The best examples of 3 typography tips for social media posts

Real-world examples of 3 typography tips for social media posts

Let’s skip the theory and go straight into how people are actually using typography on social media right now. When we talk about examples of 3 typography tips for social media posts, we’re really talking about three repeatable moves:

• Pick clear, consistent fonts
• Build strong visual hierarchy
• Make text hyper-readable for small screens

You see these three moves on Instagram carousels, TikTok covers, YouTube thumbnails, LinkedIn graphics, and Pinterest pins every single day. The difference between “meh” and “must-click” is how intentionally they’re used.

Below are real examples, current trends, and specific ways you can steal the same tricks for your own brand.

Typography Tip #1: Font choices that look good everywhere

One of the best examples of 3 typography tips for social media posts is a simple font system: one display font for headlines, one clean font for body text, and consistent use of both across your content.

Example of smart font pairing in social posts

Imagine a fitness coach on Instagram:

• They use a bold, condensed sans-serif (think something like Anton or League Spartan) for big headlines: “LEG DAY WORKOUT.”
• Underneath, they use a softer, highly readable sans-serif like Inter or Roboto for supporting text: “3 moves · 20 minutes · no equipment.”

Why this works:

• The display font grabs attention in the feed.
• The body font is easy to read on a small phone screen.
• The consistent pairing becomes part of the coach’s visual identity.

If you scroll your saved posts, you’ll notice the best examples of 3 typography tips for social media posts almost always start with this kind of simple font system.

Trend: Big, bold, almost shouty type

2024 feeds are full of oversized typography. You see it on:

• YouTube thumbnails: giant words like “STOP DOING THIS” taking up 60–80% of the frame.
• TikTok covers: short, punchy titles in thick sans-serif fonts.
• Instagram Reels covers: 2–4 words max, huge and centered.

A concrete example:

• A personal finance creator posts a Reel titled: “MONEY MISTAKES.” The text is huge, in all caps, using a heavy sans-serif over a blurred background of cash. Underneath, in small text: “Fix these before 30.”

This is a textbook example of 3 typography tips for social media posts working together: a strong font choice, clear hierarchy (big vs small text), and high readability.

How to choose fonts that survive the algorithm and the screen

A few practical guidelines:

• Stick to 1–2 fonts per post, max. More than that starts to look messy and amateur.
• Use web-safe or widely available fonts (Montserrat, Inter, Roboto, Poppins, Open Sans) so your look is easy to replicate across tools.
• Avoid over-decorative scripts for key text. Script fonts can work for accents (like a signature or a short word), but they fall apart fast on small screens.

If you want to get nerdy about readability, the U.S. General Services Administration offers guidelines on clear typography for digital content that also apply to social media layouts: https://www.digital.gov/resources/

Typography Tip #2: Hierarchy that tells your story in one glance

When people ask for examples of 3 typography tips for social media posts, hierarchy is usually the part they’re accidentally ignoring. Hierarchy is just a fancy way of saying: “What do you want people to read first, second, and third?”

On social, you have about half a second to answer that.

Example of hierarchy in an Instagram carousel

Picture a 5-slide carousel from a marketing strategist:

• Slide 1: Huge headline: “STOP LOSING ENGAGEMENT.” Under it, small subhead: “3 typography fixes you can do today.”
• Slides 2–4: Each slide features one tip. Big title at the top (“Use fewer fonts”), short explanation below in smaller text.
• Slide 5: Call to action in bold text: “Save this post,” with even smaller text under it: “Try these on your next design.”

The eye path is obvious: big headline → supporting detail → CTA. This is one of the cleanest examples of 3 typography tips for social media posts because it shows font choice, hierarchy, and readability working together.

Example of hierarchy on LinkedIn graphics

On LinkedIn, text-heavy content is normal—but that doesn’t mean it has to be chaotic. For example:

• A career coach posts a graphic with the main phrase: “How to ask for a raise.” That line is large, bold, and centered.
• Below it, in smaller text: “3 sentences you can copy and paste.”
• In even smaller text at the bottom: the coach’s name and job title.

Three levels of hierarchy, one clear message. You can scroll past at full speed and still understand the topic.

Micro-hierarchy: Using color, weight, and spacing

Hierarchy isn’t just font size. It’s also:

• Weight: bold vs regular vs light
• Color: high-contrast headline, softer supporting text
• Spacing: more space around important text, tighter spacing for less important details

A skincare brand on TikTok might do this:

• Big bold white text on a dark background: “STOP OVER-EXFOLIATING.”
• Below, in medium weight: “Your barrier is begging you.”
• Tiny text at the bottom: “Dermatologist-approved routine inside.”

Same font, three levels of hierarchy, super clear message.

If you want a more academic angle on how people scan and prioritize text, the Nielsen Norman Group has long-standing research on visual hierarchy and scanning patterns in digital interfaces: https://www.nngroup.com/articles/

Typography Tip #3: Readability for tiny screens and fast thumbs

You can have the most artistic type layout in the world, but if someone can’t read it at arm’s length on a phone, it’s wasted.

