Today, there is a vast amount of data on the internet. As a result, users are often faced with the challenge of making choices. They have to decide where on the net to study, get entertainment and socialize. And this only increases the competition between websites and even brands.
People are more inclined to choose familiar websites over those they know nothing about. As a result, every brand out there wants to increase its online awareness and gain recognition amongst users. To do this, they ensure that every detail of their website is unique and attractive to users. Such details include the brand's name, color, and logo. These basic details go a long way to improve a brand's online awareness, identity, and visibility.
In terms of online awareness, branding, and visibility, the favicon is yet another website component that should not be overlooked. This article focuses solely on the favicon and why it is important for your business. But first, let us answer the question 'what is a favicon?'
What is a favicon?
Favicon refers to a small icon that represents a brand's website. It helps users easily identify a website in tabs, address bars, bookmarks, and search results. As a result, it increases a site's online visibility. Favicons are mostly simple images because of their small size. However, these small simple images leave a huge impact on users helping them to locate your site when multiple tabs are open at once.
Importance of favicon
Designing a favicon is a small and easy step in creating an impressive website. Still, you may wonder 'why should I create a favicon for my website?' To answer that, let's take a look at two benefits of having a favicon for your website.
1. It increases a brand's awareness.
As mentioned above, favicons are mostly simple images. And in many cases, simple images work best in attracting users. Additionally, simple images are easily recognizable and memoizable. Furthermore, when users repeatedly see these images, they become familiar with the websites and they begin to memorize the sites unknowingly. Hence, favicons work best in increasing a brand's awareness and recognition.
2. It helps users to easily locate the needed pages.
Since every favicon is different from others, it helps to represent your website. When a user opens multiple tabs at once, the favicons come into play here as they serve as representation for their respective sites. In such a case, a user can easily scan the tabs looking for the favicon that represents the needed page. And this saves the time wasted on checking each page. Though the time saved may be just a minute or even a few seconds, it is better than having to go through that stress every single time.
Designing a good favicon
As seen above, a favicon is an impressive website component that you should not overlook. It is a vital key to increase your brand awareness. That said, designing a good and efficient favicon may prove tough for some. But with the right knowledge, anyone can easily design a simple but efficient favicon. The following should be considered when designing a good favicon.
1. Simplicity
The best favicons out there are the simplest. Hence, when designing a good favicon, try to keep the details as simple as possible. Ensure that the shape, color, and other details match its size. Otherwise, you may end up with a favicon that is crowded and messy.
2. Perfect visual
There are a lot of things to consider when selecting the visual for your favicon. The first and most important thing to consider is your brand's identity. Since the favicon represents your brand, it must tally with your business. Hence, select a visual that is capable of telling others about your business at first glance. Granted, it is not an easy task. However, achieving this will no doubt boost your business.
An easy solution to this is using your brand's logo as your favicon. And this is because the logo speaks all about the business. Hence, a good favicon can be a smaller version of your company's logo. There are many businesses out there that have adopted their company's logo as their favicon.
Despite this, a favicon may not always work best as the smaller version of the company's logo. Hence, you may need to improvise and play around to get the perfect visual for your favicon. You may try abbreviating your company or website name for your favicon. You may also decide to adopt the first letter of your brand's name as your favicon's visual. Whatever you choose, ensure that the image for your favicon rhymes perfectly with your business.
3. Choice of color
The right choice of color will help users memorize and recognize your website. Hence, similar to the visual, the favicon's color must perfectly rhyme with your business. It should tally with your brand's color. In addition, keep in mind the favicon's size and shape when selecting the color for your favicon.
4. Perfect size
Another factor that should be taken into account when designing a good favicon is its size. The shape, visual, and color of the favicon must fit its size. When selecting the size of your favicon, keep in mind that different sizes are accepted in various browsers. However, the most generally accepted size by most browsers is 16 pixels.
Final thoughts
A favicon is a small icon that represents your brand and website. It may sound insignificant, but it plays a vital role in boosting your brand's online awareness. A good favicon is also able to attract users to your website. And in turn, this generates leads for your business. A brand looking to gain recognition amongst users must no doubt work on every aspect of its site. And as seen in this article, the favicon should not be overlooked.
As you seek to make your brand stand out online, it is worth knowing that Google appreciates even these little bits like the favicon that increases uniqueness and builds trust. When your target audience can identify you with ease, returning visitors to your website will increase with time. Such forms of engagement and retention from identity and trust are what websites thrive on. And eventually, it leads to increased conversions and profit.