Advertising and Branding Your Business With the Color Red

When it comes to advertising, red is a very common color. The prevalence of red is not without good reason. Red is a very powerful color that attracts attention and excites consumers. It is the primary color used in association with love (Valentine’s Day!)  However, it is also used in caution signs and can elicit negative emotions. Obviously, there are many brands that have weighed the risks and advantages and decided to use it. This post will discuss these risks and advantages so that you can decide if red is the right color for you.

The connotations of red vary greatly depending on shade. Deep, dark reds imply courage, leadership, and willpower. They also signify rage and malice. Lighter shades are most commonly associated with passion, love, and danger. Muddy reds go well with autumn and harvest related ads. Red is also associated with comfort and vigor.

Red is a color that evokes very powerful emotions. It evokes a strong physical response, and many companies rely on it to make their brands appear vigorous and energetic. It is eye-catching by itself, and its use in warning signs has only increased that quality. Red stimulates the metabolism and appetite. For this reason, it is used by many restaurants and food brands. It also has an energizing effect that works for a variety of products and brands. Finally, red has been linked to studies in enhanced cognitive performance in detail-oriented tasks. Consider using it if precision is at a premium in your industry.

Red works well as a primary color in advertisements or as an accent color. In both applications, red goes well with yellow or white. Avoid matching red and green in any non-Christmas advertisement. The colors are definitively linked to that holiday and they do not match particularly well. Do not let its association with warnings and anger scare you away from using red. Consider all of the implications and effects, positive and negative, without dwelling on any one of them disproportionately. Red may not be right for you, but it is an incredibly versatile and powerful color that may deserve considerations. If you are still concerned, try adding red to a small, temporary ad and see if it improves performance, or contact Signarama Buffalo Grove for any questions or concerns you may have.