The corporate color scheme you choose makes a strong statement about your company, and how it does business.
A new startup just getting off the ground has a long list of action items to complete to move forward. Choosing a corporate color palette often gets added to the "C" priority list. This is a mistake, as the future success of your company depends on how it is positioned out of the starting gate. And color is a large part of corporate presence and the image you convey.
More established companies looking for a face lift can also find one by revitalizing the color palette, and revolutionizing the entire look and feel of not only the website but also the collateral and logo.
A new social networking site dedicated to design professionals and color choices has just hit the scene. If you are shopping for a color scheme, Colourlovers is the place to go. Here, you can search palettes, see the top palettes, and vote for palettes you find especially appealing.
Color schemes that made sense ten years ago can seem dated now. Colourlovers also offers a tab that allows design and Marcom professionals to track color trends. Trends are sorted by magazine and website trends. Conventional marketing wisdom dictates that your site colors are also your corporate colors, but some exceptions have been seen to this rule in recent years. One of the newest "hip" colors is lime green, but this may not be appropriate for traditional businesses.
If you are new to the world of color, it is wise to spend some time understanding color theory. Color theory encompasses not only what are primary and secondary colors and how they are created, but also how color impacts moods and emotions. For instance, a great color for a restaurant or food business is orange as it stimulates appetite. Red conveys action, but can also convey a sense of danger. Color can also mean different things to different cultures, so it is wise to research all connotations for all countries in which you wish to do business.
Shades and variations of colors matter too. For example, sky blue is soft and dreamy while dark blue is authoritative and commanding.
Studies have shown that color increases brand recognition by up to 80%. This is because color stimulates the memory, and is very effective when combined with a recognizable shape or symbol. This is why we have colorful iPods, and product packaging that catches the shopper's eye while in the store.
If you want to be successful, color your business bright and bold!
