Hero Headline Design
The hero headline is the most critical piece of text in your hero section, and it needs to grab attention while clearly communicating your value. Here are the best practices for designing a compelling hero headline:
Font Style
Choose a legible font
Opt for a clear, modern font that aligns with your brand. Sans-serif fonts like ‘Montserrat’ or ‘Lato’ work well for tech or modern brands, while serif fonts like ‘Lora’ may fit a more classic or luxury brand.
Use bold for emphasis
The headline should be the most prominent piece of text, so use a bold font weight to make it stand out from the rest of the content.
Font Size
Large and attention-grabbing
The headline should be the largest text element in your hero section, typically between 48px to 72px on desktop and 24px to 36px on mobile. This ensures that it immediately catches the user’s eye.
Responsive scaling
Ensure the font size scales properly across devices. The headline should adjust to fit smaller screens without overwhelming the user experience.
Font Color
High contrast
Make sure the headline color contrasts sharply with the background image or color. Use white text on dark backgrounds or black text on light backgrounds for maximum legibility.
Brand colors
Incorporate your brand’s colors where possible, but prioritize readability over brand consistency.
Placement Relative to the Hero Image
Avoid busy parts of the image
Place the headline where it won’t compete with complex image elements. Use overlays or gradient backgrounds to make the headline stand out if necessary.
Follow the rule of thirds
Position the headline according to design principles like the rule of thirds, ensuring a balanced and harmonious layout.
Formatting
Line spacing
Ensure there’s adequate line spacing (1.2 to 1.5 line height) for readability, especially for multi-line headlines.
Text transformation
Avoid using all caps for long headlines as it reduces readability. Use capital letters sparingly for emphasis.
Alignment
Left or center alignment
Align the headline to the left for a more traditional layout or center for a modern, balanced look. Avoid right-aligned text, as it can feel off-balance.
Whitespace
Give your headline room to breathe. Avoid crowding it with other elements to maintain clarity.