Could you imagine if the "Golden Arches" were purple, or if IBM's colors were red and green? You may have wondered who, how and why they came up with the colors that they did.

Why is it that so many restaurants like McDonald's, Burger King, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Subway all use red, orange, yellow or green, but you don't see a lot of blue or purple.

Chances are there's a lot more to the process than you might imagine. And if you haven't wondered but you are thinking of creating a logo or hiring someone to do it for you, this is something you'll want to read.

It sounds absurd, but choosing the right colors for your business image and logotype can mean the difference between success and failure. Take the example above, did you know that research shows that people eat more in a room painted with warm colors like yellow and red, versus cold color? Yep, it's true.

We are all affected by the color we see -- both physiologically and psychologically; your customers are no different.

In fact, your customers instantly make assumptions about your company; it's quality and service based on your logo and the colors you've associated with it. Most of the time they aren't even aware if it, but trust me, your customers make very quick assumptions about your company based on your identity and the colors you've chosen to use.

It's simple; choose the right colors that are pleasing to your target market and you win. You're one step ahead of the competition.

So how do you choose the right colors? If you're working with a knowledgeable designer to create your corporate image you've got a huge advantage over a business owner going it alone. Make sure you work with a business savvy designer that thoroughly understands color theory and how it affects consumers.

If you go it alone there's good news and bad: the bad news is that there is no color combination that works for all industries and business. The good news is scientific studies have concluded that there are some basic theories on how certain colors can affect our behavior. If you use the information in these studies you can select the color ranges that might work more effectively for your business and industry. Here are a few findings from one such study:

RED This is food color. Ever notice that restaurants use red a lot? It makes you hungry by increasing your body's metabolism. Red suggests aggression, hostility, heat, stop, error, warning, danger, error, fire, lushness and passion. Here's the Red Challenge - see if you can find an air conditioning company with a lot of red in their logo, you probably won't.

YELLOW Yellow suggests the sun, expansiveness, happiness and high spirits. Yellow commands attention and suggests caution. It can be used successfully as a highlight. Here's the Yellow Challenge - see if you can find a financial company with a lot of yellow in their logo.

BLUE Not a good color for hospitals. Blue suggests the peaceful, the sad and water. Blue is often associated with the male. Blue is a cool color and can visually expand a room. It does not compliment most foods. Blue goes well with warm colors and materials. Here's the Blue Challenge - see if you can find a fast-food restaurant with a lot of blue in their logo, you'll have to look hard.

GREEN Associated with nature the pastoral and general well-being. Green also suggests envy and jealousy. Green should not be overused. Too much can affect skin tones and the appearance of some foods. Here's the Green Challenge - see how many headlines you see in green, you can - but you'll see a lot more red.

BLACK Black can have negative sociological connotations like evil, mourning, ghostly, night, death and fear. However, black can be very stylish and modern. Black works well as an accent with other colors. Here's the Black Challenge - see if you can find health care organizations with a lot of black in their logo.

Sure, you'll be able to find some exceptions to my challenges; I know there are always exceptions to the rule. Some of the exceptions may even work, but your best bet is to either to study and learn color theory or work with a business savvy designer that understands it.

Jeremy runs the only business savvy graphic design firm who helps companies build more confidence and credibility into their business identities. “I help you take your business' vision and shape it into a company identity that will make you look better, feel better and have more confidence about your business.”

Like the article?

Email Jeremy today at comments@candographics.com for your choice of a free insider’s bulletin: “How to Choose the Right Marketing/Design Firm for You” or “Top Ten Questions Designers Don’t Want You to Ask Them”. You’ll also want to check out the “Can-Do Confidence Builder”. Emailed weekly, the Confidence Builder provides you with essential marketing and design insights that help you get the most out of your marketing/design investments and help you to stay one step ahead of the competition.

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Learn more about Jeremy and how you can gain a competitive advantage with a better brand by visiting http://www.candographics.com

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