Why the Bottom of Your Website Matters More Than You Think
Most business owners I talk to in Brisbane—whether they’re running a landscaping crew in Carindale or a boutique law firm in the CBD—treat the bottom of their website like a junk drawer. They throw in a copyright date from 2019, maybe a tiny logo, and call it a day.
That’s a massive mistake.
Think about how you browse the web. When you’re looking for a plumber or a local shop, and you can’t find the phone number or the address at the top of the page, what do you do? You scroll straight to the bottom.
If a potential customer hits the bottom of your site and finds a dead end, they don’t scroll back up. They leave. They go to your competitor.
Your website footer isn't just a legal requirement; it’s your safety net. It’s the last chance you have to turn a visitor into a paying customer before they click away. If you get this right, you’ll see more phone calls and fewer lost leads. If you get it wrong, you’re literally paying for people to visit your site just so they can get frustrated and leave.
1. Make it Easy to Contact You
I’ve seen dozens of Brisbane businesses lose out on jobs because their contact details were hidden. If someone has scrolled all the way to the bottom of your page, they are usually looking for one of three things: your phone number, your address, or a way to email you.
The "Big Three" Contact Rules:
Clickable Phone Number: This is non-negotiable. If I’m on my iPhone and I tap your number, it should start a call immediately. Don’t make me copy and paste it. Making it easy for customers to call is the fastest way to increase your enquiries. Physical Address: If you have a shopfront or an office, put your full address there. Better yet, link it to Google Maps. If you’re a mobile tradie, list your service areas (e.g., "Serving Brisbane, Ipswich, and the Gold Coast"). Email Address: Use a professional email (info@yourbusiness.com.au), not a Gmail address. It builds trust.2. Show Them You’re Legit (Trust Signals)
People are naturally skeptical when they find a business online. They want to know you’re a real company that won't disappear after they pay the deposit. Your footer is the perfect place to prove you’re the real deal.
In Queensland, we have specific requirements and pride in our local work. Use that. Include:
Your ABN: It takes two seconds to add and shows you’re a registered Australian business. Licence Numbers: If you’re a builder, electrician, or pest controller, your QBCC or trade licence number should be right there in the footer. It’s not just about compliance; it’s about showing you’re qualified. Industry Memberships: Are you part of the Master Plumbers Association? Are you a registered NDIS provider? Put those logos in the footer. They act like a "stamp of approval."3. Help Them Find What They Need
Sometimes a visitor lands on your site looking for something specific, like "Hot Water System Repairs," but they accidentally landed on your "About Us" page. If they scroll to the bottom and see a clear list of your services, they’ll stay on your site. If they don’t, they’re gone.
Don’t list every single thing you do, but pick your top 4 or 5 most profitable services. When you optimise for phone calls, providing these quick links ensures that even if they didn't find what they wanted at the top, they find it at the bottom.
What to avoid: Don't just copy your entire top menu. Keep it clean. Think: "What are the most important pages my customers need?"
4. The "Local" Factor
If you are a local Brisbane business, you need to tell Google and your customers exactly where you are. I see so many sites that look generic.
Include a small map or a list of the main suburbs you serve. If you’re a mechanic in Milton, mention that you serve Paddington, Auchenflower, and Toowong. This helps people feel like you’re "just around the corner," which is a huge selling point for local services.
5. Don't Forget the Legal Stuff
Look, nobody likes the legal talk, but you need it to stay out of trouble. At a minimum, your footer should have: Privacy Policy: Especially important if you have a contact form or collect email addresses. Terms of Service: Important if you’re selling products online.
- Copyright Year: Make sure it says 2024 (or the current year). If it says 2018, it looks like you’ve gone out of business or you don’t pay attention to detail. Neither is a good look for a professional.
Common Mistakes That Cost You Money
I’ve been doing this a long time, and I see the same three mistakes over and over again on Brisbane small business sites:
1. Too Much Clutter: If your footer has 50 links, a social media feed showing your lunch, and three different logos, people will ignore all of it. Keep it simple. White space is your friend. 2. Social Media Icons That Lead Nowhere: If you haven't posted on Facebook since 2021, don't put a Facebook icon in your footer. You’re just sending potential customers to a dead page where they’ll see you aren't active. Only link to socials if you actually use them to get business. 3. The "Made by [Web Company]" Link: Often, web designers put their own link in your footer. Unless they gave you a massive discount for it, get rid of it. You’ve paid for the site; you don't need to give them free advertising that might distract your customers.
How to Fix Your Footer This Week
You don't need a degree in IT to get this right. If you use a system like WordPress, you can usually edit your footer in about 20 minutes. Here is your step-by-step checklist:
1. Check your phone number: Open your site on your phone. Scroll to the bottom. Tap the number. Does it call you? If not, fix it today. 2. Update the year: If it doesn't say the current year, change it. It’s a tiny detail that makes a big difference in trust. 3. Add your ABN and Licence: Put them in small text at the very bottom. It’s professional and builds immediate credibility. 4. Check your links: Click every link in your footer. Do they go to the right place? Do they load quickly? Nothing kills a sale faster than a broken link or a page that takes forever to open.
How Long Until You See Results?
This isn't like SEO where you have to wait six months to see a change. Fixing your footer provides an immediate improvement to the user experience. You might find that people who used to leave your site now stay long enough to click your "Contact Us" button.
In terms of cost, if you’re doing it yourself, it’s free. If you’re paying a local Brisbane developer to tidy it up, it should only take them an hour or two. It’s a small investment for something that ensures you aren't flushing leads down the toilet.
The Bottom Line
Your footer is the last thing a customer sees before they decide to call you or move on to the next business in the Google search results. Most of your competitors are ignoring this part of their website. By making yours clean, professional, and easy to use, you’re giving yourself a massive advantage.
Stop treating the bottom of your site like an afterthought. Treat it like the closing pitch of a sales presentation.
Not sure if your website is actually helping you get more customers? At Local Marketing Group, we help Brisbane businesses stop wasting money on websites that don't perform. Contact us today and let’s make sure your website is working as hard as you do.