Stop Making These Common Text Mistakes!

Social Media Faux Pas: Are You Making These Text Mistakes? Identify and Avoid These Common Pitfalls for Perfect Posts

In the world of social media, where first impressions are everything, the readability and presentation of your text can make or break your message. Here are some of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to text on social media and tips to improve them.

1.Text That is Too Small

Tiny text is a major turn-off. If your audience has to squint to read your content, they'll likely scroll past without engaging.

Optimum Font Size: For social media posts, a font size of at least 16-18 pixels is recommended. This ensures that your text is legible on both mobile devices and desktop screens.

2. Insufficient Contrast

Using analogous colors (colors that are next to each other on the color wheel) can make your text hard to read. Contrast is key to ensuring your message is clear and stands out.

Best Practice: Use high contrast combinations such as dark text on a light background or vice versa. For example, black text on a white background or white text on a dark background.

3. Text That is Too Light

Light-colored text can blend into the background, especially if the background image or color is also light.

What to Do: Ensure your text color is significantly darker or lighter than your background. Use bold or semi-bold weights for light text to enhance visibility.

4. Leading That is

Too Large

Leading (the space between lines of text) that is too large can make your content look disjointed and hard to follow.

Solution: Aim for a leading value that is 120%-145% of the font size. For instance, if your font size is 16 pixels, your leading should be around 19-23 pixels.

5. Leading That is

Too Small

Conversely, when the leading is too tight, your text can appear cramped and difficult to read.

Solution: Ensure adequate space between lines to improve readability. If your font size is 16 pixels, maintain a leading of at least 19 pixels.

6. Kerning That is

Too Large

Kerning refers to the space between individual characters. Excessive kerning can make your text look sparse and disconnected.

What to Do: Adjust the kerning so that characters are evenly spaced without looking too stretched out. Use software tools to tweak kerning for a balanced appearance.

7. Kerning That is Too Small

When characters are too close together, it makes the text hard to read and can cause letters to merge.

What to Do: Increase the kerning slightly to give each character enough space to be distinctly readable. Aim for consistent and visually pleasing spacing.

8. Too Many Fonts

Using multiple fonts can confuse your audience and dilute your brand message.

Best Practice: Stick to two fonts: one serif and one sans-serif. This combination is visually appealing and maintains a professional look. Ensure these fonts align with your brand and use them consistently across all posts.

9. Crowded Text with Insufficient Borders

Text that is crowded against the edges of your post can look cluttered and unprofessional.

Solution: Leave ample margins around your text. A border of at least 10-15 pixels can make a big difference in enhancing readability and visual appeal.

10. Adding Text to an Image

Overlaying text directly onto an image can make it difficult to read, especially if the image is busy or the colours clash.

What to Do:

• Add a Background Behind the Text: Use a semi-transparent background behind your text to make it stand out.

• Place the Text in a Blank Space: Position your text in areas of the image that have less detail or solid colors.

• Ensure Proper Contrast: Make sure the text color contrasts well with the image. If the image is dark, use light text; if the image is light, use dark text.

Need Help with Your Social Media?

Struggling to make your social media content pop? I'm here to help! As a full-service social media manager, I can ensure your posts are both engaging and easy to read. Send me an email to get started!

By avoiding these common pitfalls and focusing on clear, readable text, you can significantly improve the effectiveness of your social media content. Happy posting!