Choosing the right colour palette is an important part of creating an eye-catching brand that your ideal client wants to engage with. Get it right and you’ve got a brand that will stand the test of time. Get it wrong and you’ll find yourself needing a revamp quicker than you’d like.
But what happens if your brand colours are not working for you, or they simply feel “off”? Is it ok to change them? Let’s explore some of the reasons why changing your brand colours could be a good idea.
Your brand colours no longer reflect your personality
You may like your brand colours, and they look appealing, but are they a good representation of you and your brand? Do they reflect you and your style? The colours we use say so much about our personality so ensure they are making the right impression.
Your brand colour palette should also be a reflection of your values, mission, and industry. And these things can change over time. If you find yourself in this position, it’s wise to revisit your colour palette (and entire branding) to ensure it’s still working for you.
It’s important to select colours that are timeless, relevant, and true to you. If you’re not confident whether your brand colours reflect your personality, take my free quiz – you’ll discover the colours that best represent your brand’s unique personality, which colours to use and which to avoid.
Your brand colours are no longer attractive to your target audience
Have you changed the definition of your target market? If so, maybe your brand colours are no longer the right colours to attract them. Or maybe you’ve never properly considered whether they would appeal to your target market when your first selected them.
If either of these sounds like you, it’s definitely worthwhile reviewing your brand colours. It’s essential the colours you choose are attractive to your ideal client. As it’s one of the first things they see, they might accidently discard your brand based on colour choice alone before they’ve even had a chance to look further.
Your brand colours have meanings and associations that are not appropriate for your brand
Colours have different meanings and associations in different cultures and within different demographics. These meanings can change depending on age, gender, race, social class, and religion.
Are your brand colours conveying the right message to represent your brand in the best light? If not, it might be time for a change. This could occur if you change your target market, expand to new locations, or widen the definition of the demographic you are trying to reach. Don’t just assume people will resonate with your brand. I’d recommend doing some research first.
Your brand colours don’t help your brand to stand out
You want your colours to be appropriate for your industry. Using a certain colour can help people instantly identify your product belongs to a certain category. However, you don’t want the colours you use to be so similar that your brand just blends in, and no one notices you. If this is the case, you may want to review your colour palette and see how you can adapt it to create distinction and make more of an impact.
If you don’t want to change the look and feel of your brand, you don’t necessarily have to swap out the colours completely. You could simply play with different accent colours to bring a new dimension to your brand.
If you are not sure what the perfect colours are for your brand, take my free quiz.
In conclusion, consistency is crucial in branding. And brand colours are no exception. It’s not great for recognition to change up your brand colours too often or change them on a whim. Brand recognition helps consumers easily identify your company and its products, which builds brand awareness and trust.
However, it is sometimes necessary to change up the colours for strategic reasons. If you do change your brand colours, the decision should be backed up with intention and strategy. It should be part of a wider rebranding project.