Color psychology in web design – design, emotions, trust

I sometimes get the horror when I see websites, posters or flyers where the text is barely readable or yellow and purple are right next to each other :D Colors have an enormous influence on the effect of a page - and that's exactly why the conscious choice of colors is so crucial in each of my projects. Not only are they decorative, they play a big role in how your website affects visitors.

Colors – the first impression counts

Colors (besides images) are the first thing visitors notice about your website.
They can trigger emotions and connections instantly.
An example from powerlifting:
If you see the typical blue and red tones on a website,
as they are known from the competition targets, you probably immediately have the association
with sport. Such colors immediately awaken memories and create an emotional
Connection to the target group.

Color Psychology – What colors can do

Colors are powerful tools to control the perception and emotions of your website visitors. Here is a brief overview of the psychological effects of common colors:

• Blue: Stands for trust, calm and professionalism. Websites that focus on seriousness (e.g. banks) often use blue. It conveys security and reliability. But can also seem cold or distant.
• Red: Associated with energy, passion and urgency. Perfect for call-to-action buttons or special offers as red attracts attention and can provoke an immediate response. But can also appear aggressive or alarming.
• Yellow: Radiates optimism, friendliness and warmth. It attracts attention and can be used particularly well to promote positive emotions. But it can also seem intrusive if it is used too dominantly.
• Green: Symbolizes nature, peace and security. Green is calming and is often used in sustainable or environmentally conscious projects.
• Orange: Is full of energy and promotes enthusiasm. It is good for creating a friendly and approachable atmosphere.
• Purple: Often associated with creativity, luxury and sophistication. It adds a sophisticated and elegant touch to a brand.
• Gold, Gray or Black: Gold stands for luxury and elegance, gray for neutrality and seriousness, and black symbolizes power and modernity. But it can also have a dark effect if used excessively.

Practical example: My website

For my own web design, I chose a dark design.
Why? It has a modern, minimalist feel that I find suitable for my brand.
The dark background really shows off my main accent color, turquoise.

Turquoise counts as a shade of blue and therefore appears similar to blue:
It conveys trust, calm and objectivity.
However, the reason why I chose turquoise is very personal –
it's my favorite color, and that's exactly why it reflects my style perfectly.

Funny side-note: Blue has been proven to have a positive effect on click behavior.
In a famous study by Google, the "41 shades of blue" study,
The optimal shade of blue for most link clicks was determined.
The estimate is that Google made around 80 million euros more in sales in a year just by choosing the right blue.
Running :D

But I wanted more variety because just one color seemed too rigid and impersonal to me. Since I'm aiming for a relaxed and personal style, I decided to sparingly use orange, purple and green as accent colors. I use these colors for certain keywords that are important to my offer, such as “affordable,” “high-quality,” and “stress-free.” Each of these colors supports the message I want to convey.

Typical mistakes when choosing colors

1. Inappropriate color combinations: Some colors clash - such as yellow and purple or red and green. These combinations can disrupt the overall impression and appear unprofessional.
2. Bad contrast: Text should always be easy to read. Too little contrast between text and background can strain visitors' eyes and cause them to quickly leave the page.
3. Too many colors: An excess of different colors looks chaotic. Focus on a consistent color scheme that supports your brand and doesn't overwhelm it.
4. Pointless colors: Colors without strategic use are distracting. Each color should be chosen consciously to reinforce the brand message.

Conclusion

Colors not only influence how your website looks, but also how visitors experience and interact with it.
The right choice of color can create a connection with your target group,
Reinforce brand messages and even influence click behavior.

So – use colors wisely to make your website clear, memorable and targeted.

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