Does Blogging Font Really Matter? Yes and No

People Need to be Fond of Your Font

Some of you may have noticed that Twitter recently changed their typeface from “Segoe UI” to it's very own typeface called “Chirp.”

Twitter announced that they feel “Chirp strikes the balance between messy and sharp to amplify the fun and irreverence of a Tweet, but can also carry the weight of seriousness when needed.” They've noted that “Chirp” is “imperfect, by design.”

Essentially, it's a blend of the American Gothic and European Grotesque styles, with a twist.

Do You Need an About-Face on Typeface?

Canva, who knows a thing or two about typeface, hits the nail on the head when noting that “certain typefaces communicate different values and meanings and these should align perfectly with your overall brand message.”

If you're keen to see what they recommend in terms of fonts, they've got an article which runs through what they feel are the 19 best professional fonts to use for your site.  By default, you probably already use a common font (and one listed there), but it might be worth checking, and considering whether a new font may serve you better.

We also came across the “7 deadly sins of choosing a font for your website,” and think this is a great read to really dive deep into the topic.

Accessibility should also be something that bloggers are considering. A recent study noted that Ariel and Verdana tend to be more legible online for individuals with dyslexia and similar conditions.

Your Font Can Be a Brand Builder

A lot of companies have decided that the best move is to create their own font and, in effect, have that be part of their marketing strategy. For example, if I am reading “Chirp,” I unconsciously know that I'm on Twitter.

Font, many have decided, is part of the overall experience of the ecosystem.

Here are some examples of companies who have gone down that path:

• Netflix created “Netflix Sans” in 2018. They wanted the font to look “compact and efficient” when it was lowercase and “cinematic” when it was uppercase.
• Apple's famed Chicago typeface (created in 1984) was largely created because it was a font that could be seen on a low-res  screen.
• Airbnb created the Cereal typeface to be easy to see on both their website and billboards. Their aim was to have their typeface be very warm and approachable to invoke trust.
• Ebay created “Market Sans” which, according to their site, was made to “denote affiliation with an online marketplace,” and because they felt it would make their site load faster overall.

Really, this is just a kind reminder that fonts are powerful, so maybe take a moment to ensure that you're communicating exactly what you want with your font on your site(s).