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How To Edit Footer In WordPress: A Beginner’s Guide

Do you want to edit your footer in WordPress but have no idea how? Here is a detailed step-by-step guide for you.

There are various reasons behind editing the Footer section in WordPress. Footers are used for easy website navigation and also play a supporting role in the SEO of the website.

When you have installed WordPress, you will see a watermark written at the bottom that says “Proudly Powered by WordPress”. To get a complete sense of ownership of your site, you want to remove this copyright footer and redesign it by adding any call-to-action a logo, or a social media icon.

In this tutorial, we will guide you on how you can edit your WordPress footer in the most efficient way plus what you should include in the footer. Before proceeding to the tutorial, first, we will discuss what exactly a WordPress footer is.

What Is A Wordpress Footer?

A WordPress footer is a website section located at the bottom of each page, below the main content. It typically contains information such as copyright notices, links to important pages, and sometimes a secondary menu.

In WordPress, footers can be customized using themes and widgets, allowing users to add their own content and styles to this area of the website.

What Is The Need To Edit The Footer In Wordpress?

There are several reasons why someone might want to edit the footer in WordPress. The footer is an opportunity to add branding elements such as a logo, tagline, or copyright information, which helps to reinforce the identity of the website.

The footer can be used to add links to important pages such as the About Us, Contact Us, or Terms & Conditions pages. Some websites may be required to display certain information in the footer, such as a disclaimer, terms of service, or privacy policy.

The footer can be customized to match the overall design of the website, providing a consistent and professional look and feel.

Overall, editing the footer in WordPress is an important aspect of website design, as it can help to enhance the user experience and provide important information to visitors.

What Should Be Included in the Footer of Your Website?

The content of a WordPress footer can vary depending on the purpose and style of the website. However, some common elements that are often included in a footer are:

  • Copyright notice: A statement indicating the owner of the website and the year(s) it was created.
  • Site navigation: A list of links to important pages on the website, such as the About Us, Contact Us, or Terms & Conditions pages.
  • Social media links: Links to the website’s social media profiles, such as Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
  • Contact information: An email address, phone number, or physical address where visitors can get in touch with the website owner.
  • Secondary menu: A secondary navigation menu, which can be used to provide access to additional pages or sections of the website.
  • Credits: A list of credits or acknowledgments, such as the name of the WordPress theme or plugins used on the site.
  • Search form: A search form, which can help visitors find specific content on the website.

NOTE: It’s important to note that the contents of a footer can be adjusted and customized to fit the specific needs and goals of a website. The most important thing is to make sure that the footer is easy to navigate, provides useful information to visitors, and is consistent with the overall design and branding of the website.

How To Edit Footer In Wordpress? Using 5 Easy Methods

There are several ways to edit the footer in WordPress, and the method you choose will depend on your level of technical proficiency, the theme you are using, and the specific changes you want to make to your footer. Some of the most common methods include:

1.  Using The Theme Customizer:

The Theme Customizer is a feature in WordPress that allows you to preview and modify various aspects of your website’s appearance and design, including the header, footer, colors, fonts, and more. It is accessed through the Appearance > Customize menu in the WordPress dashboard.

The Theme Customizer provides a live preview of your website, so you can see the changes you make in real time. This makes it an easy and convenient way to customize your site without having to manually edit the code.

The options available in the Theme Customizer will depend on the theme you’re using, but it’s a good place to start for making simple changes to your site’s appearance.

Additionally, many WordPress themes come with built-in customization options specifically for the footer, which can be found within the Theme Customizer.

This makes it easy to add or modify the content of the footer, such as the copyright notice, social media links, or site navigation.

Steps To Follow:

Here’s how you can edit the footer in WordPress using the Theme Customizer:

  1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard and go to Appearance > Customize.
  2. Look for a section labeled “Footer” or “Footer Options” in the list of customization options.
  3. If your theme has built-in footer options, you can use the Theme Customizer to make changes to the content, layout, and style of the footer. This may include options such as adding or modifying the copyright notice, adding social media links, or changing the background color.
  4. Use the preview window to see how your changes will look on your live website.
  5. When you’re satisfied with your changes, click the “Save & Publish” button to apply your changes to your live site.

