Alternate titles: Sitemap Footers.
Users need a mechanism that will enable them to quickly access specific sections of a site or application bypassing the navigational structure.
▲ The fat footer of mint.com has a high focus on conveying a sense of trust in that the service is secure.
A collection of 60 User Interface design patterns, presented in a manner easily referenced and used as a brainstorming tool.
Get your deck!End a page by providing relevant links to other sections of your site.
Add the same footer on all pages of a website – with the same layout in the footer on all pages. Typically, these things are included in fat footer designs:
Keep visitors on your site for longer: end one experience by starting a new one. Provide easy and natural ways for users to continue their journey. By adding a shortcut to the most frequently used pages and functions, the path can be shortened and confusion can be decreased.
The hierarchical structure of a website can at times impede the path to specific page or function of a website. By adding a shortcut to the most frequently used pages and functions, the path can be shortened: the number of clicks can be lessened and the confusion decreased.
A fat footer isn’t right for every site or for every company. Consider asking these when creating a footer:
1 Fat footer round-up at UX Booth.
7 comments
Rob on Mar 20, 2009
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I’ve been calling these “Sitemap Footers” because they often replace the function of the old “sitemap” link. These Fat Footers are also useful for covering ADA requirements.
MDX on Jul 18, 2009
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These footers do make great sitemaps -as long as the site structure is not too large. Also, CTA like a newsletter signup can make a second appearance in the footer as well.
kungkk on Aug 27, 2009
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yeap, we call it sitemap footer instead of fat footer
Brp Web Design on Oct 26, 2009
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Nobody seems to use sitemaps. I personally love when I see a well structured footer with navigation.
David Friend on Jun 10, 2010
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I like these fat footers and I want one. Anyone know where I can get the code? Or perhaps you want to design one for me for a stipend?
Andy Wight on Jun 18, 2010
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I prefer not to refer to them as a “sitemap footer” as they are a departure from the hierarchical structure of the main navigation and often a subset of what I would normally show in a sitemap.
There are scenarios on smaller sites where the footer ends up being equivalent to the sitemap but I think there is a difference between exposing select items in the footer and the full breadth that a sitemap shoots for.
David on Jul 14, 2010
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Fully aree with previous comment. Sitemaps and fat footers are just different. Another issue is that for small websites could be almost equal. The definition for fat footers on this page is clear.
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