Website Footer Best Practices

The footer sits at the bottom of every page, so it works as a safety net. Visitors who reach it are usually looking for something, whether that is contact details, a policy, or another route into your site. A well-planned footer helps them and costs nothing.

What to include

Contact information. Phone number, email, and address if you have a physical location. Make these easy to tap on mobile.

Key navigation links. Repeat your main pages so visitors do not need to scroll back to the top. You may include a few extra links that do not fit in the main menu.

Legal links. Privacy policy, terms, and cookie information, where applicable. See privacy policy basics.

Social media links. Include only the profiles you actively maintain.

A short description or tagline. One sentence reminding visitors who you are.

Copyright notice. A simple line with the year and business name.

A call to action. A final prompt to get in touch, subscribe, or request a quote.

Add trust signals

Accreditations, payment icons for stores, or association memberships reinforce credibility. See trust signals for online stores for ideas.

Organize it clearly

Group links into labelled columns, such as Company, Services, and Support, so they are easy to scan. On mobile, stack the groups vertically and give links plenty of tap space.

Keep it consistent

Use the same footer on every page. Visitors learn where to look, and consistency supports your overall brand.

Think about SEO

Footer links help visitors and crawlers find important pages. However, stuffing the footer with dozens of keyword-heavy links does not help and can look spammy. Link to pages that are genuinely useful, consistent with internal linking best practice.

Make it accessible

Ensure link text is readable, contrast is sufficient, and keyboard users can reach every link. See accessibility basics.

For local businesses

Include your business name, address, and phone number consistently, matching your other listings. This supports NAP consistency.

The bottom line

Treat the footer as a useful directory, not an afterthought. Include the essentials, keep it tidy, and let it catch the visitors who need one more nudge.