Colour schemes, layout, navigation, professional imagery, and branding are all important aspects of web design. But typography is arguably one of the most important. From custom fonts, to type spacing and white space, typography can have a huge impact on your websites ability to attract attention, and pass on your message, After all, if your website visitors can’t read your font, how will they find the relevant information they are looking for? Well, the chances are, they will simply look elsewhere. So, to prevent your bounce rate from rocketing, you need to follow tried and tested website typography methods. And here at Pumpkin Web Design Manchester, we are the perfect candidates to explain. After all, we work with clients day in day out, to provide web design and typography styles that really stand out. While being completely practical and responsive. As a result, we have produced this guide to website typography best practices.
Stand out: Get Read
Your typography needs to stand out. Especially for headings and custom fonts that you want to use as above the fold elements to grab attention and get noticed. But don’t go overboard with your creativity. After all, your website needs to be legible, first and foremost. Website visitors aren’t clicking on your website just to look at the images. They are looking for relevant and original information, and if this isn’t displayed in a suitable and simple way, they will simply look elsewhere.
Who are you?
Any fonts you use will be representing your brand. So think carefully about the impression each font type gives, before you settle for something. Custom font can be perfect for attracting attention and showing off your unique branding. At the same time, a plain and traditional font can be perfect for companies with a need to present themselves as professional and sincere. As a result, you should always consider your company branding, before settling for a font.
Say it with whitespace
So empty space probably isn’t what first springs to mind when you think about typography. But it perhaps should be. Whitespace around your text can make it easier to read, more obvious to people skimming your website, and more likely to actually be read. Honestly, increase the whitespace around your text element, and between the lines of your text, and you’ll notice a difference.
Go big, or go home
OK not too big! But in general, the text on your website could probably go a little bigger. Even just the difference from font size 12 to 14 can be so much more comfortable for your users. Larger text is easier to see, and if it’s easier to see, it’s easier to read. Which means more people will actually read your sales copy, instead of skimming over it. Which could result in more sales!
Respond to changes
Finally, your text needs to be responsive. And this doesn’t just mean that it needs to move from horizontal to vertical when you turn your screen. It means that the number of characters per line also needs to change. In general, for a mobile device, the number of characters per line should decrease, to make it easier to read on smaller screen size.
For more information or advice about website typography best practices, get in touch with the experts today, here at Pumpkin Web Design Manchester.