The rules for a useful footer

Just like the header of your web page, the footer remains a key element in navigation. Closing out each of your pages, it is important to take care with the design and content of this banner, which can prove strategic before a visitor leaves the page.

The footer: a strategic element despite its position

The footer is a banner located at the bottom of each page of a website. We often mistakenly assume that this element is not necessarily seen by visitors — but the opposite is true. Although the header sits at the top of the page, 25% of people arriving on your site will not see it, as they began scrolling before the page had finished loading. They are therefore more likely to pay attention to what appears further down, such as the footer.

As an established part of traditional website structure, users have grown accustomed to looking there for certain specific types of information that you should make available.

Key elements for a quality footer

Among the most expected content in a footer, you will find:

• contact information
  Your postal address (with a map, if applicable), the main phone number, the contact email address…
• copyright notice
• a link to the legal notices
  These are, more precisely, mandatory notices that must appear on your site pursuant to the law on confidence in the digital economy of 21 June 2004.
  They contain information about the hosting provider, the legal entity, and the individual responsible.
  This section should be supplemented with information on intellectual property, reproduction rights, cookie usage, etc. The elements may differ depending on the nature of your website and your activity. Find full details on what notices to include in this section by visiting the Service Public website.
• a link to the privacy policy
  The way in which your site collects personal data must be precisely specified to demonstrate your compliance with GDPR rules.
  What data is collected, why, and by what means? Who processes this information and who will have access to it? How long is this data stored? Etc.
• general terms and conditions of sale (T&Cs) for e-commerce sites

Beyond these legally required or otherwise essential sections, a wide range of elements can further enhance your footer. To facilitate navigation, consolidate your positioning, or retain your visitor, you may opt for the following elements:

• a site map linking to the main pages
• links to your various social media accounts
• a search bar if your site has substantial content
• a call-to-action button (CTA) such as a newsletter sign-up
• a summary of your presentation and/or your activity
• customer testimonials
• certifications
• your commitments (to NGOs, for example)

Taking care of the design

Sometimes rather neglected, the footer must nonetheless also be visually appealing in its conception. To avoid a sense of overload and that feeling of "drowning" amid the information, it is necessary to divide it into several sections and keep it as clean as possible. Do not hesitate to organise it in columns, as is generally the case, to allow for better readability.

Beyond harmonising with the visual identity of the rest of the site through the chosen colours and typography, you can also opt to include illustrations in this banner. A little-used practice, it is nonetheless not without interest to pair an image or even a gallery with the information provided. Of course, use high-quality elements and ensure the overall harmony of the whole.

Want something more original still? Just like the header, you can opt for a floating footer that follows the page as it scrolls. This can be a good compromise if your site requires a great deal of scrolling to reach the bottom. Do adapt this moving banner, however, so that it does not encroach on the content displayed on screen — the effect would be counterproductive.