Dental Website Design

Optimizing your dentist website: choosing colors

There are a lot of details to consider when designing a website for your dental practice. From layout and content to images, plug-ins, and buttons, the entire process can be overwhelming. And, because it’s stressful, many times little elements are overlooked. Things like colors used, while it can seem insignificant, can actually make a huge difference in how well your website does its job.

Whether you are in the process of building a website for your dental practice or if you’re updating your current dentist website, understanding how colors make people feel can help you make smart decisions along the way.

Selling is the art of persuasion. There are many factors that influence how and what consumers buy. A large part of every decision is based on visual cues, and the strongest and most persuasive is color.
—Kissmetrics

According to some pretty cool research, here’s what certain colors do to our (North American) brains when we view them… (And, yes, these findings are different across cultures, which makes the study of color psychology even more fascinating!)

  • Yellow. Because this color is used on different types of street signs, yellow is a great way to grab someone’s attention. The color is also associated with optimism and youth, making it a great choice for dentists who cater to children and younger populations.
  • Blue. A smart choice for anyone in the health industry, especially dentists, the color blue has been show to increase feelings of trust and security. If you’re wanting to make your audience feel like they’re (literally) in good hands, using a blue scheme on your dentist website is a great way to go.
  • Green. Easiest on the eyes, green is associated with two things in particular: wealth and relaxation. As a dentist, be mindful about how much green you use. While you want visitors to your website to feel at ease, you also don’t want them to think your services are too expensive or out of reach.
  • Orange. While bright and cheery, orange is actually perceived as aggressive, making it a dangerous choice for dental practice websites.
  • Pink. As you may have guessed, pink is most associated with all things romantic and feminine. If your dental practice finds its niche catering to women, then pink could be a great choice. But, be warned, too much pink on your website can make you come across as unprofessional, especially when it’s in the health industry.
  • Black. The color isn’t all doom and gloom. Black is most associated with luxury and, because it’s the opposite of the white screens so often found online, it’s also a reprieve for the eyes and senses. If you own an upscale dental practice or are looking to across higher-end clients, then using black strategically on your website could be a really good move.
  • Purple. Underused, especially on dental websites, purple is a great choice because it is soothing and calming to the brain. Adding purple to your pages can help relax your visitor, making them feel more comfortable about scheduling an appointment or submitting information.

But, before you go and change your entire logo or color scheme, remember that shades of colors play a role in how they are perceived by the brain. Bright, neon hues of colors are very different than the same color in pastel form.

For best results, ask for advice from experts (and your friends) to see what they think (and how they feel) about the colors you are wanting to choose.

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