The Colours of Marketing: How Brands Choose Colours That Make You Buy

Did you know that 90% of snap judgments about products are based on colour alone?

Yes — colours don’t just make things “look good”… they make you feel something.

In marketing, color is a silent salesman. It shapes emotions, builds trust, grabs attention, and even influences buying decisions without you realising it.

In this blog by Innovator Sprouts Academy, Nerul, Navi Mumbai, let’s decode how brands use colour psychology to influence customers and how you can apply it too!

Why Colours Matter in Marketing?

Colours affect:

1. Emotions

2. Perception

3. Trust

4. Behaviour

5. Buying decisions

Your brain reacts to colours in milliseconds, which is why brands carefully choose every shade in their logo, packaging, website, and ads.

Let’s explore what each colour says about a brand:

1. Red: Energy, Excitement & Urgency

Red is bold, attention-grabbing, and creates fast emotional responses.

Brands using Red: Coca-Cola, Netflix, Zomato, H&M.

Reason: Because red increases heart rate and creates excitement.

Where it's used:

1. Food brands to trigger appetite

2. Sale banners ("Hurry! Offer ends soon!")

3. Notifications (like YouTube)

Red makes you take action instantly.

2. Blue: Trust, Security & Reliability

Blue is the world’s most loved colour. It feels calm and dependable.

Brands using Blue: Facebook, LinkedIn, PayPal, Samsung

Reason: Because blue builds trust, especially in tech, finance, and corporate spaces.

Where it's used:

1. App logos

2. Banking websites

3. Professional platforms

Blue makes people feel safe while making decisions.

3. Yellow: Happiness, Warmth & Optimism

Yellow grabs attention without being aggressive.

Brands using Yellow: McDonald's, Snapchat, Bumble

Reason: It creates positive energy, friendliness, and youthful vibes.

Where it's used:

1. Food branding

2. Youth-focused apps

3. Attention elements (CTA buttons)

Yellow makes your brand look approachable and fun.

4. Green: Health, Nature & Growth

Green is refreshing and calming.

Brands using Green: Starbucks, WhatsApp, Spotify

Reason: Because green signals harmony, freshness, and growth.

Where it's used:

1. Health & wellness brands

2. Eco-friendly companies

3. Finance (gains, prosperity)

Green builds a feeling of balance and trust.

5. Purple: Luxury, Wisdom & Creativity

Purple is associated with royalty and innovation.

Brands using Purple: Cadbury, Nykaa, Yahoo

Reason: It feels rich, premium, and imaginative.

Where it's used:

1. Beauty brands

2. Premium products

3. Creative platforms

Purple makes your brand look exclusive and classy.

6. Black: Elegance, Power & Sophistication

Black is bold, minimal, and modern.

Brands using Black: Apple, Adidas, Chanel

Reason: Because black gives a premium high-end feel.

Where it's used:

1. Luxury branding

2. Minimalist websites

3. High-value product packaging

Black signals confidence and authority.

7. White: Simplicity, Cleanliness & Modernity

White is neutral and calming.

Brands using White: Apple, Google, Nike (with white space)

Reason: It gives clarity and makes the design feel clean.

Where it's used: Minimalist branding– Tech products– Healthcare

White helps the brand feel trustworthy and clear.

8. Orange: Creativity, Energy & Friendliness

Orange blends the attention of red with the warmth of yellow.

Brands using Orange: Amazon, Fanta, JBL

Reason: It feels energetic, bold, and approachable.

Where it's used:

1. Youth-targeted brands

2. Entertainment

3. CTA Buttons (Shop Now!)

Orange boosts enthusiasm and instant engagement.

How Brands Choose Their Colours?

A good brand chooses colours based on:

1. Audience psychology

Kids? Women? Professionals? Each group reacts differently.

2. Brand personality

Are you fun? Serious? Premium? Traditional?

3. Industry standards

Green = healthBlue = techRed = food

4. Emotional goals

What feeling should customers have while buying?

5. Competitor research

Choosing opposite colours helps brands stand out.

How You Can Use Colour Psychology (Simple Tips)

1. Use red for urgency & sales

2. Use blue for trust-building

3. Use green for wellness brands

4. Use purple for premium feel

5. Use yellow for youth & positivity

6. Use black for luxury

7. Use orange for CTA buttons (high CTR!)

8. Use white for cleanliness & minimalism

Colours can instantly change how people feel about your brand.

Conclusion

Colour is not just decoration, it is strategy. Brands that understand colour psychology create stronger emotional connections and influence purchase behaviour more effectively.

If you want to learn more about branding, marketing psychology, design strategy, and digital marketing tools…

Join Innovator Sprouts Academy (Nerul, Navi Mumbai)

Hands-on Training | Live Projects | Internship Included

Contact: 7700968696

Visit: innovatorsproutsacademy.com