When creating your website, you need to consider a few essential elements of excellent website footer design. Let’s explore The Top 10 Tips for Creating the Perfect Website Footer.
10 tips for creating the perfect website footer
- Keep it simple
- Make it easy
- The who & the how
- Structure
- Nitty-gritties
- Call to Action
- Visual interest
- Readability
- Keep it consistent
- Wide open spaces
You might be surprised at how influential a website footer can be when converting visitors. It’s no secret website footers have been quite underrated in the past. When creating a website, attention was often focused on the header or the body of the content, with the footer almost an afterthought.
Over the past five years, business owners have realised the footer can be one of the essential parts of their website. It may not ever be the most memorable or exciting part of your website, but it does pack a punch by providing visitors with vital information, so be sure not to neglect it when planning your website.
Not taking the time to optimise your website footer design can cost you dearly. Did you know that up to a 50% increase in conversions has been reported when brands have strategized their footer content? Wondering what to include and what can be left off? Here are our top ten tips for getting it right:
10 tips for creating the perfect website footer
1. Keep it simple
It may sound like Design 101, but simple design is essential when working with limited space and a lot of information which is par for the course with most website footers. Cull and cut where necessary, including the essentials. Avoid clutter at all costs: think clean, clear and clutter-free.
2. Make it easy
Your physical address, email address and mail phone number should be readily found in your footer. Ensuring your elements are created to dial, email or provide a map when clicked are the clever details that will win visitors over. Finding and contacting you should be made as easy as it can be.
3. The who & the how
Your visitors want to know who you are and how to contact you. Your “About Us” and “Contact Us” pages are essential elements that should be included in your footer. Ensure this information is easy to find.
4. Structure
Make sure you group relevant information together, such as your social media links, to create a sense of streamlined organisation. Placing a header above each section or column will make navigation even more accessible.
5. Nitty-gritties
Everything has its place and plays its part. Remember, your copyright notice and terms of use do not need to be highlighted. Don’t forget to include these critical elements but don’t let them interfere with the flow of more important navigational elements.
Think about adding a sub-footer for extra layering. Not only will it add dimension to your footer space, but it also creates a hierarchy of information. A sub-footer is a perfect place to add disclaimers or policies.
6. Call to Action
This is valuable space on your website so don’t fail to include a call to action. This may be a box encouraging them to ‘Keep In Touch’ by signing up for a newsletter or an invitation to follow you on social media – make it easy to see, consistent with your design and quick and stress-free to complete.
7. Visual interest
Footers need not be a block of text. Add logos or icons for your social media pages. Choose icons for links to maps, email addresses or phone numbers to add visual interest to the area. Lots of information and links don’t need to be visually dull, but keep in mind the area needs to remain uncluttered and clean.
8. Readability
Footer text usually feels like it requires a magnifying glass and can feel like the small print on a contract – repelling the reader rather than reeling them in. Smaller than the rest of the website is okay. Too small is not. Think about colour and contrast to help make the information readable (think white text on a black background).
9. Keep it consistent
Make sure all the hard work you put into designing your footer considers the rest of your website, too. Consistent design that integrates with the overall look of your website is the goal.
10. Wide open spaces
Spacing and blank space are crucial in tight areas packed with information. Leaving space around a link ensures it maintains its ‘click-ability’. When links are placed too close together, they interfere with ease of navigation. Think of the space you have vertically and horizontally between your elements. Without correct spacing, you risk your footer looking un-enticing, crowded and cramped.
The way you design your footer says a lot about your business. It’s where they find out who you are and how to navigate your website. The attention to detail you show here will reflect well on your brand. The best footers include the right mix of information, design elements and usability. Your footer should reflect the content, be clear, clutter-free, concise and consistent with the overall theme of your website.
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