In the world of design, it’s important to utilize every inch of space given to you. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you need to fill every space, but rather that everything should be thoughtfully accounted for.
And that, my design friends, includes the footer space.
Yes, that lonely space at the bottom of a page often goes forgotten. But the footer is actually quite important. It gives your page some foothold. And if you use it wisely, you can maximize your design without paying for more real estate.
Also keep in mind that today’s websites are cleaner and simpler than ever before. More websites are shifting to less pages and more scrolling, which makes footer space even more valuable.
So how should you be using your website footer?
We’ve listed out some of the ways that you can make the best use of this space.
Let’s take a peek, and certainly let us know if you have anything to add!
Social Icons
Social icons are sometimes hidden on About Us pages, and they don’t have to be. If people are fans of your business, they’ll be eager to know what you’re sharing on Facebook and Twitter. In fact, they’ll want to connect with you so that they can keep on top of your news!
Use your footer space to post social icons. When people check out your content and scroll down to see your contact info, they will also be greeted by the icons. This will grow your fanbase since most people prefer to connect with companies on social media rather than phone or email.
Social Feed or Widget
Another thing you can use your website footer for is a social feed. This will only work if your social channels see a lot of action, otherwise it’s going to be a very uneventful feed.
Providing that you are rocking your social channels, give the social feed a go. There are plenty of advantages to doing this: it provides visitors with real-time information about your brand, shows that you are active on social media and grows your fanbase.
My only word of caution is to stay on top of your social media channels. If you don’t, it’s possible that your brand could be displayed negatively, and you won’t have much time for damage control.
Missions & Values
Is there something that defines your brand – a saying or motto perhaps?
You don’t have to have a trademark or something unique to your brand, although this is a nice touch if you do.
However, it’s possible that your company lives by a particular quote or inspirational message. As long as you give credit to the original author, you can add this quote or message on your footer.
Photos & Images
Think about a photo that can be used to tell a bit more about your company, such as a before-and-after photo or animation. Visuals are highly effective at boosting engagement and increasing the amount of time that visitors spend on your website.
Since your website is “alive,” keep in mind that your photos should change from time to time along with your other content. If you’re featuring a new product, for example, you could post a photo of it in the footer to generate more buzz.
If you don’t have many pictures of people in your office, consider using the footer for these types of photos as well. It’s important to humanize your brand, so pictures of real people adds value to your website.
Contact Information & Directions
OK, so contact information may be standard for footer space, but take it a step further to include directions. This way, all visitors have to do is scroll down to the bottom of the page and they can find all the information they need to contact you.
When including directions, link to Google Maps for mobile visitors. This is especially important if you are a local business. Plus, adding directions in your footer tells Google where you are.
You can do the same for your phone/fax numbers as well. Include a fingertip-size button that allows visitors to click on it and dial your business.
Email Signup
If you don’t want to bother visitors with a pop-up, you can ask them to sign up for your email at the bottom of your page. The footer is the perfect place for this since it’s out of the way but still visible for readers.
Once readers reach the bottom of the page, they are more likely to want to sign up and learn more about your business.
To make things super simple, use a footer signup box that allows users to enter in their email without having to leave the page. Of course, you will still want to offer social proof and set expectations. A simple box is too, well, simple.
Privacy Policy
Visitors are more in tune to the websites they are visiting and how their information will be used if they are to provide it. Posting your privacy policy on your website boosts the image of your company and instills trust.
Because privacy policies can often be long, lengthy and rather boring, you can stick a link to it in your footer. It will be visible to users, and they will know where to find it if they want to come back and re-read through your terms. Next to a privacy policy link, consider adding a Sitemap or Terms of Use.
Conclusion
With today’s websites being lighter and simpler, it’s important to make use of what you have. Each brand is unique, so think about what your visitors could benefit from. An inspirational quote? A photo of the CEO? Links to more information? Maybe all three!
In the end, don’t underestimate the value in footer space.