This is a guest post by Vanessa Lang.

When you start thinking about creating your own website for your business, there are a lot of choices you will have to make. One of the most important will be the color scheme. The colors you choose to represent your business will ultimately have a psychological effect on those who go to the site, and you will want to make sure you are sending the right message. While not all cultures perceive colors in the exact same way, these are a few general assumptions you can expect.

Red

This color triggers the customer to pay attention. It could warn for danger or signal strength and passion. It is also the color of love and lust, so you should be careful how you use this color so that you send the right message.

Orange

This color says that you are carefree and represents playfulness and mischief. It can also be used on restaurant websites to increase the viewer’s appetite. When used with blue or teal, the website will look very balanced (because the colors are contrasting), and when used with green it encourages a sense of natural energy.

Yellow

This color can be very hard on the eyes if used inappropriately. More often, it is used to differentiate between points and with other darker colors. When used with red and blue, it signals a sense of childlike cheerfulness.

Green

Nature, purity, and sincerity will come to mind if you use this color. Choosing green as your main color will create a sense of peace and growth. It is one of the most popular website color schemes used, so your site may get overlooked if you aren’t careful.

Blue

Another very common color used by web designers, blue will tell your viewers that you are compassionate and reliable. It is seen as a very “safe” color, so it is used often in advertising and packaging.

Purple

This color could imply luxury if used with colors like gold or silver. It shows sophistication, but could also be seen as dark and mysterious if used the right way.

Pink

This color is used more when trying to target a female audience. It promotes a feeling of love and can also be very nurturing.

Brown

Many people who see the color brown when associated with a business will assume the business is dependable, yet it also promotes a sense of adventure.

Pastel Colors

These lighter versions of other colors are great for websites promoting family or medical products or services. They are soft, inviting, soothing, and calm, which make them the perfect pair for sites selling something delicate, like baby necessities or medical procedures.

Vibrant Colors

These bright colors are best when trying to attract the interest of children or for businesses that are in fast paced industries. They can help your website stand out among the crowd, but too much could also harm the viewer’s eyes, causing them to go elsewhere.

Vanessa Lang is an author who writes guest posts on the topics of business, marketing, credit cards, and personal finance. Additionally, she works for a website that focuses on educating readers about payday loans.