Website Basics: Website Footer
The footer appears under the header and main body of the website. There is so much information that you CAN add to the footer of a website on each page. The question is…what is the MOST important for your business?
Look at my latest blog entitled, Website Basics: Website Header, to get ideas about what to put on a business or nonprofit organization website footer.
Take a look at the footer for May Web Design, LLC.
The footer appears on the bottom of each website page. It is visible and especially important to have key information appearing in the footer of your website. What are the important things your small business or nonprofit want the visitor to your website to view?
The footer can include more information so there is additional space. The header to a website is highly visible and should not have too much information, only the most important few items. You don’t want the top of each page filled with too much information.
Remember, this is YOUR website so there is no wrong answer here. Think about the visitor coming to your website.
What would be the most important information to them to see at the bottom of each webpage?
How will they navigate your website?
What are their next steps after visiting?
Some of the most popular items to add to your webpage footer (in no particular order):
Name and Logo (tagline, if you have one)
Depending on how much room you have in the footer you may or may not need to include all of this information. It is very important that the name is listed on the header of a website. If you can, include your name or a logo that includes your name. You want your visitor to know, without a doubt, whose website they are viewing. If your business or nonprofit organization has a tagline it can be added here, as well.
Social Media Icons
This information can bring the visitor to your social media links with an easy click of the button.
Contact Information
It may be important to put your physical address, phone number or email address. This is a way to contact your business or nonprofit organization.
Call To Action (CTA) Button
Do you want the visitor to do something before they leave? This could be a button to Donate, Call Us, etc.
Navigation Link and/or a site map
Most websites list the pages at the top of the website so visitors can move around quickly. If you have room and it’s important to have pages and additional site map information that your visitor will use this is a great place to house that linking information.
Copyright Symbol
Please consult an attorney if this is needed.
Privacy Policy/Terms & Conditions/Disclaimers
The footer is a great place to house your legal information. Make clickable links to these documents so they open in a separate page.
Email Signup
Do you have a newsletter? If you include the signup in the footer, it will appear on each website page.
Site Search
If you need a search bar on your website including it in the footer would be great so that it will appear on each page of your website.
Awards, Certifications, and Association Memberships
If there is room and you don’t have an About page you may want to consider posting awards, certifications, and association memberships in the footer section.
The footer of a website contains important information that visitors and the website owner find important and successful to the visitors’ interaction. A website is a 24/7 welcome to your business or nonprofit organization. You want to welcome the visitor and position everything they need in easily accessible places.
Tips:
Typically, you want to keep the header small with only the important information listed. The footer may be a little larger since it is on the bottom of each page. If you had everything on this list it may be too busy and overwhelming for a visitor.
Test your website on a mobile/tablet device so you can see what it will look like. There is even less room there than the computer.
Keep in mind, these are just suggestions. Always remember - this is your website for your visitors. Make sure to think about the most important information for you and your visitor. Take a look at my website and you will see what I feel is important information for my business website. www.maywebdesign.com Always remember - websites can be changed. Maybe something that you thought would be important is not anymore or your business/organization has changed. Make sure to design a website and keep it up-to-date, fresh, and new.
Good luck! May Web Design, LLC creates websites on a Squarespace platform that are affordable and enable clients to take ownership of and update themselves. We offer maintenance packages and special projects. Contact May Web Design, LLC to design a website or assist after the website has been designed.
