Have you ever had one of those mornings where you wake up late and rush to work, only to arrive wearing two different socks? Once you notice the mismatched socks, it’s difficult to ignore them. Color consistency functions the same way; once your customers notice color inconsistency, they won’t be able to forget it.
What is color consistency?
“Color consistency” has been a staple of marketing lingo for years and means two things. First, that you’re using the same exact color shade across all documents of the same type, no matter where or on what device they are printed. Second, it means using the same shade of your corporate color across all documents. These two goals are achieved by using a color management solution, either on your computer or printer.
Why does color management matter?
So why should you care about color consistency? Simple, it speaks to both your professionalism and your brand.
Professionalism
The number one reason that color management matters is professionalism. Mismatched colors on documents of the same type look sloppy. If you’re meeting with two potential clients and each one of their supposedly identical documents has a different shade of blue, it makes your organization look unprofessional and unprepared. You could be a Fortune 500 company, but for all they care it looks like your work out of your basement.
Consistent color creates an aura of professionalism. It communicates to your clients that you pay attention to details, even ones as small as color. As a result, customers will be much more comfortable trusting you with their business.
Brand recognition
Branding is another obvious example of the impact color consistency and color management can have on your business. Most major brands have a specific color that they’ve chosen to make their own. Just ask Coca Cola, Pepsi or Android. When you see these colors, your mind instantly goes to the brands they represent. And if you think these colors were chosen haphazardly, then think again. Coca Cola spent consider time and effort choosing their distinctive color and ensuring that it was consistently used over the years.
Still not convinced? Take a look at this interactive graphic to see what when these recognizable corporate colors are switched. Something just feels inherently wrong when these notable brand colors are swapped.
Having different shades of your corporate color contradicts the brand message you are attempting to convey. That’s what color management is so important. It conveys a unified branding message and helps customers immediately identify your brand across all mediums.
Color management made easy
Alright, so you’re convinced that color management matters. Now what can you do about it? If you’re a commercial printer, our color specialists can work with you to find a production device or color management software package for your specific needs and budget.
If you’re a business or nonprofit that does a lot of in-house printing, we have solutions for you too. We can show you affordable color management software options that will help you manage your print jobs across your entire print fleet. To learn more, contact an office technology specialist today at (612) 861-4000.
We also have a full-service overflow print center that can alleviate your printing burden by handling your print jobs for you. To find out more information about our copy center, fill out our information request form.