‘Advertising Warning For Marketers, Seven Seconds And Gone!’ by Craig Howlett

Craig Howlett’s latest article is titled “Advertising Warning For Marketers, Seven Seconds And Gone!” [Article]

Craig Howlett’s latest article:

Click, that is the sound of visitors leaving your site in less than seven seconds.

Why, one reason could be confusion, too much clutter and color. Don’t use too many different colors in your website and advertising materials. Limit it to two or three background colors and font colors, as it can become confusing for the visitor if there is any more.

Colors can also have different psychological meanings, so chore wisely.

Red, is hot, excitement and can also mean danger. It can make headlines stand out.

Green can convey a fresh feel as well and associated with nature. Some big petrol and chemical companies have put green in their logos in the last couple of years to suggest they are friendlier and in tune with the environment.

Brown, is wholesomeness and ageing, can also be dull, boring and dirty.

White is pureness, cleanliness. White weddings and white doves, however, too much can be a sterile environment, like hospitals.

Orange can mean action and warmth.

Black is sophisticated, mysterious, can also be expensive and strong. Black can also suggest evil and gloomy, like ninjas and the dark of night.

Purple is royalty, but can also be associated with witch craft.

Yellow suggests refreshing and bright, however, can also look cheap and cowardly.

Blue is stability, peaceful, formality, however it can be cold in darker shades. Royal blue can mean trustworthy

Different shades of the color can also change the perception of the meaning. Dark blue for instance is dramatically different to light blue, as are different shades of green.

Combining colors has a big impact, like black and gold can mean elite and expensive. Red and yellow can really stand out, together they catch your attention, no wonder McDonalds has the golden arches.

Some colors can also create an optical illusion which can make the ads easier or harder to read. Red colors appear to move towards your eyes, while blue appears to move away from you.

When selecting colors for your website and advertising materials or even your corporate colors, think about who is your target market. Are you marketing to young outgoing types? Then your marketing materials may look boring if you use a lot of brown, however, brown may be suitable for some elderly customers. Match your colors to your preferred customers.

A common mistake for marketers is to use too many colors on their site, brochures, signs, business cards, flyers, etc. While a range of colors might make the site look pretty, it also makes it hard to read, keep it simple and tailor the colors for your target market.

Copyright Craig Howlett

*This news post was submitted by Craig Howlett.