What I if I told you that the colors on your blog play a large role in how long readers will stay, and whether they will come back? This is based on something called a Color Theory. Sixrevisions.com defines this as, “The practice of using the meaning behind colors to bring about a sensory experience.”
It’s safe to say that you write to evoke an emotion, whether that is trust, excitement, seriousness, etc. However, it’s not necessarily your words that will achieve this for you. While it may seem a little odd to be worried about color scheme, when the focus should be on quality content and effective social media sharing, color can overrule all of those if done incorrectly. When it comes to creating a successful blog, you should be careful to consider all the important components. Color is one of them.
“Scientists have found that actual physiological changes take place in human beings when they are exposed to certain colors. Colors can stimulate, excite, depress, tranquilize, increase appetite and create a feeling of warmth or coolness.”
The Basics
While we all know the fundamental, blue is cool and red is warm, there is more to this story than that. The sensation a color creates within your reader can have a great affect on how they contextualize your blog. “Color increases brand recognition by up to 80%. That means color could have a significant effect on how well visitors to your blog remember and recognize your blog on future visits,” Susan Gunelius, author of the article Applying Color Marketing Research to Blog Design Strategy.
Not to mention that color holds your reader’s attention two seconds longer than black and white. What are the most popular colors? Red, along with blue, are the predominant colors found online, according to a study done by Colourlovers.com.
- Light blue will evoke a sense of calm, trust and security. Because this color is also used in a variety of popular logos, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, it is also associated with important aspects of your readers’ lives.
- Red is aggressive, and will cause stimulation and excitement. This color is known to induce a reaction, both positive and negative.
What Does It Mean For You?
A whopping 52% of people didn’t return to a blog because of color and design. With a number that significant, it’s time you consider how this will affect you in the long run. First, you should consider your brand colors. You don’t want your blog to vary much from your known color scheme. The first recognition someone has with your brand is the color. Luckily for you, variations on the shade of color also have different affects.
- While all shades of blue will have a positive effect on your blog, the color turquoise may elicit a better response. Studies have found that people associate it with tropical places. In a happy state of mind, your reader will be more likely to see your blog in a positive light.
- Citrus colors such as yellow and orange are associated with fun and excitement. In fact, Gunelius also points out that yellow is the first color a person sees, before any other.
- Pink is associated with femininity and youthfulness. This color has its place in many places across the blogosphere, yet with such a specific meaning it should be used carefully.
- Although white does represent simplicity, it can also be seen as boring. If you are going for a clean look, I suggest having strong pops of bright red or orange, which elicit excitement. You could also add in bright greens, as this is also associated with simplicity.
How to Apply This to Your Blog
Whether you have a WordPress blog, or own a domain, you can control the color scheme. Because colors induce different reactions, you want to have your colors in the most optimal places. Your sidebar should have variations of color different from your main content or even your header and footer.
- Content body: Red and yellow entice feelings of excitement. Yellow is a mental stimulator and creates positive emotion.
- Sidebar: Often your sidebar is where you display popular posts and advertising. Because blue symbolizes authority, this would be a good color choice. You want your reader to trust that you have other great content for them.
- Header/Footer: These are large pieces of space for you to make a statement with. They are also going to grab the most attention, especially the header. Take the colors that already exist in your current brand, and play those to their most positive hues. The brighter of almost any color will elicit a positive feeling, while the darker or colder hues, cause negative emotions.
While your number one priority is to get great content on your blog, you should also consider the part that color plays. In an over-populated blogosphere you have to do everything you can to stand out from the rest. If it’s as simple as changing your color scheme, you really have nothing to lose.
photo credit: designlessbetter.com
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