Website Fonts:
Do’s and Dont’s

Website typography is a fun experience when it comes to selecting your styled preferences. There are literally thousands of web-based fonts to choose from, and there are new styles being introduced every year. Two of the most famous resources for web fonts are through Google and Adobe. The experience of selecting fonts for your website is not only fun, but time-consuming. A lot of brainstomring is required when finding the right fonts for your online presentation.

Typography makes a huge cosmetic impact on your website, and may emphasize the overall mood and feel of it. Below are a few things you will need to consider during the font selection process. Steadfast will guide and inform you on what, and what not to do during this phase.

Limit Your Amount of Fonts

When selecting your fonts, make sure you narrow your results down to 3 maximum. Web-based fonts in general take up space since they do require a small script to be pasted on the backend of your site. This requires an http request to help load the fonts onto your website. The last thing you would want to do is install 10 fonts, and then wonder why your website’s performance is suddenly taking a hit.

Another thing to be mindful about when selecting your fonts is to keep your font weights to a minimum too. We recommend sticking to 2 font weights max per font. One thin and one bold will suffice. Selecting more than you need is just a waste of space. Keep it to a minimum, your website will perform better.

Font File Types and Installation

Today, there are numerous font file types available for the web. TrueType (TTF) and OpenType (OTF) fonts have been around for a long time. The most modern font file types used, and recommened today are Web Open Font formats (WOFF, WOFF 2.0). These specific fonts provide better compression to help your site load faster. They are also universally compatible on different browsers and devices. SVG fonts are also gaining in popularity because of their low compression rate. Our recommendation is to stick with these types of fonts.

Also, make sure your fonts are installed properly. Carefully follow the guidelines of either Google or Adobe to make sure your web-based fonts are fully functional. If you need help with font installation, contact us today and we will install them for you.

Font Licensing

The final and most important thing you need to know about website typography is that a license is neccessary to purchase and obtain to legally use on your website. Downloading and installing fonts illegally may get you into legal trouble. Avoid any proprietary fonts and the trouble that may lie ahead with illegal download usage. Obtain a legitimate license. You can easily do this by subscribing to premium web-based font websites like Adobe, which instantly allow you to use their broad selection of unique typography.

Conclusion

Font typography in general provide that cosmetic feel you are looking for. Now that you are aware of what to do, and what not to do during your font selection, begin the process of finding the right fonts suited for your website. If you need any help, contact us today, and we will be more than happy to guide you through the process.