Email footers may seem like a small detail, but they play a crucial role in the overall effectiveness of your email campaigns. A well-crafted footer not only helps reinforce your brand but also ensures compliance with legal requirements, provides useful information to your recipients, and offers a way for them to connect with you. This detailed guide will walk you through everything you need to know about creating or editing a footer in your email templates.
Why Is the Email Footer Important?
Before diving into the steps to create or edit a footer, it’s essential to understand why the footer is a critical element of your email:
Legal Compliance: In many countries, including the United States and countries in the European Union, laws like CAN-SPAM and GDPR require that emails contain specific information in the footer, such as your physical mailing address and an option to unsubscribe. Failure to include these can result in hefty fines and legal action.
Branding: The footer is the final piece of your email that your recipients will see. It’s a great place to reinforce your brand identity with consistent colors, logos, and messaging. A well-designed footer can leave a lasting impression.
Contact Information: The footer is where you provide key contact information, such as your company’s phone number, email address, and social media links. This makes it easy for recipients to reach out or follow you on other platforms.
Unsubscribe Options: To comply with legal requirements and to offer a user-friendly experience, your footer should include an easy-to-find unsubscribe link. This helps maintain a healthy email list by allowing uninterested recipients to opt out, which can improve your deliverability rates.
Additional Resources: You can use the footer to direct recipients to other resources, such as blog posts, customer support, or your website’s privacy policy.
Key Elements of a Strong Email Footer
Before you start creating or editing your email footer, make sure you include the following essential elements:
Company Name and Logo: Display your company name prominently, along with your logo, to ensure brand recognition.
Physical Mailing Address: This is a legal requirement under regulations like CAN-SPAM. Include a valid, physical postal address where you can receive mail.
Unsubscribe Link: This is another legal requirement. Make sure the unsubscribe link is easy to find and functional.
Contact Information: Include a phone number and email address for customer support or inquiries.
Social Media Links: Add icons and links to your company’s social media profiles to encourage recipients to connect with you on other platforms.
Legal Disclaimers: If necessary, include any legal disclaimers, such as copyright information or terms and conditions.
Privacy Policy Link: Provide a link to your privacy policy so recipients can learn how their data is being used.
How to Create or Edit a Footer in Your Email Template
Now that you understand the importance of the email footer and the key elements it should contain, let's walk through the steps to create or edit one in your email template.
Access Your Email Template
1. Login to Your CRM : Start by logging intoyour CRM where you manage your email campaigns.
2. Navigate to the Email Builder: Once logged in, find the section where you manage your email templates. This is typically under "Marketing"
3. Select an Existing Template or Create a New One: If you want to edit a footer, select the email template that you want to modify. If you're creating a new footer, start with a blank template or a predefined one.
4. Design the Footer Section
Locate the Footer Section: Scroll down to the bottom of the email template, where the footer section is usually located. If you’re creating a new footer, you might need to drag and drop a "Footer" block from the template editor’s components.
5. Add Your Company Name and Logo:(Optional)
6. Company Name: Type in your company name. Use a font and color that align with your brand's style.
7. Logo: Upload your company’s logo and place it next to or above the company name. Ensure the logo is properly sized and has enough padding around it.
Insert Your Physical Mailing Address:
8. Address Format: Add your complete physical mailing address, including the street address, city, state, postal code, and country.
9. Include the Unsubscribe Link:
Create a Clear Call-to-Action: Use phrases like “Unsubscribe” or “Manage Your Preferences.”
10.Link It Correctly: Ensure that this text is hyperlinked to the correct URL where recipients can manage their subscription preferences or opt out.
11. Add Contact Information:
Phone Number: Provide a customer service or business phone number.
Email Address: Include an email address for support or inquiries. Make sure it’s an active and monitored address.
12. Insert Social Media Links:
Social Media Icons: Add icons for each social media platform where your company is active (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram).
Link to Profiles: Make sure each icon is correctly linked to your corresponding social media page.
13. Add Legal Disclaimers (Optional)
14. Copyright Information: You can include a copyright notice (e.g., “© 2024 Your Company Name. All rights reserved.”).
15. Terms and Conditions: If applicable, include a link to your terms and conditions.
Include a Privacy Policy Link:
Text and Link: Add a short sentence like “View our Privacy Policy” and link it to the appropriate page on your website.
16. Optional Custom Message:
Personalization: Add a brief, personalized message if you want to add a human touch (e.g., “Thank you for being a valued subscriber!”).
Customize the Footer Design
Font and Colors: Choose fonts that are legible and consistent with your brand. The colors should align with your overall email design, ensuring that the footer is easy to read but doesn’t distract from the email’s main content.
Spacing and Alignment: Adjust the padding and margins to ensure the footer is well-spaced and aligned with the rest of the email. The footer should look neat and uncluttered.
17 Test Responsiveness: Preview the email template to ensure that the footer looks good on both desktop and mobile devices. Make any necessary adjustments to ensure the footer is fully responsive.
18.Save and Test Your Footer
Save the Template: After customizing the footer, save the email template. Give it a descriptive name so you can easily identify it later.
Send a Test Email: Before sending the email to your entire list, send a test email to yourself or a colleague. Review the footer closely to ensure everything looks correct, all links are working, and the design is responsive.
19. Make Final Adjustments:
Based on your test email, make any final tweaks to the footer. Ensure that all elements are functioning properly and that the footer meets your branding and legal requirements.
Best Practices for Email Footers
To maximize the effectiveness of your email footer, consider the following best practices:
Keep It Simple: While it’s important to include all necessary information, don’t overcrowd your footer. A clean, simple design is more appealing and easier for recipients to read.
Stay Consistent: Use consistent branding in your footer, including fonts, colors, and logos. This consistency helps reinforce your brand’s identity.
Use Clear Call-to-Actions: Make sure your unsubscribe link and social media buttons are easy to find and use. The easier you make it for recipients to manage their preferences, the more likely they are to trust and engage with your emails.
Regularly Update Information: Ensure that your footer information, especially contact details and legal disclaimers, is up-to-date. Outdated information can lead to confusion and reduce trust.
Test Across Devices: Always test your email footers on multiple devices and email clients to ensure that they are responsive and look good everywhere.
Legal Compliance: Double-check that your footer complies with all relevant email marketing laws and regulations in your country or region.