The color on my ad matters. Blue is better than green?!?

Hello,

I recently changed my ad on CL from a blue format to a green format. It only made sense to go green being a quote in my ad is "Go Green or Go Home!". So I made the change and for some reason the calls stopped coming for like 4 days in a row, I usually get around 2 calls per day . I changed it back to blue today and I got two calls and two appointments.

It might of been a coincidence but, I'm not going to risk it, I'm going to stick to blue. Maybe the blue stands out from all of the other ads that are green? I'm not sure but, it work for me.

Go Blue!

There once were gas stations all over, which made lots of money selling lots of gas and oil to lots of customers. They also once had bathrooms there ; ) During their heyday, or maybe more towards their demise, I recall one major chain doing an in depth study of colors for these rooms of comfort. They seemed to have discovered that certain colors, in certain amounts, made these places inviting enough to come inside, but not inviting enough to stay too long ; )
I'm not sure what colors, or in what amounts, they decided were the best, but I am certain, although not from their study, that colors definitely can make a difference ; )

Look at Facebook. Their color is blue. Twitter. Again blue lil bird. And I'm pretty sure instagram is blue. Walmart is blue. So yea stick with blue. Lol

I would choose green for these reasons:

People who like the color green tend to score higher in intelligence, I'm sure there are a lot of people on this forum for example, that like the color green.

Green relates to recycling and the "green movement"

Millions and millions of dollars have already been spent in advertising in order to relate the color green to recycling, renewal, natural, etc. I would want to take advantage of all the millions spent, without having to incur any of the cost myself.

And, erm, green M&Ms. >:)

Scott

Stick with what has worked. If it was pink polka dots who cares as long as the green ends up in your pocket. Its possible that people know your ad just from the color and passed by the green one. If it aint broke dont fix it.

Haha...my settings for here are green. I'm brilliant!

As Scott said, millions of dollars have gone into the research on how colors affect consumers, for a ton of industries. You think Walmart, FB, Twitter went with blue cause it made them feel good? More like..their research showed certain results. I know retail companies an even restaurants do this all the time..spend buku dollars trying to figure out that perfect color scheme. When I worked for Borders, Books & Music, I asked about the colors an lighting in our store, an my General mgr, replied they went with them cause it gave a more home like feeling. People were more likely to hang out, an read their books, play on their computers, etc cause they felt relaxed as if they were at home. It also helped sell a lot of coffee an other things from the in store cafe. I don't know if it was cause of the colors, but man our chairs all over the store stayed filled from opening till closing. So it musta worked to some degree. Lot of money is spent on all kinds of research far as consumers go, from music, to color, to layouts of stores.

It's something a lot of small businesses over look. It's not about you, it's about the customer, an getting that sale. Take retail or sales of any kind really. In order to succeed you have to be able to separate your personal bias from what your selling. I don't like Apple, I have my reasons, but I know it's a good product for lots of people. Despite my thoughts on Apple, I'd still sell their computers, ipads, phones, mp3s, etc..why? Cause I want to make that sale. Someone who dislikes Microsoft isn't going to buy a pc no matter what I say, most of the time. So I give'm what they want. You want a Chevy, an I drive a ford? That's fine with me, my job was to sell the products I'm given. Despite my personal beliefs on them. I only draw a line when I know a product sucks or is unsafe, or truly is crap. You can't know the last three with out doing the research on the product. Your like or dislike shouldn't matter, only the facts an what the consumer wants. You can scream all day about Chevy vs Ford but unless you can back it up with stone cold facts, it's just your opinion. An we all know what opinions are like..

Just for the record one thing that pisses me off ..if I go to a bar, an order a specific drink, lets go with Tequila. I like Cuervo Black. I have my reasons, pm or start a thread an I'll share why..;) an order my Cuervo Black, the bartender will say.."Well you should get Patron" my reply is always.."If I wanted Patron I would have asked for Patron." Give me what I ask for, despite your personal Bias. I don't care if you don't like Cuervo, Jack, whatever..I'm not buying you a drink I'm buying me one. Just like..if I want whiskey don't try an sell me vodka, it isn't want I asked for. If you don't have what I want or want to sell me what you want, I'll go elsewhere an take my money with me. :)

Anyhow, just my thoughts. In short..Color is important, plenty of sites out there that offer this info, most want you to pay for it, but you can find it for free, if your willing to research it an take the time. As our the results for research on music an customers, etc.

Hopefully someone can find something useful in this novel, if so I'll chalk it up to a good day. An if not..you all know I like Cuervo Black now and not Patron. :p

Sirscrapalot - A little crazy, a little brilliant, a whole lotta fun.

Sirscrapalot: Thanks for your reply. Personally I don't feel like just copying what large companies do or what they have researched is the way to go. I do what works for me and I do take advice from others but, I will only use it if I see fit. I agree with you on providing the consumer with the product they want and it just seems for some reason my customers want blue ads so, that is what I am giving them. There are so many factors when it comes to colors, I'm sure the color of a building has a different effect on someone than the color of a craigslist ad. Perhaps when it come to reading ads online people are more willing to read the ad if it is blue.

All I know is, is that I got two jobs today again with the blue ad and zero with the green ad. Perhaps the companies have invested too much in the color green and the consumers are already tired of it and want to see something else. Maybe when people look at ads that have to do with recycling all of them look the same but, when they come across a blue ad it looks different so, they read it.

I think Ill take brasscatchers' advice and stick to what works.

Mrsamsonite,

Wasn't saying for you, specifically to copy the big places, I was meaning general you an just tossing it others for others reading your thread. I think you chose well with the color myself. :)

The rest is also for everyone, not just yourself, as lots of folks don't stop to think about it when their out shopping, or running their business. Hence my hoping it was helpful for others.

I totally agree with doing what works for you, hence one of my favorite sayings..."Your Mileage may Vary." I don't think most of us have a store front with customers coming into buy items. Most folks sell on ebay, CL etc. My post mostly was just food for thought. Being unique in itself sells, long as your not doing something silly like making a website an using horrible colors. An your correct on the building thing also, lots of studies on that to but again..that old saying..Opinions are like.. ;)

An yep, listen to BC, he knows what he's talking about. An I do agree, do what is working for you, just cause it doesn't work for the big box stores, or other company doesn't mean it can't work for you, as your proving.

At the end of the day, once again..you do what works for you(general you!), an if it works..awesome, if not...try try again.

Sirscrapalot - I'd rather be a unique snow flake then just another clone. - Me, or a clone of me, or clone of the clone of me..