One Typeface – How to use fonts effectively

How many fonts should I use on my website?

Well, it depends. 
As a general rule, you should probably stick with 2 or 3 fonts for your website.

Design

Generally speaking, using 2 or 3 fonts will ensure that your site has a consistent look and feel. Establishing a visual hierarchy for your users will be easier with less fonts. 

Load Time

Like everything on your website, fonts must be loaded in order for a user to see them. Using too many fonts can actually slow down your website significantly. 

Is 2 or 3 fonts enough?

We happen to think so. In fact, we believe that most of the time you can design a website using just one font.

The trick is to use variations of font weight, spacing, and line height to establish a clear visual hierarchy. The best part? Since its technically all the same font, your site is almost guaranteed to have a consistent look and feel. This consistency is great for brand recondition. We suggest that you actually use this rule across platforms and mediums to further establish your brand.

Where can I find fonts?

We suggest checking out Google Fonts .

They have a large variety of  web fonts that load quickly and look great. You can also download the fonts you choose and use them for other mediums, such as print and presentations.

Oh, and did I mention that it’s free?

The One Font Challenge

Using Google Fonts, we have created a few examples of using one font. By using different font sizes, weights, spacing and line height, we think we were able to establish a solid look for each of the three examples. We used some free images from Unsplash to help establish the tone for each example. Remember, all of these fonts can be downloaded for free using Google Fonts.


Example : Merriweather


Example : Montserrat


Example : Open Sans

WordPress vs Squarespace

At Dhali we design most of our sites using WordPress. WordPress is a powerful open source software and tool for building websites and apps. Some estimate that over 25% of ALL websites are currently built with WordPress.

The most common use for a WordPress site is as a content management system, or CMS. This allows users to edit their website like a Google Doc. Along with the intuitive CMS, WordPress has a multitude of powerful tools “under the hood”. These tools allow our development team to make beautiful, easy to edit websites.

Another popular CMS is the new kid on the block, Squarespace. Squarespace is a beautiful, although limited, alternative to WordPress. Squarespace thrives off of its “drag and drop” system and pre-made themes. These tools allow users to create professional looking sites with no code or prior experience.

So which is best for you, WordPress or Squarespace?

The answer is it depends.

To decide, you must have the goal of the website in mind. The best way to explain this is by giving a few examples. As you will see, the choice almost always boils down to functionality and flexibility.

Portfolio

Let’s say you are a photographer who needs a simple portfolio site. The goal of the site is to showcase your work and set up a contact form for potential clients to reach you. You don’t have a large budget want to get started immediately.

The immediate answer here is Squarespace.

Why? Squarespace has a few pre-built templates for portfolios to get you started. Because you have a small budget, the upfront cost will only be for your domain name and first month of Squarespace. If you spend a few hours uploading your photos and connecting an email address, your site is as good as live.

Why you shouldn’t choose Squarespace.
Let’s say down the line you want to add in some sort of social interaction to your site, such as the ability to “like” photos. Squarespace simply does not have this functionality. Also, because Squarespace severs are the only place you can host Squarespace sites, you will never be able to transfer your website to another hosting provider.

Small Business

Let’s say that you are a small business looking to grow their online presence. The goal of your website is to display your products and reach out to potential clients. Your brand has a very distinct style, and in the future you hope to add eCommerce to your site so that you may sell products online.

The answer here is WordPress.

Building this site on WordPress will allow you to start with the end in mind. Phase one of the project will be getting the website up and running and adding in various pages and products. Phase two can then be implemented down the road, giving your site the eCommerce functionality when you need it.

In addition, with WordPress where you host your site is completely up to you, allowing further flexibility. All while branding and customizing your site to look the way you want it.

That’s where we come in.

Our team at Dhali has the skills and tools available to help you achieve your goals. We design fully customized sites with the future in mind, and even show you show to add to your WordPress website.

(We also offer hosting programs that cover everything from security maintenance to posting blogs)

See for your self!

Visit our clients page. All of which were built on WordPress.