The Right Color Combination for Your Website

By Paul F Edwards

Color schemes are the hardest to pick when building your website.

Why is this?

If your favorite color is mid night blue, this may not translate into a website that is eye-appealing to potential customers. Also, you text and content may be hidden behind that color.

Your customer might leave right away after seeing a your color scheme, so having the right colors can change the appearance and initial reaction to your website.

Since there are infinite color schemes, which ones will best suit you?

When designing a website, not only are you designing functionality and accessibility, you are also designing readability or eye appeal. This is different from websites that use flash to entice the visitor. Flash sites also have the disadvantage of not having the search engines being able to view a website that is entirely made of flash.

The colors should be ones that suit you, however suit the customer more. Reds, blues and orange/salmon and black on white have dramatic impact on how you perceive. For example, red has been used to demonstrate a call to action (for example, 'buy' can be placed within a red context because you wish the customer to 'buy' your product. You can place headlines in red; however, if you place the wrong headline in red, you won't have buying customers. Red is a very powerful message marker. Use with caution.

Blue is used to have a calm experience. For example, some yoga and meditation websites will use blue to calm and red to entice their visitors to 'buy' their meditation services.

Some other sites have used orange/salmon to great effect. These colors can also entice visitors to find out more about your products and services as well as a combination of black and white text and background.

Traditional black on white background is still very useful. This is the basic color scheme that we are all used to seeing and will also convey your message. What you can do is incorporate some of the other colors and see how they best suit your website and you business goals.

Color enhances the images we see. When this is applied to website design it's important to have your customer in mind. Determine which color scheme works best for your website and continue to test. Once you've found a color scheme that works, leave it. This will ensure your website business success.

Paul Edward an award winning web design located in http://www.level10solutions.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_F_Edwards

Secrets to Using Color on Your Website and Common Pitfalls to Avoid

By Michael Turner

Colors have long been known to have psychological affects on mood and interpretation. So, when you are designing your website, you should keep in mind the influence color might have on your visitors. Do some research to find out which colors promote your product and services best as well as which colors make visitors interested in buying your products. You should take all of this into account in order to create the best atmosphere for buying that you can.

Also, keep in mind; colors have different meanings in different cultures. If you are promoting a product in an overseas market, you should also research what colors stand for in that culture.

There are many pitfalls that people fall into on a regular basis because they are unaware of the many effects color has on their visitors and ultimately on their wallets. Read the following suggestions in order to know what to avoid when incorporating color on your website.

Pitfall #1 - Colors that do not Associate

The product or service that you are selling should determine the color scheme you choose as well as the target market you are selling to. For instance, men and women prefer different colors in varying hues, luminosity, and saturation. For the most part, women prefer colors with less saturation and men prefer colors with more saturation. Keep this in mind if your product is geared to one of the sexes in particular.

Pitfall #2 - No Palette

Make sure you use varying colors on your website from the same palette. This means colors that have some degree of relation to one another. Doing this will create a better layout which is more pleasing to the eye and one that will have a better psychological effect on your visitors. If you do not know anything about palettes then choose the Microsoft color palette, click on an exterior color you like, and the follow it either horizontally or vertically to choose your palette. It really is that easy!

Pitfall #3 - Consider Your Entire Audience

Different colors indeed have different effects on different people because of gender, culture, and life experience, however there are people who also have difficulty seeing certain colors because they have mild to severe color blindness. While this only represents 8-10% of the population, you still want these individuals to be able to view your website. Try not to use only red and green which are typically the colors individuals with color blindness have the most problems seeing.

When you keep color schemes in mind and consider how they will affect your audience, you will be able to create a climate that better sells your product and inclines your visitors to become your customers.

Michael Turner reveals his foolproof way to increase website traffic in his free 7 part mini-series. Grab it free right now at http://www.powertraffictactics.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Turner

Seven Website Design Tips To Make Your Site More Attractive

By Alexa Roderick

"How can I attract thousands of visitors to my site?”, many people ask me this question. Well, driving high traffic to Website is very important, but what's even more important, is designing a website in that way which makes them stays longer.

In this article, you're going to learn 7 important website design tips to make your site more attractive. So not only your website will attract many people, but it will also motivate them to stay for a long time.

