Small type for the web in Photoshop CS?

I am having an on-going problem producing acceptable looking small type for web graphics with PhotoShop CS. Using just about any font, anything under say 12 or 13 point just doesn't look good. I have tried experimenting with the Crisp, Sharp, Smooth & Strong settings, but on type smaller than about 12 point, nothing looks good. And yet I see web graphics on other sites with type that appears to be about 8 pt and it's as sharp and crisp and clear as can be. Am I doing something wrong? It doesn't matter whether I save as GIF or JPG.

Can anyone help me with this? I see that others are able to produce good, crisp, clear type graphics for the web - but not me.

Thanks in advance for your input.