NOTE: It’s important to note that not all WordPress themes will have footer options in the Theme Customizer, and the specific options available will vary depending on the theme you’re using.

If you’re unable to find any options for the footer in the Theme Customizer, you may need to edit the footer template directly or use a plugin to make your changes.

2.  Using A Footer Widget:

A footer widget in WordPress is a type of widget that can be added to the footer area of a WordPress website. Widgets are blocks of content or functionality that can be added to various areas of a WordPress site, including the sidebar, header, and footer.

Footer widgets are particularly useful for adding content to the bottom of your website, such as navigation links, contact information, or a list of recent posts. Depending on the theme you’re using, you may be able to add multiple footer widgets to create a multi-column layout in the footer.

Steps To Follow:

Here’s how you can edit the footer in WordPress using widgets:

  1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard and go to Appearance > Widgets.
  2. Look for a section labeled “Footer Widgets” or “Footer Widget Areas“.
  3. Drag and drop the widgets you want to use into the desired footer widget area. Common widget types include text, recent posts, navigation menus, and custom HTML.
  4. Configure the settings for each widget as desired. For example, you can add text or HTML to a text widget, or choose which pages or categories to include in a navigation menu widget.
  5. Save your changes by clicking the “Save” button or the “Publish” button in the Customizer.

NOTE: It’s important to note that the exact steps for adding and editing footer widgets may vary depending on the theme you’re using and the widgets you’ve installed. If you’re having trouble adding or configuring footer widgets, check the theme documentation or reach out to theme support for assistance.

3. Using A Plugin:

There are many WordPress plugins available that allow you to add or modify the content of your footer, such as the Custom Footer plugin. The Custom Footer plugin is a WordPress plugin that allows you to add custom content to the footer of your website.

The plugin provides a user-friendly interface for creating and editing the content of the footer, without the need to modify any code.

With the Custom Footer plugin, you can add custom text, HTML, images, or even shortcodes to the footer of your website. You can also choose to display the footer on specific pages or posts, or site-wide.

Additionally, the plugin provides various customization options, such as the ability to change the background color, font size, and text alignment.

The Custom Footer plugin can be a useful tool for adding or modifying the content of the footer without having to manually edit the code.

It’s particularly useful for those who are not familiar with HTML or CSS, or for those who want to easily add dynamic content such as a contact form or social media links.

To use the Custom Footer plugin, you’ll need to install and activate it on your WordPress site. Once activated, you can access the plugin settings through the Settings > Custom Footer menu in the WordPress dashboard.

Steps To Follow:

Here’s how you can edit the footer in WordPress using plugins:

  1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard and go to Plugins > Add New.
  2. Search for a plugin that provides footer editing functionality, such as the Custom Footer plugin or Footer Putter.
  3. Install and activate the plugin of your choice.
  4. Access the plugin settings through the plugin menu in the WordPress dashboard.
  5. Configure the settings for the footer content, such as the text, HTML, or images you want to include.
  6. Save your changes by clicking the “Save” or “Publish” button in the plugin settings.

NOTE: It’s important to note that the exact steps for editing the footer using a plugin will vary depending on the plugin you’re using. Be sure to follow the instructions provided by the plugin documentation for the best results.

Additionally, some plugins may also provide additional functionality, such as the ability to add custom CSS or include dynamic content, such as a contact form or social media links. Check the plugin documentation for more information on the specific features available.

4. Editing The Footer Template:

Some WordPress themes have a separate template file for the footer, which can be edited directly in the theme files.

Steps To Follow:

Here’s how you can edit the footer in WordPress by editing the footer template:

  1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard and go to Appearance > Theme Editor.
  2. Find the file labeled “footer.php” and click on it to open it for editing.
  3. Modify the code in the footer.php file as desired. You can add or remove elements such as text, images, links, or custom HTML.
  4. Save your changes by clicking the “Update File” button.

