Website fonts are an important, integral part of any website. Despite growing popularity in different forms of website content – such as video and audio – the text on a website is still, in our opinion, the most significant content when explaining what a business is all about to potential clients. Therefore, it is essential that the right website fonts are chosen.
It is estimated that, including variations, there are around 650,000 different fonts available online. So, to say there is a plenty of choice is an understatement.
The quality and choice of website fonts can impact a websites readability, legibility and even its general data protection regulation (GDPR). So, we’re sharing four things that are crucial to get right with your website fonts –
No More Than Three Fonts
Among web designers, it is a fairly universal rule that a website should use no more than three fonts. If a site has too many fonts, it can be slightly disorientating for the user, with the various choices fighting for attention. Using more than three fonts can also make a website look messy, unprofessional and unstructured. Not to mention the troubles it can cause with the layout.
It is important, however, for the chosen website fonts to demonstrate a variety of styles and weights. These can be used strategically by the designer to create subheadings, body text and to draw the users attention to certain areas and sections of the website, or the web pages.
Three is the maximum. There are plenty of highly functional, good websites online that only make use of two fonts, and on occasion, one is sufficient. The same font(s) should be used consistently across the entire website.
It more than one font is being used, it is also important to ensure that the various fonts work together. They should compliment each other for the best results.
How Can Fonts Break GDPR?
It comes as a surprise to many, some web design company’s included, that a font can break GDPR. But, when pulling fonts directly from Google, as many still do, this is exactly what is happening.
Because Google Fonts collects the requests from the user, gets the file from its own servers and delivers them back to the end user to produce the font, Google’s server needs the receiver’s IP address in order to deliver the files. So, because an IP address is personal information that can identify a user, this is according to GDPR, sharing this personal information without consent violates the regulation.
In fact, last year, a German Court specifically declared that Google Fonts is not compliant with GDPR.
To make Google Fonts GDPR compliant, its best to download website fonts manually and then apply them. This way, Google isn’t given the IP address. The other option is to get consent from the end user, this way, fonts can be downloaded directly from Google.
The Right Fonts For The Right Industry
Making sure that the appropriate website font, size and colour is used for a specific industry is also essentially important. The right font can help compliment a company’s branding, whilst making sure the website content is understood in the desired tone.
For example, if we take an organisation in the finance sector, which will be publishing lots of numbers on its website, the requirement is for something serious but also something highly legible – one number misread could represent a huge difference.
Furthermore, much as colour draws certain emotions from the people viewing them, website fonts too ignite psychological reactions and associations. So, through the correct use of font and colour, website designers can make a company or brand feel approachable, professional, trustworthy, friendly and much more.
Think about it, a serious banking firm or health practitioner using a luminous pink, curved, bubble-based font doesn’t exactly create connotations of trust and respectability.
Legibility Is Key
The legibility of any website font is extremely important. First and foremost, the purpose of a website is to communicate and therefore the user should be able to clearly understand all website copy for effective communication and user experience.
When text is easy to read, the user is far more likely to engage with the content, increasing the likeliness of a sale being made or a service being requested.
It should also be remembered that not all modern fonts are accessible, and those with visual impairments may struggle to read or understand certain fonts. Therefore, a website needs to be inclusive and use typography that everyone can view.
Ensuring the right website fonts are used is important for so many reasons, and as we’ve shown this goes way beyond simple aesthetics. Communication, readability, inclusion and even privacy laws can all come under the umbrella of website fonts.
If your business is struggling with website conversions, a high bounce rate or illegible website copy, feel free contact us and see how we can help.
