful, however. Research has also shown that too much yellow can have adverse effects, causing anxiety in shoppers. Remember the old adage, A little goes a long way.<\/p>\n<p><strong>GREEN<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>When it comes to health brands, green is often the colour of choice. This is because there is such a close connection between nature and green, which is also why so many eco-friendly brands see this colour as their go-to.<\/p>\n<p><strong>BLACK<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Sophisticated, powerful, sleek black exudes all of these emotions in shoppers. It\u2019s why high-end cosmetics and fashion brands use this colour all the time.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-1015\" src=\"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/black-colour-for-cosmetics-print-1024x1024.jpg\" alt=\"black colour cosmetics print\" width=\"1024\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/black-colour-for-cosmetics-print-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/black-colour-for-cosmetics-print-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/black-colour-for-cosmetics-print-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/black-colour-for-cosmetics-print-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/black-colour-for-cosmetics-print.jpg 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>It is also one of the few colours that have a universal meaning and interpretation, which is why many multinational brands will use it in their marketing. Think of brands like Adidas and Gucci, for example.<\/p>\n<h3>Final Thoughts<\/h3>\n<p>When it comes to your printed marketing materials, everything counts. Whether it\u2019s the type of material used, the texture, the text and the images. But if you choose the wrong colour combinations, the effect may change completely. Knowing what you know now, though, you can use this to your advantage!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You instinctively know that colour is important in pretty much anything we do, it\u2019s why we spend so much time mixing and matching our outfits, looking at colour palettes when redecorating our homes, you name &#8230;<\/p>\n<a class=\"btn-light-blue l-blog-post-readmore\" href=\"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/how-to-use-colour-psychology-to-promote-your-business\/\" title=\"Read more\">Read more<\/a>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1010,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,8,9],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1009","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business-tips","category-market-your-brand","category-marketing-tips"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1009","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1009"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1009\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1018,"href":"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1009\/revisions\/1018"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1010"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1009"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1009"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.print2day.com.au\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1009"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}