How Colors Can Change the Mood of Your Custom Buttons

You probably already know that vibrant colors grab attention. Did you know, though, that colors also influence people's feelings? More than half of a person's judgment about an object comes solely from color, according to the University of Winnipeg.

If you are using buttons for business promotions or political awareness, the colors you choose for your button can make a big difference in how effectively the message is received.

Genders Respond Differently to Colors

Before you design your button, think about your demographic. A person's gender plays a big role in how they feel about colors. For example, if your demographic is primarily women, the best color to use would be purple. Research shows that more women prefer purple more than any other color, while men typically do not.

On the other hand, if your demographic is focused equally on men and women, blue would be a good choice. Men and women both like the color blue. In general, stay away from orange: the majority of both genders do not like the color orange.

Colors Are Linked to Moods

People say, "You look blue," for a reason. Colors are associated with moods. Cool colors (colors that contain blue tones) are calming. Warmer colors (colors that contain yellow tones) are stimulating. It makes sense to use warm colors like orange, yellow, brown, gold and rust when you are trying to excite people about your cause or business.

Colors can Make You Seem Cheap

Research shows that people see certain colors and think "cheap." This is an important detail to remember when designing custom buttons. A majority of people think that the colors orange and yellow represent cheapness, while black and burgundy are considered to be related to sophistication and luxury.

If you really want to use orange, don't worry. Orange is sometimes thought of as "affordable" as opposed to the negative connotations of "cheapness."

Colors are Linked to Consumer Spending

Businesses should really reconsider using red in their custom buttons. Red is used for stoplights and stop signs, and has been found to be an emotional stop sign, too. Red colors make consumers less likely to spend their money. If you are advertising for a cause, red would be an ideal color if the goal is to get people to stop doing something, though.

Colors Make You Seem Honest

No other color projects honesty and purity like white. When used as the background of your button, white can add a dose of trust to your campaign or advertisement.

So What Color Should You Use?

Now you know that colors can change the way people think, what color should you use? Well, it all depends on what message you are trying to send. Here are some simple tips that summarize everything nicely:

• Blue and purple are good colors for buttons aimed at women
• Orange is a no-go unless you are trying to market an "affordable" product
• Black and burgundy are the best choices for marketing luxury products or services
• White is best for political campaigns
• Don't use red for products, but do use it for awareness campaigns
• Blue, green and purple are soothing, calming colors that are great for buttons related to babies, those who are stressed or relaxing locations

Use these guidelines when creating your custom buttons and your message will be clearer and more effective.