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We all know the tremendous advantages to operating a store front on the Web. But
often we overlook the built-in disadvantage that every Internet store front shares…
The flat surface of a computer monitor has to substitute for the brick, mortar
and 3 dimensional colors of a real world business.
Which brings up a problem -
You built your site around a particular shade of blue that looks great on your
PC. But your visitor is viewing your site on his Mac, which translates that
shade of blue into something that looks very different!
But not to worry. The following free sites can help you whip out great looking
web-safe color combinations in a flash.
http://www.visibone.com/colorlab/ is a free color lab that allows you to see
how colors work together. It's very visual and simple. Click on the color wheel
and different color choices are presented to the right of the wheel. Keep choosing
colors until you find something that looks good to you.
http://www.reallybig.com/visibone/lab/ is the same color lab but with a *random*
button. Click "random" until you find an interesting combination of
colors. Then begin to remove the colors you don't like by clicking on the tiny
"X"s.
http://www.paletteman.com/ allows you to experiment using up to four color
combinations It gives you HEX or RGB values and will even email the tions to
you.
Now let's talk first about the IMPACT of colors - and how the colors you choose
for your web site could impact your bottom line.
The basis for this information is http://www.pantone.com/index.asp?pn=home
Blue
Studies have revealed that blue is the country's most Popular color.
Ford, "Big Blue" (IBM) and Benz, are all blue. When Exxon and Mobile
merged, their color became blue.
Green
Speaks of ecology and nature. Says Eiseman, "Consumers describe it as fresh,
clean and revitalizing."
Yellow-Green is negative for adults (slime), but is liked by the youth market.
Red
Red is viewed as the most exciting color - and creates a high arousal threshold.
Compare Chrysler (red) with Ford (blue). Which company do you view as the most
cutting-edge and exciting?
Purple
"The 18 to 29 year olds are especially partial to purple because they consider
it sexy," says Eiseman. "And the influentials see it as powerful and
sophisticated."
Black
"Black remains the most mysterious, powerful, and sophisticated shade,
especially with wealthy, achievement-oriented women." But not by middle-aged
men and women, however, who still associate black with mourning.
Pink and red
The two colors that are seen as the warmest as well as the most cheerful, with
pink being the most popular of the two.
Bright orange
The least favorite color
For more on this subject, go to http://www.pantone.com/index.asp?pn=home
Bottom line:
Better use of color will mean a better Web site that appeals to your visitor,
and can even make your site appear better than it is.
Match the color scheme of your site with your target audience and you'll make
more money.
It's as simple as that (and as hard!).
About the Author:
Ernest Seger is CEO of Internet Business Marketing. His site focuses on advanced
Internet marketing techniques and free software. Get thousands of visitors to
your web site each and every week: http://www.netnetmoney.net |
