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The favicon is the little icon attached to a website address. The term comes from “favorite icon,” as it’s usually displayed next to other icons on sites like Google, Facebook and Twitter. It was originally used in computer programs for displaying small pictures alongside program names or file types, but now many websites include them simply because they look good with the rest of their design.
A favicon is a little but powerful branding element that appears in tabs, history archives, and bookmark lists in web browsers. Favicons (also known as site icons) are generally a company’s logo, and despite their small size, they’re an important site feature that may aid boost brand recognition and user experience. It’s also free and simple to make a favicon, so stay tuned to see some examples and learn how to incorporate one into your company’s website.
Where Can You Find Favicons?
When you have numerous tabs open, the small favicon, or site icon, is supposed to help you easily identify a website. Consider favicons, or website icons, to be similar to the icons on your phone’s home screen—visually recognizable squares that let you quickly choose what you want. Favicons, on the other hand, appear in locations other than the tops of browser tabs.
In addition to browser tabs, favicons may also be seen in the following places:
Bookmarks
You’ll notice that favicons appear to the left of the site address when you open your bookmarks manager.
Suggestions for Auto-Completed Searches
When you type anything into a search field, you can receive suggestions that contain a website’s favicon. This aids you in selecting the brand or business you choose since you are more likely to identify a logo or color scheme than the firm’s name.
Search Results
There are times when you’ll notice favicons in search results as well. When you go to Google News, for example, favicons are shown inside the search result so that readers can immediately and readily identify the news source from which the results are derived.
History of your browser
Favicons may also be found in your browser history, which is useful since it frequently has a lengthy list of sites you’ve visited. You should be able to immediately recognize a site or content that you wish to go back to.
SEO & Favicons
Although adding a favicon to your website has no direct effect on search engine optimization (SEO), it is nonetheless excellent for user experience and brand recognition. When you encounter logos often, you’re more likely to recall them and the businesses to which they belong. Not only will you remember them, but you’ll also be more inclined to purchase there or utilize their services.
So, how do favicons affect brand recognition and user experience?
Websites that deliver a positive user experience (UX) are favored by search engines and hence rank higher. Because favicons assist people in quickly identifying individual websites on browser tabs, in history files, and in bookmarks, they may have an impact on your ranking.
You should also think about how a favicon influences your site’s visitors. If consumers begin to identify your site, which they like, with your favicon, there’s a better chance they’ll return. Increased traffic and repeat visits may surely help you rank better on Google and other search engines.
When you don’t have a favicon and have to do with a generic grey globe placeholder (hint: it’s the fourth tab in this picture), this is what it looks like:
Creating a Custom Favicon
It’s vital to remember that you’ll need to establish a personalized favicon while building your company website. Some firms, such as consultants, lawyers, and writers, do not have logos and instead use their names. Also, not all logos are suitable for reducing and serving as a browser tab’s favicon. When creating a personalized favicon, you may need to be a little more inventive. Canva is a free graphics program that makes creating a favicon simple.
Choosing the Right Size for Your Favicon
What is the image size of a favicon? It seems to be rather little. Favicons come in a variety of sizes, ranging from 1616 pixels to 1921 pixels. Many website builders, such as Wix and Squarespace, have their own suggestions, so verify with the CMS you’re using to create your site.
Recommended Favicon Size
Remember that most pixel-based photos don’t scale well and become fuzzy when expanded, but they’ll be alright if you start with a higher resolution.
ICO vs. PNG as Favicon File Formats
When Microsoft released the ICO extension in 1999, it was the first to introduce favicons as a concept. The file format and the usage of favicons were rapidly adopted by other browsers. However, the most common browsers have recently begun to accept PNG image files as favicons. So, should you make your favicon in ICO or PNG?
- Benefits of ICO: It is supported by all browsers and has backward compatibility (if someone still uses IE 5, for example, they will still see your favicon).
- PNG has the following advantages: small file size, compatibility with all browsers (with the exception of certain older versions of Internet Explorer), and great picture quality.
If you include both PNG and ICO pictures on your site, browsers that support PNG files will normally notice the ICO and utilize it instead of the PNG. Choose a PNG to be safe and to make your life easy when developing your favicon.
Here are some pointers on how to create a personalized favicon for your website:
- To guarantee that your symbol is obvious and simple to recognize, avoid using too many distinct colors.
- To make your favicon seem isolated in any browser tab, use a translucent backdrop.
- Maintain a straightforward approach. If you avoid a cluttered, complicated design, your favicon will stand out more.
- If feasible, reduce the size of your emblem; otherwise, express your business with an abbreviation or a single letter.
- Use colors that are consistent with your brand and, ideally, contrasted to make your favicon stand out on a page.
If you need assistance creating your favicon, you can hire a graphic designer on Fiverr for as low as $5.
