Hey there! Have you noticed more and more eye-catching, creatively-styled fonts popping up in Instagram Stories lately?
The ability to personalize text with different fonts is one of the hottest trends on Instagram right now.
In fact, over 200 million daily users engage with Instagram Stories content. And the creative use of fonts contributes majorly to that high level of interaction.
As we move into 2023, custom fonts will become even more important for making your Stories stand out. Keep reading for the complete guide to amping up your Instagram font game this year!
Why Fonts Draw Attention
Before we dive into the how-to, let‘s look quickly at why cool fonts are so effective on Instagram.
The fact is, good graphic design catches the eye and shapes perceptions of a brand. Using special fonts is an easy way to show personality and creativity visually.
When you take the extra effort to style fonts in line with your brand identity, followers notice and appreciate it.
This translates to higher impressions and engagement. Studies show posts with graphic elements like creative text can get up to 180% more likes than standard text-image posts.
So if you aren’t already, it’s time to start incorporating some signature fonts into your Stories and feed!
Built-In Font Options
Instagram currently offers five default text styles to choose from in Stories:
Classic – Uses Instagram‘s standard Proxima Nova font. It‘s a clean, simple sans serif.
Strong – A bold, italic version of Classic. Perfect when you want text to stand out.
Modern – A casual, handwritten look. Gives a relaxed, artistic vibe.
Typewriter – Looks like mechanically-typed text. Adds a retro/nostalgic feel.
Neon – An elegant cursive font with neon glow background built in.
These fonts are great on their own. But sometimes default options just won‘t cut it if you want to stand out.
Next we‘ll explore how to take things up a notch…
Adding Custom Fonts
To use truly unique fonts not available within Instagram, you simply need to use a compatible third-party Stories app.
I recommend UNFOLD and Storyluxe. Both make uploading custom fonts for Stories super quick.
Here‘s how it works:
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Download fonts you want from sites like Dafont.com or purchase licensed fonts.
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Open UNFOLD or Storyluxe, create a new Story, and click add text.
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Select your downloaded custom font file from the menu.
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Customize the text style – color, size, etc.
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Share the final Story straight to Instagram.
Storyluxe even suggests nice font pairings that work well together on social posts.
So you can instantly take Stories from basic to totally on brand.
Both apps have free and paid versions. For full access to things like font recommendations, the paid options are worthwhile.
Strategic Tips for Font Use
When working custom fonts into your Instagram Stories, keep these tips in mind:
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Use high contrast colors combinations so text is clearly readable.
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Be strategic with font sizing. You generally want text above headlines for impact.
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Place text thoughtfully to keep key parts of images visible. Bottom overlays often work well.
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Stick with 1-2 fonts consistently for cohesive branding readers recognize.
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Too many fonts can feel cluttered. Pick styles that intentionally complement.
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Make sure stylized fonts are still easily decipherable at smaller sizes.
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Display your brand name in your custom font whenever possible for reinforcement.
Creative Brand Font Usage
Still looking for a bit more Instagram font inspiration?
Here are some great examples of brands using custom typography for strong branding across their Stories and feeds:
Glossier uses a very specific style of bold, wide sans serifs in all their content:
Charity Water shares clean information in easy-to-read fonts aligned with their mission:
KKW Beauty utilizes sleek, stylized signature fonts for instant brand recognition:
Their strategic font use makes these brands instantly recognizable at a glance.
Potential Downsides of Overdoing Fonts
While creative fonts add visual pop, it is possible to go overboard. Things to watch out for:
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Too many font changes make Stories feel disjointed
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Overly curly/stylistic fonts reduce readability
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Mixing formal scripts with casual handwriting can clash
Aim for intentional, thoughtful font choices over lots of variety. Quality over quantity!
Recent and Upcoming Font Feature Expansions
As more influencers and brands push the boundaries of typography, Instagram continues adding better creative font functionality.
So far this year they have introduced font anti-aliasing for smooth edges plus new color and gradient options. These represent big improvements in font quality and flexibility.
I anticipate even more customization coming soon. Things like:
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More font style varieties on brand with Instagram‘s friendly aesthetic
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Uploading purchased font files directly
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Allowing saved brand fonts across feed, Reels and ads
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Font recommendations based on images and deduced brand style
Instagram seems committed to cementing dominance as the top outlet for stylistic typography marketing.
Expect the feature expansion to continue!
Key Takeaways
Hopefully this overview gave you plenty of ideas and information to more effectively leverage fonts in your 2023 Instagram strategy!
Here are the big key points:
- Creative font use directly drives higher impressions and engagement
- Try out built-in font options first then expand to custom fonts using UNFOLD or Storyluxe apps
- Maintain visual brand identity with cohesive font choices fans recognize
- Instagram will continue pushing font flexibility and customization further
Thanks for reading – now get out there and take those Instagram Stories to the next level with beautiful, branded fonts!
Let me know if you have any other font questions. Happy to help!
