Most marketers throw a couple outsourced “mini-site” graphics on their page and hope for the best. You see, colours create immediate subconscious reactions in people. Some colours set off warning bells, others trigger the libido, or even make you feel safe.

And just like with well-written copy, you can often use colour theory to slide right in under the radar and get into your prospects minds to influence their buying habits.

I know, I know... You might be thinking “That sounds creepy” but I assure you it's not. You will simply have an edge because you understand how people tend to react.

Take Blue for example:

Blue is, obviously, the colour of the ocean, and also the sky.

It should come as no surprise then that Blue is proven to work well when promoting air and sky products (airlines, air conditioning units, fans, air filters, etc. etc.) and also water and sea products (cruise vacations, water filters, boats, bottled water, etc. etc.)

Blue is often associated with depth and stability. It automatically evokes emotions of trust, security, intelligence, peace, and loyalty in people.

On the other hand, avoid blue when promoting food and cooking products. Blue suppresses the appetite.

Red is often associated with passion, desire, war, danger, strength, power, and love.

Are you surprised that Red works well in the dating and seduction niches? You shouldn't be. Red also works well with products like energy drinks, automobiles, and items related to sports and action.

Most traditional designers (Print designers, for example, working in design houses or advertising agencies) understand Colour Theory...

But the average person who puts up a blog or website most likely doesn't know these things. They might put up a blue cooking blog and never understand why they aren't getting sales.

It's because of colour.

Want some more examples?

Bright yellow is an attention getter, which is the reason taxis are painted this colour. When overused, yellow can have a disturbing effect. Tests show that babies cry more in yellow rooms.

Yellow is seen before other colours when placed against black; which is why this combination is often used to issue warnings.

Men tend to see yellow as a lighthearted, 'childish' colour, so it is not recommended to use yellow when selling prestigious, expensive products to men. This explains why you don't ever see Yellow in high-end watch advertisements, or advertisements for expensive cars.

I could go on and on about colour use, but it's probably about time for me to wrap things up. Here is a short list of common emotions associated with other popular colours:

Hopefully this quick look at colour helps you start thinking about these things when you design your marketing collateral. Keep in mind that this is only a rough guide: There are hundreds and hundreds of books about the psychology of colour and how it affects buying habits