The good news in 2020 is that everything is getting easier to DIY, if you have the time, that is. My most basic web design packages offer a chance for budding entrepreneurs on a budget to DIY a portion of their build, while I take on the heavy lifting of putting all the pieces together.
One of the most important things necessary to start a website are the visuals of your branding. Now I’d be lying if I told you “yeah, just pick any colors that stand out to you” — there is a lot more to the psychology of branding and colors than picking something pretty. However, I also understand that not everyone can afford a branding package when they’re starting out.
A Few Tips
- You want to appeal to your ideal audience. If you haven’t yet, take a moment to picture a coffee date with your ideal client. Are they male or female? Young or old? Drinking tea, coffee or wine? What is their personality like?
- Color psychology is real. Once you have an idea of who your clients are, check out this guide on color psychology to pick the right colors to draw your clients in.
Now that you have an idea of who you’re serving and what colors will appeal to them, it’s time to get down to business.
Choosing a Color Palette
As I said above, DIY is getting easier and easier with the existence of new technology and software online. First, I think this Color Palette Generator from Canva is absolutely fantastic. It’s as simple as finding a photo full of colors that inspire you, uploading it to the generator, and allowing it to do it’s magic, spitting out a color palette in a matter of seconds. Another tool I find useful is Pinterest. If you’re unfamiliar, Pinterest is a visual search engine — meaning you find what you’re looking for by scrolling through pictures. If you have an idea of the main color you want in your palette try searching “blue color palettes,” or if you would rather search by the vibe you’re going for try something like “color palettes for creative businesses”. Chances are there are some great palettes already available, which you can use for inspiration in your own branding.
Pro tip: It helps to have a tool such as the ColorPick Eyedropper Extension on Google Chrome, which allows me to find the hex code (the number and letter combo needed to use the exact color you choose) quickly and easily by a few clicks of my mouse.
If you have followed the above steps you are well on your way to a creative and effective color and branding strategy! It might not be perfect, and you might need to change it as your business scales and grows and you have more resources to choose professional help, but deciding on your visual language with which you will communicate with your clients is an important first step for any web design build.
What now?
If you’re looking for more help, or have your palette and are ready to get started on a website, let’s book a strategy session to discuss next steps for you and your unique business!
