Can too small fonts (6px-8px) influence search ranking?

[jetteroheller]

Since years, some sort of designers like to make the fonts so small, that the written text is complete unreadable.

For big unluck, one of my clients (an artist) has ordered me to redesign the layout of his site by a mad designers policy.

The mad designer sent me a 1024x600 pixel graphic about the layout.

To match the unredable fonts on this presentation, I have to use 8px somtimes even 6px font.

Is it possible, that the mad designer destroies not only the readablity of the page, but also the search engine reputation?

Until now, I used 14px for content and 12px for menus.

[tedster]

Too small text can be a problem - even a ranking problem if a human reviewer sees it. Some ranking problems may even come about by algorithm.

8 px is the physical limit required to display a full alphabet on screen - you at least 8px to accomodate the ascenders and descenders that are needed for the letterforms. In fact, by default some browsers will not even render anything below 8px - they will just show greeked text. Going any smaller than 8px (you mentioned 6px) also gets into the problems that hidden text can create.

This is the Google Search forum so I'm mostly limiting my comments to search factors, but usability, readability and comprehension issues also come into play. For example, see this usability research - [surl.org...] - the drop-off at 10pt lettering is already clear in the study and they didn't even consider going any lower!

It also sounds like you are also being required to limit the height of the page - because a bit of scrolling would fix those limitations.

This is one of those cases where the client and the graphic designer are clearly NOT web savvy, but they are treating you like a mere functionary and not a professional.

I would push back - and I always have in a similar situation. I will not be cornered into turning out poor work. No one benefits, and that includes my own reputation.

[tangor]

Agree with tedster... push back! Throw sufficient cold water on the small text idea that you can float other ideas! Best, show them what the 1024 image looks like on a 1680 or larger widescreen. What looks great in a picture does not always translate to a fluid, live browser experience.

Too small text might not translate to "hidden" text, but if the user can't read it it might as well be hidden. What kind of hit that makes in ranking? Not sure the algos make much difference, but a human review of the page certainly would.

[Wlauzon]

The problem with that usability study is that even the study was flawed, at least by todays standards.

Note that they use pt instead of px or em or something more conducive to good screen rendering.

That said, I agree with other posters here - tiny unreadable fonts will destroy any chance of anyone reading it.

It relates to my note on using pt's in that there are still some people not realizing that computer screens are not print media.

[jetteroheller]

Great news!

When my client was in the office of the designer under the direct influence of the designer, he said all is good, fonts are big enough.

Now my client sits in his own office and just sent me an email

"The fonts are to small" :)

Seems he comes to reason :)