1. Be Aware during Selection of the colours scheme

If your company has a logo or preferred colours on its stationery that’s a good start. For those of you starting from scratch, choose two or three complementary colours and stick with them – don’t change colours on every page. The most common colour schemes include:

- Red, yellow and white

- Blue and white

- Red, grey and white

- Blue, orange and white

- Yellow, grey and white.

- Onion shade, Tan, white

If you’re not sure what colour scheme to choose, surf the internet and find a website that you like. You can then model your colour scheme on what already exists. Always Select those colours which Attract the visitors, and the person revisit your site.

2. Page Backgrounds

Ensure your visitors can read the text on the background, i.e. no black writing on dark blue background or yellow on white. Means if the page background is dark always use light colour for the writhing a text or if the light colour is used for the page background the always use dark colour for writing a text, like this colour scheme for the background everything is visible to the visitor. Also be careful that your links are visible before and after being visited. The default for links in most programs is blue (before being visited) and burgundy (after being visited), so if you have a dark background, ensure your links are light.

3. (Page loading) site open within a minutes

All I’ve seen for the last 10 minutes is ‘page loading’, I think something might be wrong with my browser this is probably one of the biggest gripes a site visitor has. If your page takes more than a minute to load (on dial-up) and you have anything less than the meaning of life hidden within your content - something needs to be done. The average person does not have time they just go for another site without passed his time for these type of site those take time to open. So a good website takes less time for loading a site.

4. Appropriate page Size

Web pages are measured in pixels. Pixels are the unit of measurement for the screen. A Web page can literally be any size. Standard Web pages usually fit into a few sizes: * W × H * 600 × 800 * 640 × 480 (Dream weaver default) * 1024 × 768 * 550 × 400 (Flash default)

The default Web page sizes provided in Web friendly applications and listed earlier are a great place to start. You will probably use a smaller, custom size for pop-up windows. The Web page size you choose is up to you. Remember to use actual space for the Web page effectively so that the content is in the proper proximity to the user's navigation patterns. Web page size affects the way users move around the Web pages and the Web portfolio site. One rule: Pick a size for all main screens and stick to it.

5. Logo

Create a simple logo to identity your website. Have a captivating tag line somewhere with the header, and write an About Us page which describes the uniqueness of your website. These will leave an impression for your visitors to remember your website.

6. Application of graphic designs

You must be careful in choosing for the appropriate design that will best represent your projects, and tell about your business. Create a design which coveys in a stylish way what it has to

7. Be aware about grammar and spell

Grammar is overrated [and the spill-checker too] Most web authoring and word processing software comes with a spell/grammar check utility - don’t let your hard earned money go to waste, use it. Some of the more common grammatical mistakes are misusing its, it’s, there, their, they’re, your, you’re, and noone (correct=no one). Proof reading your final product is also helpful. No one is infallible, that’s why pencils have erasers and computer programs have [ctrl+z]. About the Author Alex Roderick, The author is Business Head for The Web Design Company www.webdesigningcompany.net, It’s a web designing company. It deals in web site design, website redesign, flash, 3D animation, logos, Banner Adds etc.

nick@webdesigningcompany.net Seven Website Design Tips to Make Your Site More Attractive

"How can I attract thousands of visitors to my site?”, many people ask me this question. Well, driving high traffic to Website is very important, but what's even more important, is designing a website in that way which makes them stays longer.

In this article, you're going to learn 7 important website design tips to make your site more attractive. So not only your website will attract many people, but it will also motivate them to stay for a long time.

1. Be Aware during Selection of the colours scheme

If your company has a logo or preferred colours on its stationery that’s a good start. For those of you starting from scratch, choose two or three complementary colours and stick with them – don’t change colours on every page. The most common colour schemes include:

- Red, yellow and white

- Blue and white

- Red, grey and white

- Blue, orange and white

- Yellow, grey and white.

- Onion shade, Tan, white

If you’re not sure what colour scheme to choose, surf the internet and find a website that you like. You can then model your colour scheme on what already exists. Always Select those colours which Attract the visitors, and the person revisit your site.

