What are your personal brand colours saying about you?

Colours have meaning. So, what are the colours you embrace communicating for your personal brand?

Renowned artist, Georgia O’Keeffe, once said:

“I found I could say things with colour and shapes, that I couldn’t say any other way - things I had no words for.”

Your colour choices speak volumes for your personal brand. So, what’s yours saying?

My grandma rarely wore black. If she did, only hints would appear to complement the light pinks, blues and shades of beige she preferred. All elegantly topped with humble sprinkles of gold jewellery. And she always believed in not wearing black to weddings.

Just months before she passed, I felt compelled to ask: “What’s your favourite colour?” During her silent reflective smile, I guessed “blue?”. Her smile got wider and she nodded. It was the colour of the crystals of her favourite rosary, and the colour she wore to my sister’s wedding. I made a mental note, knowing I’d one day understand why this felt significant.

My previous blog on dressing for personal brand success shared how colours are an essential part of your brand identity. In a noisy marketplace, they help build consistent brand recognition. Just think Tiffany and Co blue, Cadbury purple and Coca-Cola’s red.

Colours, as my grandma knew, also have meaning. They send cues and evoke emotions.

Here are my three steps for using colour to help define your personal brand. Building a recognisable visual identity.

Tip #1. Define your personal brand colour palette

As a personal brand coach, I recommend defining a palette for yourself. Just like a corporate brand would, consider including:

• Main colours

• A neutral (which may also be reflected in your main)

• Accent colour/s

Don’t force your palette. Let it flow organically from your longstanding preferences. You’ve likely connected with certain colours for certain reasons. Or perhaps, you feel an emotional connection to certain hues. Maybe, they come from your own fondest memories.

Here’s a simple breakdown of just some widely agreed colour meanings:

Red

Energy, power, passion, courage and confidence

Examples: McDonalds, Coco-Cola, Youtube, Netflix and Red Cross

Yellow

Sunshine, positivity, happiness, cheerfulness and energy

Examples: Shell, Hertz, Snapchat, Ikea, Chupa Chups and LA Lakers

Green

Growth, peace, nature, health and abundance

Examples: Spotify, Starbucks, Rolex, Heineken and BP

Blue

Trust, authority, intelligence, friendliness and calm

Examples: LinkedIn, Gillette, Yale University, Facebook, American Express and PayPal

Purple

Royalty, wealth, luxury, spirituality and mystery

Examples: Cadbury, Hallmark and FedEx

Pink

Playfulness, love, nurturing, passion and youthfulness

Examples: Baskin Robins, Barbie, Johnson & Johnson, Donut King and National Breast Cancer Foundation

Orange

Energy, optimism, fun, warmth and determination

Examples: Fanta, Nickelodeon, Mastercard, Amazon and Harley Davidson

Brown

Comfort, reliability, simplicity, sincerity and genuineness

Examples: M&M’s, Gloria Jeans, Nespresso, Hershey’s and Louis Vuitton

Grey

Neutrality, impartiality, balance, intelligence and practicality

Examples: Mercedes Benz, Swarovski, Volvo and Wikipedia

Black

Elegance, power, mystery, authority and formality

Examples: Mont Blanc, World Wildlife Fund and Chanel

White

Purity, simplicity, cleanliness, perfection and innocence

Examples: Apple, Uber and Nike

This list is by no means exhaustive. Each colour tone also matters. Take blue for example, navy is strong and conveys authority. It’s likely why so many education institutions often embrace this hue. Alternatively, baby blue is peaceful and calming.

Colours also have opposing meanings. Red, orange, yellow and black can also serve as warnings of danger. They can be intimidating in some contexts. Hence, my grandma’s aversion to wearing black at weddings.

Be sure to work through the nuance of your own personal brand colour palette.

During this process, aim to create congruency between your professional and personal style. Remember, the goal is not a false representation of your personal brand, but rather a fully integrated one.

Tip #2. Integrate your colour palette across your brand touchpoints

In the last decade, cleaning extraordinaire, Maria Kondo, sparked a worldwide cleaning movement. The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up shares her now renowned KonMari Method. This begins with making a commitment to tidying up and imagining your ideal state. Then, move to discarding and decluttering by category.

Once you've defined your personal brand palette, roll out a personal brand refresh by category as well. Ensure your palette is applied across all your brand touch points including your:

• Digital presence

• Personal Stationery

• Wardrobe

• Workspace

• Accessories

• Home

You shouldn’t require any immediate new purchases. Your palette should simply illuminate your existing preferences. Or, as Kondo made famous - keeping what sparks joy.  And, leaving behind anything that now feels incongruent. Your newly defined palette should evoke all the emotions you want to attract.

Tip #3. Stay consistent with your personal brand colours

In branding, consistency builds recognition and trust. Experiment, with intention, where you need to. But, otherwise, do your best to stay consistent. Not only will it build your personal brand’s look and feel, but it will also help reduce your decision fatigue.

When it comes to your visual personal brand identity, details matter. Meticulous attention is paid to corporate colours. All to ensure they send the right messages for you. And, when it comes to your personal brand, you can also take creative control. And communicate with intention.

So, what are your personal brand colours?

PS. Read more on this brand personality series here.