How to choose a colors scheme for a relationship/dating site
There are many crucial aspects which require consideration when you are designing a dating site. The obvious components are the overall layout, ease of navigation, choice of font, incorporation of eye-catching images, and how well the text is seeded with those all-important keywords to draw visitors via search engines. But one of the most fundamental of all is much more elementary. Color. In order for your site to attract maximum web traffic, it must have an appropriate color scheme. Here are some of the reasons why this is so important.
How we react to colors
Before studying which colors would best tie in with a niche-specific area like online dating, it would be worth taking an overview of the subject. Color is a vital element of giving us an impression about something, and this is down to biology. When we see any color, a particular part of our brain reacts, resulting in a rush of hormones being released. These will affect everything from moods to emotions. An obvious example of this would be the use of red. The color of blood, we associate red with danger, which is why warning signs are traditionally red. But it also symbolizes passion.
This psychology is studied by everyone from graphic designers to architects, but especially advertisers. Studies have shown color appreciation, whether it is done consciously or subconsciously, makes a huge impact on what people decide to buy, accounting for 90% of product assessment. It is also hugely influential on which websites we are drawn to.
Understanding this in relation to the attention span of Internet users is of vital importance. The bottom line is, if a site visitor doesn't find a color appealing within the first few seconds of alighting on your homepage, they'll swiftly move on, never to return. With online dating, an enterprise centered on social interaction, it is vital a site has a compelling look. And the color scheme lies at the heart of this.
Themes
You would never expect a site offering legal advice to be brashly-colored. Conversely, if you alighted on a dating resource, you would most likely be deterred if it was overly formal-looking, or presented in blacks and reds, as if you'd stumbled into a fan forum for some metal band. Choosing the color scheme for a relationship site often centers on warm tones â reds, oranges and so on â which can signify warmth and hospitality, but also incorporate fiery passion.
Components
Aside from the choice of basic palette, there are many different aspects to any website's color scheme. Take a dating site such as Loveaholics.com as an example. The site header is about setting the tone, establishing the brand. Here the title âloveaholics,' is set in an elegant script-style font, in two colors; white emphasizing the essential âlove' part of this heading. This is placed against a full-blooded wine red background, complimenting the heart-shaped logo next to it.
The remainder of the landing page is clean and white, placing the emphasis on the attractive image and sign-up form. Below, explanatory text is arranged in a neat, black sans-serif font, while hyperlinks stand out in a brighter orange. The general effect is minimalist, this straightforward color scheme presenting an inviting interface that welcomes site visitors to explore this relationship site further.
Other sites might opt for a more complicated layout, introducing everything from background images, borders, menubars, sidebars, buttons or popups. When any designer is juggling with these basic elements, their relationship to each other, as well as the overall site theme, is of vital importance. Too many color clashes will deter users. But used sensibly, color will bring your dating site alive!
