Email Footer
The email footer is probably the most overlooked element of an email when compared to the header and body, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t important.
While the header and body of the email hook the reader and engage them with the main purpose of the message, the footer plays an important role in reinforcing the sender’s brand, ensuring legal compliance, and providing additional brand links and information that didn’t fit with the email body’s main message.
This post will cover everything you need to know about the email footer to ensure that you are wrapping your emails up in the best way possible.
What is an Email Footer
An email footer is the bottom section of an email that typically contains standardized information about the sender, legal requirements, unsubscribe options, and additional contact details (such as social media links).
It is a designated space used for including necessary information that may not be relevant to the main content of the email but is important for legal compliance, brand consistency, and offering further resources or contact points to the recipient.
The email footer serves as the conclusion of the email. A company’s email footer will typically remain consistent across each new message whereas the header and body will be unique to each email.
What is included in the Email Footer
The email footer typically includes several key elements including:
Contact Information: This typically includes the sender's company name and physical address.
Unsubscribe Link: To comply with anti-spam laws like the CAN-SPAM Act, commercial emails must provide a clear way for recipients to opt out of future messages.
Social Media Links: Including these allows recipients to engage with the sender's brand across various platforms, slowly growing their following with every email send.
Legal Disclaimers: Depending on the nature of the content or company sending the email (example: healthcare or finance companies), legal disclaimers or confidentiality notices are included to protect both the sender and the recipient.
Company Logo or Branding: Much like the email header, the footer is an opportunity to reinforce brand identity.
It’s important to remember that while all these elements can be included in the email footer, the most effective footers are those that are tailored to the sender's objectives while still being clear and concise for the recipient.
Cramming the footer with too much information can lead to recipient fatigue and reduce the effectiveness of the email footer altogether.
Why is the Email Footer important?
Ultimately, the email footer is just as important as the email header and body.
It puts a final bow on the message you just sent and is a great place to reinforce your brand identity, cover your legal bases, highlight additional company resources, and allow readers to opt out of further communications (a legal requirement for marketing emails).
Email Footer best practices
Crafting an effective email footer involves more than just listing your company’s contact details and legal information.
To ensure your email footer is functional, compliant, and adds value to your email communication, consider the following best practices:
Keep It Organized: Structure your email footer in a way that is easy to read and navigate. Space is limited, so group similar elements together and use dividers or spacing to separate different sections.
Clean Design: Use a clear, legible font and appropriate font size. Make sure there's a contrast between the text and the background to ensure the information is easy to read.
Be Concise: Avoid cluttering the footer with too much information. Keep your content to the point and use links to direct readers to additional information on your website if necessary.
Ensure Compliance: Follow all legal requirements such as GDPR, CAN-SPAM, or CASL which may dictate specific content to be included in the footer, like an unsubscribe option.
Use Social Media Icons: Instead of text links, use recognizable social media icons to encourage further engagement.
Provide an Unsubscribe Option: Make the unsubscribe process as straightforward as possible. It should be a one-click process without any tricks or delays.
Include a Privacy Statement: A simple statement or link to your privacy policy can help build trust and show users you are committed to protecting their data.
By following these best practices, your email footer is more likely to be an additional resource for your recipients instead of an overlooked waste of space.
Key takeaways
The email footer is the third and final element of your email, found at the very bottom of the message.
The email footer typically contains things like contact information, social media links, company resources, and a way for recipients to unsubscribe from future emails.
The email footer space is limited but that doesn’t mean it needs to be boring — use the space wisely.
Different companies will have different uses and requirements for their email footer.
Ready to send better email?
Loops is a better way to send product, marketing, and transactional email for your SaaS company.
The email footer is probably the most overlooked element of an email when compared to the header and body, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t important.
While the header and body of the email hook the reader and engage them with the main purpose of the message, the footer plays an important role in reinforcing the sender’s brand, ensuring legal compliance, and providing additional brand links and information that didn’t fit with the email body’s main message.
This post will cover everything you need to know about the email footer to ensure that you are wrapping your emails up in the best way possible.
What is an Email Footer
An email footer is the bottom section of an email that typically contains standardized information about the sender, legal requirements, unsubscribe options, and additional contact details (such as social media links).
It is a designated space used for including necessary information that may not be relevant to the main content of the email but is important for legal compliance, brand consistency, and offering further resources or contact points to the recipient.
The email footer serves as the conclusion of the email. A company’s email footer will typically remain consistent across each new message whereas the header and body will be unique to each email.
What is included in the Email Footer
The email footer typically includes several key elements including:
Contact Information: This typically includes the sender's company name and physical address.
Unsubscribe Link: To comply with anti-spam laws like the CAN-SPAM Act, commercial emails must provide a clear way for recipients to opt out of future messages.
Social Media Links: Including these allows recipients to engage with the sender's brand across various platforms, slowly growing their following with every email send.
Legal Disclaimers: Depending on the nature of the content or company sending the email (example: healthcare or finance companies), legal disclaimers or confidentiality notices are included to protect both the sender and the recipient.
Company Logo or Branding: Much like the email header, the footer is an opportunity to reinforce brand identity.
It’s important to remember that while all these elements can be included in the email footer, the most effective footers are those that are tailored to the sender's objectives while still being clear and concise for the recipient.
Cramming the footer with too much information can lead to recipient fatigue and reduce the effectiveness of the email footer altogether.
Why is the Email Footer important?
Ultimately, the email footer is just as important as the email header and body.
It puts a final bow on the message you just sent and is a great place to reinforce your brand identity, cover your legal bases, highlight additional company resources, and allow readers to opt out of further communications (a legal requirement for marketing emails).
Email Footer best practices
Crafting an effective email footer involves more than just listing your company’s contact details and legal information.
To ensure your email footer is functional, compliant, and adds value to your email communication, consider the following best practices:
Keep It Organized: Structure your email footer in a way that is easy to read and navigate. Space is limited, so group similar elements together and use dividers or spacing to separate different sections.
Clean Design: Use a clear, legible font and appropriate font size. Make sure there's a contrast between the text and the background to ensure the information is easy to read.
Be Concise: Avoid cluttering the footer with too much information. Keep your content to the point and use links to direct readers to additional information on your website if necessary.
Ensure Compliance: Follow all legal requirements such as GDPR, CAN-SPAM, or CASL which may dictate specific content to be included in the footer, like an unsubscribe option.
Use Social Media Icons: Instead of text links, use recognizable social media icons to encourage further engagement.
Provide an Unsubscribe Option: Make the unsubscribe process as straightforward as possible. It should be a one-click process without any tricks or delays.
Include a Privacy Statement: A simple statement or link to your privacy policy can help build trust and show users you are committed to protecting their data.
By following these best practices, your email footer is more likely to be an additional resource for your recipients instead of an overlooked waste of space.
Key takeaways
The email footer is the third and final element of your email, found at the very bottom of the message.
The email footer typically contains things like contact information, social media links, company resources, and a way for recipients to unsubscribe from future emails.
The email footer space is limited but that doesn’t mean it needs to be boring — use the space wisely.
Different companies will have different uses and requirements for their email footer.