If you write it down, we're going to judge it. Not just the words, we're going to judge you even before we read the words. The typography you use, whether it's a handwritten note or a glossy brochure, sends a message. Some typefaces are judged in a similar way by most people you're addressing (Times Roman in a Word document or Helvetica on a street sign or Myriad Pro on a website) but even when you choose something as simple as a typeface, be prepared for people to misunderstand you. If you send me a flyer with dated, cheesy or overused type, it's like showing up in a leisure suit for a first date. If your website looks like Geocities or some scammy info marketer, I won't even stay long enough to read it. Like a wardrobe, I think a few simple guidelines can save amateurs like us a lot of time: Would have missed this post by Seth Godin if @ideabook hadn't pointed it out in his Twitter stream. It's an idea I have some passion for, as I've read a few too many documents formatted in Comic Sans or some other crummy font. I also rely on Ideabook for ideas and inspiration. It'll take only a few minutes to read Godin's post, but it can work wonders for your image.