Some of the best examples of 3 typography tips for social media posts are incredibly simple because they respect one thing above all: legibility.

Real examples of readable typography on social media

Here are a few examples include scenarios you’ve probably seen in your own feed:

Example: YouTube thumbnail
A creator posts a video titled “I Tried Waking Up at 4AM for 30 Days.” The thumbnail doesn’t repeat the full title. Instead, it uses:

• Giant text: “4AM CHALLENGE”
• High-contrast colors: white text on a dark blue background
• Thick, sans-serif font with no thin strokes

At a tiny size, you can still read it instantly. That’s readability doing its job.

Example: Instagram quote graphic
A mental health account posts a quote:

• Short quote in large, dark text on a pale background
• Plenty of padding around the text
• No busy patterns behind the words

The post feels calm because your eyes aren’t fighting the design.

Example: TikTok text overlay
A creator talks to the camera with text at the top:

• “3 Red Flags in Job Offers” in bold, white text with a subtle dark shadow
• No text covering their face
• No more than 2–3 short lines at a time

Everything is sized for vertical video and fast viewing.

Accessibility: Good typography is inclusive typography

Readable typography isn’t just a design preference; it’s an accessibility issue. High-contrast, large-enough text helps people with visual impairments or low vision follow your content.

For guidance on contrast and readability, the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) from the W3C are a helpful reference: https://www.w3.org/WAI/standards-guidelines/wcag/

Key takeaways you can apply to social posts:

• Use high contrast between text and background (light text on dark, or dark on light).
• Avoid putting text directly over busy photos without a solid or semi-transparent overlay.
• Keep line length short and font size generous.

Again, the strongest examples of 3 typography tips for social media posts don’t try to be fancy at the expense of clarity.

Pulling it together: 3 tips, many combinations

To recap, when people look for examples of 3 typography tips for social media posts, they’re usually trying to figure out how to combine these three ideas:

• A small, consistent font system (headline + body)
• Clear hierarchy across every post
• Readability that respects small screens and real human eyes

Here are a few more real-world combinations you can use as templates.

Template example: Educational carousel

For a language-learning brand on Instagram:

• Font choice: Poppins for headlines, Inter for body
• Hierarchy: Slide 1 has a giant headline like “STOP SAYING THIS IN ENGLISH,” with smaller body text below explaining why.
• Readability: High-contrast colors, plenty of white space, 2–3 short bullets per slide.

This setup gives you one of the best examples of 3 typography tips for social media posts applied to educational content.

Template example: Product promo post

For a small e-commerce brand on Facebook:

• Font choice: One bold sans-serif for titles, same font in regular weight for details.
• Hierarchy: Product name large, discount or offer slightly smaller, product details smallest.
• Readability: Text only on solid color or subtle gradient; no text over detailed product photos.

The eye goes directly to the offer, then the product name, then the details.

Template example: Personal brand quote post

For a coach or consultant on LinkedIn or Instagram:

• Font choice: Serif for the quote (for a more thoughtful vibe), sans-serif for the name and handle.
• Hierarchy: The quote itself is largest; the name is smaller; the handle is smallest.
• Readability: High-contrast colors, generous spacing, and no more than 2–3 lines of text.

This is a subtle but powerful example of 3 typography tips for social media posts when you want to look polished without over-designing.

FAQ: examples of 3 typography tips for social media posts

What are some quick examples of 3 typography tips for social media posts I can try today?

One example of a quick upgrade: pick one bold sans-serif for headlines and one clean sans-serif for body text, then use them consistently. Next, make your main message at least 2–3 times larger than your supporting text. Finally, test your design by zooming out or shrinking it to thumbnail size—if you can’t read the main line, increase the font size or contrast.

Can you give an example of typography mistakes to avoid on social media?

Yes. A common example of what not to do: using three or four different fonts in one post, putting thin white text over a busy photo, and squeezing long paragraphs into a single slide. The result is noisy, hard to read, and easy to scroll past. Sticking to one or two fonts, solid backgrounds, and short phrases usually performs better.

Do these typography tips change between Instagram, TikTok, and LinkedIn?

The core ideas stay the same, but the emphasis shifts. On TikTok and Reels, you need very large, high-contrast text that can be read in under a second. On Instagram carousels, you have a bit more room for body text, but your first slide still needs bold hierarchy. On LinkedIn, text density can be higher, but clear headings and legible fonts still matter. In all cases, the strongest examples of 3 typography tips for social media posts keep font choice, hierarchy, and readability aligned.

Where can I learn more about readable text and digital design?

While they’re not social-media-specific, resources on digital readability and accessibility are incredibly helpful. The U.S. Web Design System offers guidance on typography for digital interfaces: https://designsystem.digital.gov/design/typography/. Pair that with the WCAG guidelines from the W3C, and you’ll understand why certain typography choices work better for real people on real screens.

If you remember nothing else, remember this: the best examples of 3 typography tips for social media posts aren’t flashy—they’re clear, consistent, and easy to read. Get those three right, and your designs will start doing the heavy lifting for your message.