Given the size and file type variations, adding a favicon to a website is simpler than it seems after you have a design. It’s one of the website fundamentals you should know so you can simply administer your own site. Each content management system (CMS) or website builder has a somewhat different approach for adding a favicon, but you shouldn’t have to alter any code to add a favicon to a website.
How to Make a Favicon for Your WordPress Site
1. Select Customize from the drop-down menu.
Go to Appearance > Customize on your WordPress Dashboard. This brings up a menu where you may customize your theme, page settings, and favicon.
2. Go to the Site Identity page.
This is where you may customize your site’s title, logo, and favicon. Your favicon should start at 512×512 pixels, and each browser will use the proper size after that. To add your favicon, click the Select File button, or Change Image to swap out a favicon.
3. Crop and upload your favicon
WordPress will remind you to crop if your picture is too huge, but if your image is good, you may ignore cropping. WordPress provides you with a preview of your symbol as a browser tab icon and an app icon. All you have to do now is hit the Publish button at the top after you’re pleased with your favicon.
How to Make a Squarespace Website Have a Favicon
1. Select Design from the drop-down menu.
Click Design from your Squarespace dashboard. This displays the site’s settings. Select the Browser icon from the menu.
2. Include a favicon
Drag and drop your picture into place, or click and explore your desktop to locate your favicon. Squarespace recommends starting with a picture that is between 100 and 300 pixels wide. Save the file. You can view what your favicon looks like by opening your website in a new tab, although it may not appear right away. If it still doesn’t appear, delete your cache and try again.
Adding a Favicon to a Wix Website
1. Navigate to the Settings menu.
To begin, go to your Wix Dashboard and choose Settings from the left menu. This will take you to your site’s settings, where you may add your favicon. To the right of the Favicon selection, click Manage.
2. Add a Favicon to Your Website
By selecting the proper option, you can add or change your picture. After that, drag and drop your favicon into the window. Wix gives you a sneak peek at how your favicon will appear in a browser tab. The norm is 1616 pixels, but you may alternatively use 4848 pixels, 9696 pixels, 144144 pixels, or 192192 pixels for extra quality.
How to Make a Favicon for a Square or Weebly Website
1. Go to the General Settings section.
To learn how to add a favicon to your Weebly or Square site, make sure you know which editor you’re using. If you’re using the Weebly site builder to create a small company website (not an online shop), go to Dashboard > Edit > Settings > General.
If you have a Weebly shop with Square ecommerce, you’re probably utilizing the Square editor, thus your method will be somewhat different. Select Website > General Settings from the drop-down menu. The Favicon choice is located in the center of the page.
2. Include a favicon
As you would any other picture, upload your favicon. Both Weebly and Square editors accept the picture without prompting you to save it. Use a picture that is no larger than 6464 pixels, according to the Square editor. For the favicon to appear, your site must be published or republished.
How to Create a Favicon for a Shopify Store
1. Go to the Themes Page.
Begin by going to the Shopify Dashboard and then to your Online Store > Themes. Click the Customize button under “Current theme” in the column titled “Current theme.”
2. Select Theme Settings from the drop-down menu.
When the next screen appears, you’ll see a left menu with a range of site options, including the Favicon in the center. When you choose that option, a new window appears in the left menu where you may upload your picture.
3. Add a Favicon to Your Website
To submit a picture, click the button below. Any picture you use will be scaled down to 3232 pixels, according to Shopify. After you’ve inserted your picture, go to the bottom of the page and click the Select button. Your favicon should appear in browser tabs when you publish your site. Shopify recommends using a PNG file with a resolution of 3232 pixels or 1616 pixels.
How to Include a Favicon on a GoDaddy Site
To begin, open the Site Editor.
Open the GoDaddy site editor first. Select Settings from the menu’s upper right corner. This takes you to the site settings menu, where you’ll find the Favicon choice in the center.
2. Add a Favicon to Your Website
To upload your favicon, click on the Upload button. Images should be no more than 1801 pixels, according to GoDaddy. That’s all there is to it. Press the Done button. After you submit your picture, you should see it in the square, however, GoDaddy doesn’t provide you a sample of what your favicon would look like as a browser tab image. After you’ve published your site, you may have a look at it.
Most Commonly Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the best way to make a free favicon?
If you don’t have access to graphic design tools, you may make a favicon for free using free graphic design applications like Canva. You can create your logo and favicon at the same time with certain website builders, and it shouldn’t cost you anything more. Many more web design tools are available to assist you in creating a favicon.
Is a favicon required?
Although a favicon isn’t required to have a website, it’s a quick and simple approach to boost branding and user experience. A favicon helps users identify and locate a website in a list of bookmarks, history archives, and browser tabs. When building your website, keep favicons in mind. This course will teach you how to construct a website.
Conclusion
Drag-and-drop design services like Canva make creating a high-quality favicon simple and free. If you’re not sure where to begin or just don’t have the time, don’t skip the favicon and instead hire a graphic designer to create one for you for as low as $5 on Fiverr.
