As the world becomes more digital by the day, you are forgiven for finding it hard to keep up with new technical words. This blog covers what favicons are and why they are important for websites.
What is a Favicon?
The word ‘favicon’ combines the words ‘favourite’ and ‘icon’. A favicon is an icon or image associated with a particular website displayed in a browser tab. This shows the user which websites they have open, which is especially useful when several tabs are open at once. A favicon is usually a small, simplified version of your business logo, allowing users to identify a website. They are not just shown in browser tabs but also in favourite lists too. They are also used as app icons and are shown in history logs.
How to Decide on the Right Favicon for Your Company
When choosing the best favicon icon for your business, you must consider your visual branding. There is no point in trying to use a detailed icon, as your favicon will be small and hard to decipher. If your usual logo is large and detailed, you should simplify it considerably when designing a favicon.
The Importance of Favicons for Websites
Here we look at why favicons are important for websites, particularly business websites:
Identification – As mentioned above, a favicon helps easily identify a website. It improves the user experience and makes a site instantly recognisable.
Brand – Good logos will help to strengthen a brand, and the same applies to favicons. They help establish a strong online presence for new and well-recognised businesses.
Professional – all professional websites should have a recognisable favicon. It shows you have established your brand identity and that you care about the small details. It gives a professional impression of a business when they have a clear logo, and the favicon is an extension of that.
How do Favicons Affect SEO?
Favicons can indirectly affect search engine optimisation. The icons themselves do not impact search engine rankings directly, but a decent favicon can positively affect SEO due to it making the site more user-friendly and easy to navigate, leading to more people accessing it and adding it to their favourites. It also makes it easier for users to bookmark the page, and bookmarked sites are SEO-friendly.
Stylistic Hosting provides website solutions for all business types. We help to bridge the gap between your business and your target audience with bespoke digital services. Contact us to find out more.