A well-crafted footer is more than simply a last feature; it plays an important part in improving your website’s user experience and SEO success. The combination of WordPress and Elementor’s easy drag-and-drop interface makes creating a stylish and useful footer easier. This piece will show you how to create a footer in WordPress using Elementor.
Understanding the Footer
A footer is at the bottom of every webpage and serves as a recurring element across the entire site. Different from headers, which often garner substantial attention, footers tend to be underutilized despite their consistent presence on every page.
Footers have the potential to deliver valuable content and functionality, making them as crucial as headers. They can house a variety of important information, such as newsletter sign-ups, copyright details, terms of service, privacy policies, sitemaps, contact details, maps, navigation links, and more. Properly designed footers can improve usability and accessibility, offering visitors a consistent point of reference throughout their browsing experience.
Creating a footer in WordPress using Elementor is important for several reasons:
1. Consistency
A footer provides a consistent place for essential information and navigation across your website.
2. Navigation
It allows you to include key links, such as contact information, privacy policies, and site maps, improving user experience and accessibility.
3. Branding
The footer is an opportunity to reinforce your brand with logos, taglines, or branded colors.
4. Legal and Compliance Information
It’s a common place to display legal notices, disclaimers, or copyright information, which is important for compliance and protecting your business.
5. Engagement
You can include calls to action, social media links, or newsletter sign-ups, driving user engagement and conversions.
6. Professionalism
A well-designed footer contributes to a polished and professional appearance for your site, which can positively affect user perception and trust.
Ways to create a footer in WordPress using Elementor
Method 1: Using the Elementor Header & Footer Builder Plugin (Optional)
For those who prefer a more specialized approach to managing headers and footers, the Elementor Header & Footer Builder plugin offers improved functionality and customization options.
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Install the Plugin
Go to the WordPress plugin directory by going to the dashboard and selecting Plugins > Add New.
In the search bar, type Elementor Header & Footer Builder and locate the plugin in the search results.
Click Install Now and then activate the plugin by selecting Activate.
2. Create a New Footer
Access the plugin settings by going to Appearance > Elementor Header & Footer Builder.
Click on the Add New button to start creating a new footer.
Name the title and choose the template type as the footer
3. Assign Your Footer
Decide where the footer will be displayed by setting conditions. You can choose to display it site-wide, on specific pages, or under certain circumstances as defined by the plugin’s settings.
4. Design Your Footer
Utilize Elementor’s drag-and-drop builder interface to craft your footer’s appearance and layout.
You can add widgets, adjust styles, and configure settings according to your preferences.
Essential Footer Elements
– Copyright Information
Ensure your footer includes the current year and your website’s name to protect your content and provide legal notice.
-Contact Information
Make it easy for visitors to get in touch by including your email address, phone number, and physical address if applicable.
-Social Media Links
Improve engagement by adding icons that link to your social media profiles, making it easier for users to connect with you on various platforms.
– Navigation Menu
Consider adding a secondary navigation menu to provide quick access to important pages or sections of your site.
– Privacy Policy Link
Include a direct link to your privacy policy page to ensure transparency and compliance with data protection regulations.
Method 2: Using the Elementor theme builder
1. Install Elementor
To start, you need to install the Elementor page builder plugin. Follow these steps:
▪️Access the WordPress Dashboard
– Log in to your WordPress admin panel.
▪️Go to Plugin Installation
– From the WordPress side menu, go to Plugins > Add New Plugin.
▪️Search and Install Elementor
– In the search bar, type Elementor.
– Locate the Elementor plugin and click Install Now.
– Once installed, click Activate to enable the plugin.
Note: This base version of Elementor provides fundamental widgets and functionalities. To access the Elementor header and footer builder and additional features, you’ll need the premium version, Elementor Pro.
2. Install and Activate Elementor Pro
Elementor Pro is an upgrade to the free Elementor plugin, improving it with advanced widgets and functionalities. Here’s how to install and activate Elementor Pro:
1. Purchase Elementor Pro
Choose and buy a plan
– After purchasing, you will be directed to a download page and receive an email with a download link. Alternatively, you can download it from your Elementor dashboard.
– Access the Download:
– Log in to your My Elementor dashboard.
– Go to the Upgrade
– Click the Download Plugin button and choose the version corresponding to your subscription. The Elementor Pro zip file will be saved to your desktop.
2. Upload Elementor Pro
– Go to WordPress Admin
– In your WordPress admin panel, navigate to Plugins> Add New Plugin.
– Upload the Plugin
– Click the Upload Plugin button at the top of the page.
– Select the Elementor Pro zip file you downloaded and click Install Now.
– Once the installation completes, click Activate Plugin.
– Activate Elementor Pro
– After activation, you’ll need to connect Elementor Pro to your Elementor account and activate your license.
3. Create and Design a Footer Template
To create and design a footer using Elementor, follow these steps:
1. Create a New Footer Template
– Go to Theme Builder:
– Go to Elementor > Templates> Theme Builder in your WordPress dashboard.
– Add New Template
– Click Add New and choose Footer from the dropdown menu.
Name and Create a Template. Enter a name for your footer template and click Create Template.
2. Design Your Footer
– Choose a Pre-designed Template (Optional)
Elementor offers pre-designed footer templates. You can insert one by clicking Insert or opt to design your footer from scratch.
– Add Sections and Widgets
Add a Section Click the + icon to add a new section, selecting the structure (e.g., single column, multiple columns).
◾ Insert Widgets
Drag and drop widgets from the left panel into your section. Common footer widgets include:
◾Text Editor
For adding contact information, disclaimers, or other text.
◾Navigation Menu
For links to important pages.
◾Social Icons
To link to social media profiles.
◾Recent Posts or Archives
To display recent blog posts or archive links.
◾ Customize Widgets
Click on each widget to adjust its content, style, and layout.
– Style Your Footer
◾Background
Set background colors or images to align with your site’s branding.
◾Typography
Adjust font styles, sizes, and colors for readability and visual appeal.
◾ Spacing
Modify padding and margins to ensure the footer elements are well-spaced and aesthetically pleasing.
3. Set Display Conditions
◾ Publish Your Footer
Once satisfied with the design, click Publish.
◾ Define Display Conditions
Set where your footer will appear. For a global footer that shows across the entire site, select Entire Site. Alternatively, you can specify conditions for particular pages or posts.
4. Preview and Test
◾ Preview
Use the preview function to view how your footer appears on different devices (desktop, tablet, mobile).
◾ Test
Ensure that the footer displays correctly on your site and that all links and widgets function as expected.
Tips for an Effective Footer
◾Keep It Simple
Avoid clutter. A clean and organized footer improves usability.
◾Include Essential Links
Such as contact information, privacy policy, and social media profiles.
◾Make It Responsive
Ensure your footer looks good on all devices.
◾Use Consistent Branding
Match the colors and fonts with your site’s overall design for a cohesive look.
Conclusion
A well-designed footer improves the overall appearance of your website while also providing users with useful information. Elementor’s user-friendly tools allow you to easily create a footer that improves your WordPress site. Elementor allows you to create stunning footers without any coding knowledge. Create practical and attractive footers using a variety of widgets and design options, and make sure they are SEO and responsively optimized.