NOTE: It’s important to note that editing the footer template directly involves modifying the code of your website, so it’s recommended that you have some experience with HTML and CSS. Additionally, any changes you make to the footer.php file will be lost if you switch to a different theme.

To avoid losing your changes, you can create a child theme and make the changes in the child theme’s footer.php file. This way, your changes will persist even if you switch to a different theme in the future.

Before making any changes, it’s also a good idea to create a backup of the original footer.php file, just in case you need to revert your changes.

5. Adding a PHP Code:

You can add custom code to the functions.php file of your theme to make changes to the footer, but this method requires some knowledge of PHP and WordPress development.

Steps To Follow:

Here’s how you can edit the footer in WordPress by adding code to the functions.php file:

  1. Log in to your WordPress dashboard and go to Appearance > Theme Editor.
  2. Find the file labeled “functions.php” and click on it to open it for editing.
  3. Add the following code to the functions.php file:

function modify_footer_text()

   { echo ‘Your custom footer text here’; }

add_action( ‘wp_footer’, ‘modify_footer_text’ );

4. Replace “Your custom footer text here” with the text, HTML, or content you want to display in the footer.

5. Save your changes by clicking the “Update File” button.

Some Mistakes To Be Avoided When Editing A Footer In Wordpress

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when editing a footer in WordPress:

Modifying The Wrong File:

Ensure that you’re editing the correct file for the footer, whether it’s the footer.php file or functions.php file. Or using a plugin or theme customizer.

Not Creating A Child Theme:

If you’re editing a footer template file directly, it’s a good idea to create a child theme first. To ensure that your changes persist even if you switch to a different theme in the future.

Not Creating A Backup:

Before making any changes, it’s always a good idea to create a backup of the original file or plugin settings. Just in case you need to revert your changes.

Not Testing Changes:

After making changes to the footer, be sure to test your changes on different devices. And browsers to ensure that everything is working as expected.

Breaking The Code:

If you’re editing the code directly, be careful not to break the code. By making syntax errors or deleting important elements.

Ignoring the theme’s Customization Options:

Some themes may provide built-in options for editing the footer. So be sure to check the theme documentation or customizer before making any changes to the code.

Not Optimizing For Mobile Devices:

Be sure to test your changes on different devices, including mobile devices. Ensure that the footer looks and functions as expected on all devices.

Avoiding these common mistakes can help ensure a smooth and successful footer editing experience in WordPress.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

1. How do I Edit the Footer in WordPress?

There are several methods for editing the footer in WordPress. Including using the theme customizer, editing the footer.php file, adding code to the functions.php file, using widgets, or using a custom footer plugin.

2. Can I edit the Footer in WordPress Without Coding?

Yes, you can edit the footer in WordPress without coding by using the theme customizer or a custom footer plugin.

3. How Do I Edit the Footer text in WordPress?

You can edit the footer text in WordPress by modifying the footer.php file and adding code to the functions.php file. Or using the theme customizer or a custom footer plugin.

4. How Do I add a Footer Widget in WordPress?

You can add a footer widget in WordPress by going to Appearance > Widgets. Dragging and dropping a widget into the footer widget area, and customizing the widget settings as desired.

5. Can I Edit the Footer on Specific Pages in WordPress?

Yes, you can edit the footer on specific pages in WordPress by using custom templates, and custom post types. Or by using a plugin that allows you to customize the footer on a per-page basis.

6. How Do I add a Custom logo to the footer in WordPress?

You can add a custom logo to the footer in WordPress. By adding the logo to the theme customizer, adding code to the functions.php file, or using a plugin. That allows you to add custom logos to the footer.

Bottom Line:

That it! The footer carries the same importance as the header and body section. As it includes all the personal details, links to social media, logos, and icons. And many more that will help in the navigation and SEO of your website. They also help to gain a customized look at your site.

We hope you found this article very helpful and that all your queries regarding the editing of footers in WordPress have been resolved. Feel free to leave a comment if you are still facing any issues. Good Luck!

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