When designing a new legal website it’s difficult to prevent your own feelings about color and design from creeping into the picture, however color is an extremely important element which should be carefully considered. As a matter of fact, color could very well be the most important element in your overall design. As you know, the Internet is very much a visual medium. In order to get your message across in the very best way possible, take a few moments to consider your color scheme.
We have all heard that the color red is an attention-getter, green reflects nature, blue is calming and reflects trustworthiness and yellow is a happy, fun color and on down the line of colors. Further, our society associates certain colors with specific genders such as pink for girls and blue for boys. While you don’t have to choose your color scheme based entirely on the psychological effect of colors on human responses and choices, you should at the very least determine your ultimate goals and use colors accordingly to achieve those goals.
Identifying Your Target Market
It’s extremely important that you be able to identify your target market when considering colors for your legal website. Different colors will appeal to different markets; men tend to prefer different colors than women, some colors are much more appropriate to a professional business than an ice cream shop and children will generally prefer the bright primary colors. Research indicates that well-educated people will usually prefer the blended colors such as blue-green, blue-violet, red-violet, yellow-green, yellow-orange and red-orange (known as tertiary colors).
The less educated will often prefer simpler primary and secondary colors. In the same vein, wealthier people will often choose more complex and sophisticated colors while the working class or blue collar workers tend to prefer bright, warm primary colors and the secondary colors of the rainbow. Those in the 65 and over crowd generally identify yellow as their least favorite color and prefer clean, clear colors such as fresh blues, pinks and greens. This age group is more comfortable with calmer, muted colors. If you are going for a solid business/professional look, the more serious your business, the darker the colors such as dark blue, dark green, dark red, dark indigo, black and gray. Using these colors takes design know-how, however, to avoid having your website look excessively funereal.
The Many Ways Colors are Implemented
Not only will you have to choose an overall color scheme for your legal website, you will also need to choose the best colors for text, links, background and images. Using red in places you want action to be taken could be a good idea as well as in areas which are directing your visitors around your website. Links are generally blue which is smart, since the color suggests credibility. White is almost always the best choice for background text color as it provides the highest level of readability. Pastel colors could also work as a text background in some businesses, but possibly not for a law firm.
Whatever you do, don’t try to throw in a little of every color in hopes you will appeal to every demographic—all you will do is create a look of chaos. Keep your site simple and limit the number of colors you use to make it aesthetically pleasing to your visitors. For assistance determining the best colors for your website, call (800) 877-2776 for your free consultation from experts in lawyer website design. We have extensive experience specifically in lawyer website design. You will never speak with a sales representative but will always talk directly to a highly experienced consultant. Call today!
