5 Common Mistakes to Avoid Before Picking Brand Color

Choosing the right brand colors is a critical decision for any business. Colors are more than just a visual element that defines how customers perceive your brand. Moreover, it stands with your brand’s insights that you want to convey.

However, picking the wrong colors or misusing them can lead to confusion, hazy thoughts, and missed opportunities.

Companies nowadays are suffering from these mistakes. Consequently, they couldn’t win over their customers emotionally.

5 common mistakes that a brand makes when incorporating color are –

1. Skipping Audience Research
2. Using Too Many Colors
3. Ignoring Industry Alignment
4. Being Inconsistent Across Platforms
5. Ignoring Accessibility

In this blog, we will focus on these flaws that will act as the drawbacks of your next branding. Besides, some expert solutions are also included.

Let’s dive.

5 Common Mistakes to Avoid Before Picking Brand Color

1. Skipping Audience Research: Influences Disconnection

Many businesses make the mistake of choosing colors based on personal preferences rather than customer expectations. This can create a disconnect between your brand and your audience.

Why It’s a Mistake

Colors evoke emotions and associations that vary by culture, age, and industry.

For example:

• Blue is often associated with trust and professionalism, making it a popular choice for banks and financial institutions. 
• Red evokes passion and energy, perfect for sports or fast food. Moreover, it is more suitable for billboard ads that seek attention.
• Green signifies growth and sustainability, ideal for eco-friendly brands such as–agro products.

How to Fix It

• Study Your Audience: Conduct surveys or use tools like social media polls to learn about your customers' preferences.
• Analyze Competitors: Examine successful brands in your industry and identify gaps or opportunities for differentiation.
• Test Your Colors: Use focus groups to see how your color choices resonate with potential customers.

Example: A financial consultancy opting for neon pink may confuse clients, while muted blues and grays convey trustworthiness.

2. Using Too Many Colors: Spreads Confusion

Stuffing your branding with too many colors can decrease your identity and confuse your audience.

Why It’s a Mistake

A cluttered color palette lacks focus and makes it harder for customers to recognize and remember your brand. Iconic brands like Coca-Cola and McDonald’s succeed because of their simplicity.

Coca-Cola sticks to red and white, while McDonald’s uses yellow and red.

How to Fix It

• Limit Your Palette: Stick to 3-5 colors:some text
  • A primary color that defines your brand.
  • Secondary colors to balance contrast on your user interface.
  • Neutral tones like white or gray for the clickable one.
• Maintain Harmony: Use tools like Adobe Color or Color Hunt to create a cohesive palette.

Example: Google’s use of four distinct colors works because it’s balanced and consistent, while too many shades could feel overwhelming.

3. Ignoring Industry Alignment: Looses Emotions

Your brand colors should reflect your business values and fit your industry. Using the wrong colors can confuse your audience and damage your credibility.

Why It’s a Mistake

Colors carry emotional and cultural significance. For example:

• A luxury brand using pastel colors might feel cheap.
• A natural product using neon shades might seem artificial.

How to Fix It

• Define Your Brand Values: Match your colors to your personality whether it is bold, calm, playful, or elegant.
• Understand Industry Norms: While differentiation is important, don’t stray too far from what works in your sector.
• Use Color Psychology: Research the emotions different colors express. Attach them with your brand message.

Example: Ferrari’s signature red reflects speed and excitement, while Starbucks’ green evokes freshness and sustainability.

4. Being Inconsistent Across Platforms: Reduces Credibility

A lack of consistency in applying your brand colors can confuse your audience and weaken your trustworthiness.

Why It’s a Mistake

If your colors appear differently on your website, social media, and packaging, customers may not recognize your brand. Besides, it can put your customer in a maze hole.

How to Fix It

• Create a Style Guide: Document your exact color codes (HEX, RGB, CMYK) and guidelines for usage.
• Use Templates: Design standardized templates for ads, social media posts, and presentations.
• Audit Your Branding: Regularly review all platforms. Use audit tools like Google Search Console, semrush, ahrefs to see what is happening around you. 

Example: Canva’s shades of blue are uniform across their website, app, and marketing materials, strengthening brand recognition.

5. Ignoring Accessibility: Threats Inclusion 

Not everyone perceives colors the same way. Ignoring accessibility in your designs can exclude the lion’s share of your audience.

Why It’s a Mistake

Plan for inclusive marketing. Low-contrast color combinations or over-reliance on colors to convey information exclude individuals with visual impairments or color blindness.

How to Fix It

• Prioritize Contrast: Ensure enough contrast between text and background colors using tools like Adobe Photoshop, Lightroom, GIMP.
• Add Patterns or Labels: Don’t rely solely on color. Instead, use textures, icons, or typography to indiscriminately clarify meanings to mass people.

Example: A website with light gray text on a white background may look polished but is unreadable for many users. Dark text on a light background is more effective.

Final Thoughts

A well-balanced color is always a good choice. Brands may have different options to choose but keep in mind on what you want to establish through your brand.

There are different resources roaming around your SERPs, so you may not fall into the trap. 

We suggest a 15-minute strategic call to the top expert in the branding design world.

Don’t worry—making your brand look the same every time isn’t boring. It helps your audience trust and recognize your brand.