I do some design work on the side for some of my blogging friends. One topic that I think often times gets overlooked is the use of fonts on your blog and how using fonts correctly in blogging is important. Whether the fonts show up in graphics on your blog or they show up in your post content, you always want to make sure the fonts you are using are the correct ones.
And no, I don’t mean that there are incorrect fonts out there. What I mean is that you want to make sure that you are using the correct “kind/type” of font on your blog. There are a few different classifications of fonts out there:
1. Free
2. Free for Personal Use
3. Donationware (or Donation)
4. Paid for Fonts
The first type: Free
This font can be used on any site. The author of the font is allowing you to use it where ever and however you want. There are no limitations to this type of font. Want to make a graphic and sell it? This kind of font is okay to use. It’s also considered a Commercial Use font.
The second type: Free for Personal use
This font can ONLY be used for Personal Use. If you make money on your blog (ie have sponsors on your sidebar, accept product for reviews, receive any sort of compensation etc), you cannot use a font that is classified as free for Personal Use anywhere on your blog. This type of font can only be used on hobby blogs. Sites or products that do not make money. No ifs, ands, or buts.
The third type: Donationware
These fonts require a donation to use them. Similar to a “purchase” font. Read the licensure to make sure that your donation allows you to use the font commercially (ie allow you to use on your blog in which you make money).
The fourth type: Paid for Fonts
A paid for font is one that you buy from a commercial font selling website like Font.com. They can start off as little as $20 and go on up into the hundreds of dollars. These types of fonts are for commercial use (unless for some reason their license has limitations. Always read the terms before buying!!)
Sometimes you will see that a commercial license can be bought for a Free for Personal Use font, which would give you the opportunity (after you purchase the license) to use the font on your blog.
Ultimately, you want to make sure that all the fonts that you are using (meaning that you’ve downloaded from a font website) are either classified as Free or that you’ve purchased a license to use them.
Have you ever looked into the fonts that you use?
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Great tips! I never knew there were so many types of fonts for web use. Pinned this post!
Thanks for sharing. That is some really good info!
Interesting! I had no idea. So much to learn with this blogging bidness…
Thanks for the information. I have been wondering about changing my font. This is good to know. <3 Kim
Great summary of what all of that means, I personally wasn’t really sure. Thanks, Taylor! 🙂
xoxo,
gayle | grace for gayle
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