You envision it so clearly: the perfect website for your brand. You imagine every last detail so vividly. You become giddy with excitement. When you get to the process of actually building it, though, it gets a little more complicated. There are a hundred things to consider: the colors, the graphics, the images, the navigations, even the fonts. And believe it or not; fonts matter more than you think. Here’s a quick guide on how to choose a font for your site.
Fonts have power. Many people creating websites make the mistake of underestimating the power of typography. However, the right one can make the world of difference in website design. The right font will not only enhance the look and feel of the website; it can also influence people’s perception of the brand and, even, call them to action.
Web Development Basics: Categories of Fonts
Very basically, fonts come in these different categories.
- Serif – Serif fonts look and feel traditional largely because they have serifs (those tiny strokes or “feet” attached to the end of a larger strokes).
- Sans Serif – Sans literally means without. So Sans Serif fonts come without serifs. They look and feel a bit more modern than Serifs.
- Slab Serif – Slab serifs have serifs but they are rather thick and square.
- Monospaced – Monospaced fonts mimic the fonts of old typewriters. They are not advisable for websites because of its uneven spacing and can influence the site’s usability and readability negatively.
- Script – Scripts are decorative fonts and can be used to show personality and flair.
- Display – Display fonts are quite detailed, very thick, and large. These fonts are usually used as accents and are perfect for titles, subtitles, or as an attention-catcher.
How to Choose a Font for Your Site
Don’t have a font yet? Here are some things you need to consider.
- Your brand’s personality. Your font must convey the brand. Is your brand traditional or contemporary? Minimalist or eclectic? Serious or quirky? Choose the font that most resembles what your brand is.
- Web-safe fonts. Websites are for the benefit of the users. Therefore, you must make sure the font you choose (and use) is web-safe; meaning your users should be able to see them properly even if they don’t have the fonts installed in their computers. Sydney website design experts can either use a software converter to ensure fonts are web-safe or look for the closest and most similar web-safe font to use.
- Fonts Combinations. You need to choose more than one font for aesthetic purposes. When combining fonts, choose only 2 to 3 complimentary fonts and define a hierarchy among the three. For instance, a prominent and attention-grabbing font is your primary font and used for headings. A secondary font, one that is readable, can be used for the body text.
Picking the right font that shows off your brand’s personality, resonates with the audiences, and looks and feels good does not have to be hard. How to choose a font for your site? It’s easy.
Simply ask yourself what your goals are, what do you want your audience to feel when they see it, and how do you want your brand to be seen by the rest of the world? Answer these questions honestly and you’ll have perfect typography in your website. Choose wisely.