2. Page Backgrounds

Ensure your visitors can read the text on the background, i.e. no black writing on dark blue background or yellow on white. Means if the page background is dark always use light colour for the writhing a text or if the light colour is used for the page background the always use dark colour for writing a text, like this colour scheme for the background everything is visible to the visitor. Also be careful that your links are visible before and after being visited. The default for links in most programs is blue (before being visited) and burgundy (after being visited), so if you have a dark background, ensure your links are light.

3. (Page loading) site open within a minutes

All I’ve seen for the last 10 minutes is ‘page loading’, I think something might be wrong with my browser this is probably one of the biggest gripes a site visitor has. If your page takes more than a minute to load (on dial-up) and you have anything less than the meaning of life hidden within your content - something needs to be done. The average person does not have time they just go for another site without passed his time for these type of site those take time to open. So a good website takes less time for loading a site.

4. Appropriate page Size

Web pages are measured in pixels. Pixels are the unit of measurement for the screen. A Web page can literally be any size. Standard Web pages usually fit into a few sizes: * W × H * 600 × 800 * 640 × 480 (Dream weaver default) * 1024 × 768 * 550 × 400 (Flash default)

The default Web page sizes provided in Web friendly applications and listed earlier are a great place to start. You will probably use a smaller, custom size for pop-up windows. The Web page size you choose is up to you. Remember to use actual space for the Web page effectively so that the content is in the proper proximity to the user's navigation patterns. Web page size affects the way users move around the Web pages and the Web portfolio site. One rule: Pick a size for all main screens and stick to it.

5. Logo

Create a simple logo to identity your website. Have a captivating tag line somewhere with the header, and write an About Us page which describes the uniqueness of your website. These will leave an impression for your visitors to remember your website.

6. Application of graphic designs

You must be careful in choosing for the appropriate design that will best represent your projects, and tell about your business. Create a design which coveys in a stylish way what it has to

7. Be aware about grammar and spell

Grammar is overrated [and the spill-checker too] Most web authoring and word processing software comes with a spell/grammar check utility - don’t let your hard earned money go to waste, use it. Some of the more common grammatical mistakes are misusing its, it’s, there, their, they’re, your, you’re, and noone (correct=no one). Proof reading your final product is also helpful. No one is infallible, that’s why pencils have erasers and computer programs have [ctrl+z].

It’s a web designing company. It deals in web site design, website redesign, flash, 3D animation, logos, Banner Adds etc. About the Author Alex Roderick,

It’s a web designing company. It deals in web site design, website redesign, flash, 3D animation, logos, Banner Adds etc.

nick@webdesigningcompany.net It’s a web designing company. It deals in web site design, website redesign, flash, 3D animation, logos, Banner Adds etc.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alexa_Roderick

Choosing An Effective Website Colour Combination

By Paul Coulter

An aesthetically pleasing colour scheme can make or break your website. After all, in advertising, colour accounts for 60% of advertisement's acceptance or rejection. Therefore, colour plays a pivotal role in determining whether or not a potential customer will choose to conduct business with your firm. A web designer needs to ensure that all of your website’s colours work in harmony, while keeping the client’s identity consistent with other marketing efforts.

Quick Rules of Thumb

- Stick to 3 to 5 colours when planning a website

- When in doubt, use white for the background colour, and black for the text colour

Using Your Company’s Logo Colours

If your company already has a logo designed by a professional – great! This is the best starting point for choosing your website’s colour combination. You may choose to use the exact colours found in your logo, or even add some complimentary colours. But, it is important not to stray too far from your logo’s colour scheme in order to keep your company’s identity consistent.

Colour Defines Mood

The colours of your website are important because they can elicit different emotions from your visitors. Colours can make us happy, excited, angry or sad. Below is a list of colours along with the corresponding moods which they evoke:

Warm Colors
Red: aggressiveness, passion, strength, vitality
Pink: femininity, innocence, softness, health
Orange: fun, cheeriness, warm exuberance
Yellow: positive thinking, sunshine, cowardice

Cool Colors
Green: tranquility, health, freshness
Blue: authority, dignity, security, faithfulness
Purple: sophistication, spirituality, costliness, royalty, mystery

Neutral Colors
Brown: utility, earthiness, woodiness, subtle richness
White: purity, truthfulness, being contemporary and refined
Gray: somberness, authority, practicality, corporate mentality
Black: seriousness, distinctiveness, boldness, being classic

Choosing a Color Scheme

Once you understand the colours and their connotations, the next step is to choose a colour scheme for your website. Below is list of different types of colour combinations:

Monochromatic colour combinations use a single color. Variations in lightness of the selected colour can be used to create the sense of different colours. Monochromatic colors go well together, producing a soothing effect, and are very easy on the eyes. The drawback however, is that, it can be difficult to highlight the most important elements on your website.

