Modern Site Designs Owe a Lot to Old Newsprint Styles

Modern Site Designs Owe a Lot to Old Newsprint Styles

Modern web page design owes a lot to the newsprint, magazine and advertising industries, which explains why many developers put a lot of attention to what goes on above the fold, a legacy concept that refers to newspaper sections that would be folded in half by readers. Developers who focus on user experience gravitate their efforts above the fold and will often forget about page footers.
For the most part, footers are part of a website theme. Until a few years ago, footer design was mostly treated as an afterthought, a place where miscellaneous links would be placed and displayed with tiny font. The problem with treating footers in this fashion is that many users actually navigate towards the bottom of the page for various purposes, including:

  • Hoping to find "hard information" such as the "About Us" section.
  • Looking for "insider information" such as applying for jobs and forging potential partnerships.
  • Looking for "hidden information" and Easter eggs such as legacy versions of the website, free trials, sitemaps, and alternative navigation elements. Footer Design Recommendations
    When it comes to footers, they are all about elements. Sitemaps are almost mandatory, and the same can be said about recognition, utility links, and newsletter registration options; this last element is of significant importance because some of the most enticing visitors are those who head straight to the bottom of the page for instant engagement.
    The utility links are often of a legal nature; we are talking about privacy policies, contact information, licensing, credentials, and terms of use. A good strategy related to utility links is to nest them together with social media icons for the benefit of serious visitors who seem to be ready to do business.
    As for alternative navigation systems, if website analytics show that visitors are more likely to navigate from the bottom of the page, this is a clear sign that something may be wrong with the navigation bars located above the fold. Adding a small search option in this spot could also go a long way in providing convenience, thus enhancing the overall user experience. For more information click here https://www.nngroup.com/articles/footers/.

Web Design