What makes this so difficult to read is the combination of the font and font size.
This email uses a Georgia font (which is a good font to use in an email) but it's font size is 14, which appears too small on a mobile device.
Now you may be
thinking, a font size of 14 sounds like it should be large enough to view. Heck if you’re like me and draft your email in a Word or Google Doc first, then a 14 actually looks big.
I created my draft of this newsletter in a Google Doc using a font size of 11, and I can read it with ease. But that’s on my desktop, with the larger screen.
Fact is, your experience on a phone vs a laptop is just different. Images, font size, CTA’s are
all smaller.
And with 85% of people checking their emails on their phone, you need to make sure your subscribers have a good experience or
they may stop opening your emails.
Why does the right font and size matter?
If your emails are hard to read, then your subscribers are less likely to read them. Legible fonts help readers scan your email, identify key points, and make quick decisions.
Let’s take a quick test. Take a look at the following four sentences or your phone and laptop.
This is
Helvetica font, size 12.
This is Helvetica font, size 14.
This is Helvetica font, size 16.
This is Helvetica font, size 18.
Now which one would you prefer reading on mobile? How about a laptop?
Let’s see what happens when we change the font.
This is Verdana font, size 12.
This is Verdana font, size 14.
This is Verdana font, size 16.
This is Verdana font, size 18.
I know this looks like an eye test 👀, but in a way it is.
As you can see, the font and font size you choose will have a big impact on the readability of your email.
So don’t let poor font choices be the downfall of your email
performance.
What is the best font size to use?
A small font size can ruin an email campaign. An overly large font will look oppressive and disarranged.
A tiny font will make recipients squint to read it or put their screen right up to their nose.
To avoid this, we recommend a 16 - 18 font for the email body and 22 - 28 font for headings.
This email you’re reading is using a font size of 18.
What is the best font for an email?
The best fonts for emails can be viewed properly across all email providers. Whether your customers use Gmail, Apple Mail, Yahoo, or Microsoft Outlook.
Here’s a list of the top email-safe fonts that will look consistent,
no matter which email service your subscribers view them in:
1 - Helvetica
This trendy font is an excellent pick for catchy titles and slogans. But its letters are placed close together, making it tough to read for longer texts.
This is AWeber’s preferred font, and what you’re reading right now.
2 - Verdana
Verdana was designed for low-resolution screens. With its wide low-case letters, the font is an excellent pick for email body copy.
3 -
Georgia
Georgia is the perfect option if you want your content to look official and trustworthy. You can also use it for longer
emails as its wide-spaced characters provide a high level of legibility.
4 - Tahoma
Designed for on-screen use, this font has the same length of its upper and lower case characters. It resembles Verdana, but Tahoma has narrower symbols and tighter letter spacing.
5 - Arial
Arial’s soft curves make this font look less stiff. It’s a fantastic option for users looking for a classy font to complement their emails.
You can check the rest of the email-safe fonts in our blog: Best fonts for emails: How to make your emails look great and easy to read.
