WordPress is really one of the most comprehensive content management systems on the Internet. If you’re going to be building a website at some point in the future, it is highly recommended that you choose WordPress.
The software is easy to use, lightning fast, and easily expandable. Just remember that you may see things you do not like. For instance, you may feel the need to alter the footer at some point in the future. Sadly, this is not always straightforward. It can be tougher than you might imagine. So, how can you edit the footer easily? You’re about to find out!
What Is The Footer? Why Is It Important?
You may feel the need to delete the footer completely. This is never a good idea. After all, the footer serves a purpose. It is there to ensure that users know they’ve reached the bottom of the page.
At the same time, your footer can provide users with quick and easy access to important pages, such as your Terms and Conditions and your Privacy Policy. You can also stick social media links in these pages. It is always a good idea to edit the footer. Just remember that you should generally have a footer.
It is important for your website and your site’s visitors.
Why Edit It?
You may be interested in knowing why you would want to edit the footer in the first place. Well, there are plenty of reasons for doing so. First and foremost, you should know that certain themes come with generic footer text. This means that your website is going to be advertising for these developers.
You may wish to remove this from the footer at some point in the future. Just remember that it is generally only possible to do so after you’ve bought the theme for good. You may also wish to edit the links in the footer. There are really plenty of reasons to make adjustments to the footer.
There are at least three ways to adjust the footer.
- Customize the theme
- Change the widgets
- Edit the code
Before jumping to the bottom option, you should try the top two. They’re safer and will not result in big issues if anything goes wrong.
Theme Customization
The process of adjusting your footer really depends on the theme that you’re using. If you’re using a user-friendly theme, there is a good chance that you’ll be able to edit the footer pretty easily.
You just need to log into your WordPress site and click on the Theme option. From here, you should find a setting that gives you the ability to customize your theme. While it depends on your theme, this should give you the option of editing your site’s footer.
Again, you might not be able to remove the developer’s line. Usually, you can only remove or change the developer line if you have actually bought the full version of the theme.
Nevertheless, this will allow you to change everything else. This is the easiest way to edit the footer in WordPress, but it might not be available with all themes.
Adjusting The Widget
If you’ve been unable to change the footer settings using the aforementioned method, you may need to change it in the Widgets section. Again, this will be possible in some themes but not all of them. Still, it is worth taking a look before you attempt to dig into the website’s code. Just log in to your WordPress site and click Appearance.
Then, you should select Widgets. This will show you a breakdown of all of the widgets you use on your website. You’ll be able to delete and add widgets pretty easily. You should also see a widget for your site’s footer. This is the one you’re looking for.
Again, this isn’t going to work with all WordPress theme. Some will have footer widgets and others will not. Still, it is worth checking this section before attempting to make adjustments elsewhere.
All you have to do is adjust and rearrange the widgets accordingly. This will make it possible for you to quickly and easily create a specific type of footer than you want for your website.
Editing The Code
Have you been unable to change the footer using the two methods laid out above? If so, you’re not in trouble just yet. Messing with the source code can be a little dangerous. This is definitely the case if you do not know what you’re doing. With that being said, it is best to take some precautions in advance.
For starters, you should make sure that your backup your website. This will create a copy of everything on the site. That will give you the ability to restore the site should anything terrible happen.
It is also a good idea to use a child theme. This will create a separate theme for the site. You’ll be able to alter the child theme without impacting the original theme. It is definitely best to start here. It is safer and far easier than you could ever imagine.
Accessing Theme Editor
To edit the code, you should log in to your WordPress account. Click on Theme on the site. Then, you should click on the Theme Editor. This will give you the ability to edit the code for any file. Be sure to choose the footer file.
Make the necessary adjustments and you’ll be good to go. Take your time and be cautious. If anything goes wrong, you will want to restore your website using the backup that you may earlier. Generally, editing the footer is simple, but there is still room for error.
Summary
At the end of the day, it is a good idea for everyone to place a unique footer on their WordPress site. Before doing so, you should take some precautions.
Backing up your website and your database is best. Once you’ve done that, you’ll be able to manipulate the files without worrying about it too much. Just remember to start with the first two options and go from there.
