You’re building a website. You found the perfect template on Squarespace. But something doesn’t feel right. You’re not sure why. The photos look amazing. The page loads quickly. But your visitors aren’t clicking. They’re not converting. What’s wrong?
It could be your typography.
Yes, the fonts you pick, the size of your text, and how you lay out your words can have a huge impact on how people interact with your site. A good typography system can increase trust, boost conversions, and make visitors want to stick around.
Why Typography Matters
Your words are your voice online. And how they look affects how people feel about you. Typography isn’t just about being pretty or trendy. It’s about communication.
- Clear typography makes your content easier to read.
- Readable fonts keep visitors from bouncing away.
- Consistent text styles help users trust your brand.
Simpler is often better. Too many fonts, sizes, and colors confuse users. And confusion is the enemy of conversion.
What is a Typography System?
A typography system is a set of rules for how you use text across your website. Think of it like a style guide. It includes things like:
- Font families (like serif or sans-serif)
- Font sizes for headings, body text, captions
- Line height and spacing
- Font weights (bold, regular, light)
- Text colors for readability and contrast
When done well, users don’t even notice good typography. They just enjoy the content. When done poorly… users leave.
How Squarespace Templates Help
The good news? Squarespace makes it easy. Many of their templates already come with solid typography systems out of the box.
Here are a few Squarespace templates known for great typography:
- Hawley – Clean, modern, great for blogs and portfolios.
- Paloma – Stylish and editorial, ideal for storytellers.
- Clune – Bold headings, clear navigation, simple to scan.
These templates are designed by pros. They follow best practices. You don’t have to be a designer to get typography that works.
But you can still make tweaks to improve your results.
Tips to Create Typography That Converts
Here’s how to take your typography from “just okay” to “wow.”
1. Use a Clear Font Hierarchy
Think of your text like a tree.
- H1 is your trunk (the main page title)
- H2 and H3 are branches (subheadings)
- Body text is the leaves (detailed content)
Use bold or larger fonts for headings. Keep body text simple and scannable. This helps users skim and find what they need fast.
2. Choose Fonts That Reflect Your Brand
Fonts have feelings too! Here’s a quick cheat sheet:
- Serif fonts (like Georgia, Times New Roman): Traditional, trustworthy
- Sans-serif fonts (like Helvetica, Arial): Modern, clean
- Script fonts: Elegant, creative (but hard to read—use sparingly)
Match your fonts to your brand personality. A law firm and a wedding planner should not use the same script, right?
3. Keep It Legible
Pretty doesn’t mean readable. Here’s how to keep things legible:
- Font size: At least 16px for body text
- Line height: 1.4 to 1.6 for easier reading
- Contrast: Dark text on light background or vice-versa
If users squint or zoom in, they’ll lose interest quickly.
4. Limit Your Font Combos
Don’t use five different fonts. Stick to two—maybe three if you know what you’re doing.
A common pair: A serif font for headings and a sans-serif for body text. Or vice versa. Consistency feels professional.
5. Use Typography to Guide Action
Want people to click that ‘Sign Up’ or ‘Buy Now’ button?
- Make headings punchy and benefit-driven
- Use font weight to make CTAs pop
- Keep paragraphs short to hold attention
The goal is to guide your visitor to action, not to overwhelm them.
Examples of Typography That Works
Here are some real-world ways people use typography well:
A portfolio site might use:
- A big, bold name at the top (H1)
- Sleek sans-serif body text for project details
- Minimalist layout to let images shine
An online store might use:
- Strong serif headings for product names
- Friendly sans-serif paragraphs with product descriptions
- CTA buttons with bold fonts that pop
Squarespace Typography Tools
Inside Squarespace, you can change your typography settings easily. Here’s where to look:
- Go to Design > Site Styles.
- Click on any text block to change fonts, size, spacing, color, and more.
- You can preview these changes live—no guesswork!
You can also test on mobile—because great typography should work on every screen.
Don’t Forget Accessibility
Typography must be accessible. Not just beautiful. Make sure your site can be read by everyone.
- Use high contrast colors
- Add enough spacing between lines and letters
- Avoid all-caps for long paragraphs
Accessibility means more visitors. Happier users. And better rankings on search engines.
Small Tweaks, Big Results
You don’t need to start over. Small changes to font choices and layout can lead to big improvements in engagement and sales.
Start by asking: Is my site easy to read at a glance? Do headings help users navigate? Does my CTA stand out?
Then adjust. One step at a time. Use a consistent system. Stick to your style. And always keep the user in mind.
In Summary
- Typography is key to how people read and react to your website.
- Squarespace gives you gorgeous templates with strong typography by default.
- But you can still adjust and improve using simple design principles.
- Focus on clarity, consistency, and guiding users toward action.
Good typography builds trust. And trust builds conversions.
So next time you’re picking that font on Squarespace—don’t just go for pretty. Go for purposeful. Because how it looks determines how it works.
Now, go forth and choose your fonts wisely. Your site visitors will thank you (with their clicks).