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When it comes to personal branding, the right colors have the power to attract customers and opportunities, while the wrong colors can do just the opposite. So what’s the secret to choosing the brand colors that take you to suite C and closing bigger deals?
The first step to finding out is to understand the psychology of color. Color has the power to influence human behavior. It can be used to induce a desired mood or emotion in someone and get a desired response (Masterclass Staff, 2022).
Colors fall into several categories, the most common being primary and secondary. Primary colors are defined as the colors from which all other colors can be created by mixing. The primary colors are:
The secondary colors are created mixing two primary colors, being most habitual:
Related: Rely on science to help you build your personal brand
The psychology of color
Each color can vary in intensity, also known as chroma (think, electric blue vs. navy blue) and its value (brightness or darkness). Here’s a quick reference guide:
Red he is passionate and energetic. Brands that use red in their brand try to communicate excitement, vitality and action.
Blue it is calming and confident. That’s why many financial and health services use blue in their brand.
Yellow it is cheerful and optimistic, perfect for brands that want to communicate happiness and positivity.
green it’s refreshing and natural, making it an excellent choice for eco-friendly, health-focused brands.
orange it is energetic and playful, often used by brands aimed at younger audiences.
Purple it is associated with royalty, luxury and mystery. If you want to convey a sense of sophistication and elegance to your brand, violet is the way to go.
Black, white and brown they are considered neutral colors, but they also evoke emotions:
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Black is powerful and mysterious.
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White is pure, sophisticated and simple.
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Brown is a mixture of all primary colors and is natural, earthy and strong.
When it comes to personal branding, you want the colors of your brand to represent who you are, and authenticity is all. Choosing the color of your brand is not a “hope for the best” game. It is a scientific approach that begins by clarifying what you want to achieve and how you want to be perceived by your ideal audience.
For example, suppose you are a responsible nurse who wants to harness the power of a personal brand to move into an administrative function. In this case, you can lean towards choosing colors that convey compassion, excellence and leadership.
We use Kaiser Permanente, a non-profit healthcare organization, as an example. The brand logo uses a soothing blue to represent “loyalty and trust,” while white brings balance and peace to the logo. When you look at the Kaiser logo, how do you feel? Do you see how this great organization used color to make the brand feel “human”?
Related: Infographics: Color Psychology in Branding
Be clear about how you want to be perceived by others
Now that you have an overview of color psychology, it’s time to understand how you want others to see and experience you. What are the three words you want people to use when describing you? What colors come to mind when you hear the words fiery, bold, and ambitious?
Ask yourself what your industry and / or niche looks like. Would you expect to see a doctor in private practice with pink and purple in his brand? Another point to keep in mind when thinking about industry standards is: do you want to disrupt the industry or offer a slightly different approach?
The color of your main brand is the one you will use most often. You should ask for attention. Visually, it is the star of your program and is used in your logo, website, social media, and marketing materials. The colors of your secondary brand are the colors that you use less often in your brand. They can accentuate some aspects of your website or add visual interest.
Related: Understand the power of design and branding
Consistency is key
Now that you know the psychology behind choosing the right colors for your brand, it’s essential to use your colors consistently. You will use the colors of your brand on your website and marketing materials.
Another area where the colors of your brand should be consistent is your outfit. Many leaders and entrepreneurs lose the brand by showing the presence of the brand in their way of dressing. If you plan to speak in public, attend events, or network, use the colors of your brand! By appearing “in the brand,” you will stand out from the crowd and become unforgettable.
If your goal is to advance your career, consider using the colors of your brand in your email signature, on social media, and anywhere else you appear. To maintain consistency, you also need to know the hexadecimal color codes of your brand.
What is a hexadecimal code?
A hexadecimal code is a six-digit combination of numbers and letters to specify a color. Hexadecimal codes begin with a letter sign (#) and are followed by six characters, three numbers, and three letters. For example, the hexadecimal code for electric blue is # 00FFFF.
Hexadecimal codes are essential for personal branding, because they ensure that the colors of your brand are consistent across all platforms. When using hexadecimal codes, you can be sure that the blue of your logo will match the blue of your website and the green of your social media posts will match the green of your email signature.
A good practice is to create a guide that describes your brand standards, including your color palette, words that describe your brand, and so on. This document is known as a branding guide and can also include logos, fonts, and even the filters you use. on social media. As your brand grows, all members of your team will know the standards and will be able to easily maintain the same level of consistency.
Color is an essential tool that should not be overlooked for personal branding. If we understand the psychology of color and choose colors that align with your goals and values, you can create a strong, recognizable personal brand.