Analogous color schemes use colours that are related, but not the identical, to create visually attractive combinations. Choosing this type of colour scheme is accomplished by picking colours that are close to each other on the colour wheel. For example, a selection of blues and purples, or reds and oranges would make a good analogous combination. One colour must be picked as the dominant colour while the others are used as accents.

Complementary (or contrasting) color schemes are comprised of 2 colours that are opposite each other on the color wheel. This combination is most appealing when a warm and a cool colour are used. For example, red with green or blue work well as contrasting colours. Using one colour for your background, and its complementary color to highlight key elements will give you colour dominance and colour contrast. One word of caution: it is difficult for the human eye to focus on contrasting colours at the same time. Therefore, it is best to avoid using strong contrasts for background and text colours.

Paul Coulter owns and operates a custom web design company in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. If you would like to read more web design articles or contact Paul, visit his business's website: Cost Effective Web Design, Windsor ON

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Coulter

Should You Choose Color Schemes To Complement The Accessories or Vice Versa?

By Sarah H

Choosing the right color scheme for any room is harder than you might think. It really takes a keen eye and sometimes it’s best to accept that we are not all artists or talented in this way. So why not let an expert guide help you make the right decision.

Using the right colours that either match or blend well with each other will give you balance and balance is always a good place to start. So to get started you’ll first need to choose a base colour. A base colour is just a colour in which you want everything else to revolve around and a good way to choose this is to consider the room in which you want to formulate a colour scheme for and think about your favorite colours. But keep in mind that sometimes your favorite colors may not mesh well with the type of room in question and also keep in mind that there are multitudes of ways to use color within a room so long as they complement and coordinate with each other.

Paint is tricky business and this is where a real artistic eye and hand will come in more than handy. There are a number of painting techniques that not only combine color schemes but textures as well. Many major do-it-yourself kits come with written directions as well as demonstrations that show you how to do the techniques yourself. A great practical way to learn a thing or two about technique is watching network television home improvement shows as these really have some great do it yourself practical segments that many a person has learned from!

After you have decided on the paint color and technique that you are going to use, the next thing to think about is the area involving the color scheme and the furniture that will be used in this area. It always works best to choose neutral or solid colors for your largest pieces of furniture since many of these, especially the pricey, elegant and antique pieces tend to come in metal or wooden designs. This also helps insure that they will have a long life span within your home since these materials and colours are very heavy duty and wear and tear tends not to surface on them.

For smaller pieces of furniture, like the occasional chair or less expensive pieces of furniture, nice trendy colors or patterns add a lovely luster to the area. This helps keep your area up to date and stylish without causing you to break the bank remodeling or redecorating every other year. When the style goes out you do not have to replace the larger price items.

It is recommended that more neutral color pieces of larger furniture be tied into the color schemes through the use of pillows and throws. Pillows can be purchased ready made or can be made by you, of course the benefit of making them yourself is that you can get exactly what you want and blend your colors much better than shopping to find colours close to what you are looking for. Embellishments are a great way to accent throw pillows and these embellishments can be as simple as adding accent tassels or as complicated as sewing beads onto the pillows that follow the design of the fabric. This technique is tricky and time consuming but the end product is very special.

Other accents in a room that work great to enhance colour schemes are coloured glass. Glass vases and decorative bottles are beautiful especially when placed by a source of light. These also come in a wide range of prices so the use of them fits most budgets. Colored glass bottles and vases can often be picked up at second hand stores. Just remember that less is more especially where beautiful ornate accents are concerned.

It’s wise to choose colors of similar densities for a balanced look so one doesn't overpower another and also choose colours that stem from the same primary colour so that a layered, in depth look is achieved. You’d be surprised at the harmony you’ll be able to create.

Discover more great tips and ideas at Home Remodeling Ideas a website offering resources on matters like how to grout tiles, kitchen decorating ideas and even about air conditioning sizing problems.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sarah_H