Do you know the function of the footer in WordPress? I used to have a website, but whenever I hear footer, I always wonder about the benefits of the website. What I only did was update my blog post without knowing something called a footer exists. It affected my WordPress in some ways. Would you love to hear the story?
Today isn’t about the story, but have you seen that bottom part on different websites? Sometimes it contains the social media handle section or your ‘about us’ section where people can know more about your platform. It depends on what you’d like to include. But you should know that this part is essential.
Even though you’ve been ignoring it for a couple of years without changing the themes or what should be there, here is the right time to do that. Footer is the bottom part of your WordPress that appears after the main content area. In fact, it is generally on every page of your website. So, could you find time to check it out?
Meanwhile, when creating your website, you try to customize it. At the same time, you optimize your header and create custom menus. Just as important, yet sometimes overlooked, we forget to learn how to edit the footer in WordPress. You might be curious to know how it works or its benefits, right?
Well, we’ve always got you covered. We will walk you through the step-by-step guide on editing the footer in WordPress. To understand the concept better, we have compiled some of the benefits of the footer for your WordPress site. This way, you can easily go back to your website and see why your readers aren’t visiting the page.
Step-by-Step Guide to Edit WordPress Footers
There are plenty of ways to change your WordPress footer to achieve a better user experience. Besides, you can customize it for both aesthetic and functional purposes, including replacing the ‘about us’ themes, copyright section, and many others, to mention a few. Below are the ways to make it work.
● Using theme customizer to change footer settings
● Using footer widgets to change or customize it
● Installing a WordPress plugin to design the footer
● Editing the code in your footer
Using Theme Customizer
Using a theme customizer is one of the best ways to edit your WordPress footer. More so, it’s a practical option if you’re not comfortable with codes or probably don’t have any coding experience. Here, you need to locate a theme customizer from your WordPress dashboard from the appearance section and customize it. Just when the customizer opens, click on the footer section and find the right footer option.
However, if you’re using the Astra theme, for example, you can change your footer layout, content as well as color. Aside from that, it also allows you to preview the changes in real time. And again, you can use the control to see the new look on different screen sizes. That’s not all; you need to select the publish button to see if the new changes reflect on your website.
Using Footer Widgets to Change Your Footer
By using the footer widget, you’re modifying the widget directly in the customizer. This method is quite straightforward. Here, browse the appearance section, and click on the widget option in your WordPress dashboard. All available widgets will be listed to the left, so choose the one you like.
Additionally, to edit the content on the footer widget, click on the arrow you see on the text item to expand the field. After that, use a text editor or visual to make any changes. On the other hand, you can remove your widget by navigating to the delete option and, conversely, add a widget by dragging it from the list on the left and dropping it under the appropriate footer section.
Installing Footer Plugin
Peradventure, you perceive the manual process to be tiring; another easiest way to change your footer is by installing a footer plugin. Of course, you should know how to download and activate a plugin if you’ve been following our posts.
WordPress plugins are an effective way to expand the features and functionality of your WordPress site. But there are different plugins, depending on what you’re trying to achieve. One popular plugin to use is the Elementor footer, header, and block template builder plugin.
It has a free extension and add-on that lets you quickly change your header and footer in WordPress using the drag-and-drop builder. In addition to making your footer looks attractive, leverage the ‘Before Footer’ template to design and expand the footer section.
Furthermore, after you might have successfully installed and activated the plugin, locate it by going to the appearance WordPress dashboard and selecting the ‘Add new’ section. Immediately after that, click the footer and implement different functions or exclusion rules to display your footer as you wish.
Editing Code in Your Footer.php File
If you want to do this, you need at least little knowledge and experience in coding. Although it is more technical than other methods, as we explained earlier, you can use it if you’re comfortable working with code. So, the safer option is to comment on the code or create a child theme.
Make sure you’ve selected the current theme. Look for the footer.php file and add the code to edit the footer as you wish. When you’re done, update the file button and check if the footer has been updated successfully. This seems simple, but you need to understand how it works to avoid delay along the line.
Benefits of Changing Footer in WordPress
Before you think of changing the footer in your WordPress dashboard, you need to understand its usefulness. Considering footer appears on every page, incorporating your own branding into the right design of the footer is crucial. This way, we’ve come up with a few reasons to use the footer. Check it out!
1. It Completes Your Website Design
Your website design isn’t complete without a good footer and header. That’s why websites focus more on their UI/UX design in today’s digital world. Therefore, a well-designed footer tells your readers when the content end, and it also makes for a cleaner interface as well.
2. It Provides More Conversion and Engagement
If you check your website analytics, you’ll notice the pages your customers visit well. Most times, it’s always the header and footer pages. In fact, it’s like a call to action at the end of each post. This way, you can easily add links, your company tagline, or even add the form to understand your customer better.
3. It’s More Visible than the Standard Page
It’s no news that the WordPress footer offers a static module. This makes the page to be more visible than the standard page. Here, you don’t have to worry about jam-packing your links in the introduction part of your content. Many internet users expect more links at the end. This way, they can directly navigate the footer to find useful links.
Final Thought
While trying your best to ensure your content drives enough traffic, focus on the WordPress footer and header. They are one of the best things that enhance your website performance. Depending on the number of sites you operate, these footers can be time-consuming, but you can plan any maintenance packages with the right professionals. With this, you can stand out among others!
