Email Footers: An Overlooked Boost to Your Email Marketing

Here’s something you should consider for your marketing strategy in 2025: modern email footers. 

Although often overlooked, good email footers can be more than just “fine print”. They can help you market your company, promote your brand, and some of them are helpful to have to make your emails legally compliant.

Of course, you are probably aware of the basics like including a good email sign-off and contact details. But the best email signature examples go way beyond that – and in this article, we’ll look at why email footers are important for your small business, and what types of email footers you should consider using along with some examples.

Why Are Email Footers so Valuable?

Like any piece of content your audience sees, a footer should contribute to making your brand more trustworthy. There’s certain information that seems obvious to include when you sign off on an email, such as your name, contact details, and company address or website. Email footers go beyond that point and add more specific information that is helpful to both the recipient and your business.

When it comes to email footers, a little goes a long way in providing value to your audience. These short signature disclaimers or additional bits of information can protect your business as well as your client, so adding them to each and every email you send is a no-brainer.

Here are some of the main reasons you should really start paying more attention to your email footers:

Brand Identity 

A strong brand identity sets your business apart from the competition. It’s how customers recognize and remember you. From your logo to your tone of voice, every element should align to create a cohesive and memorable impression. Consistency in branding builds credibility and establishes a sense of professionalism.

Trust 

Trust is the foundation of any relationship, including those with your customers. When your brand demonstrates reliability, transparency, and authenticity, customers are more likely to stay loyal. Trust isn’t built overnight, it’s earned through consistent performance, clear communication, and delivering on promises.

Better Communication 

Clear and effective communication is key to building meaningful connections with your audience. Whether it’s through emails, social media posts, or face-to-face interactions, your messaging should reflect your brand’s values and purpose. Good communication not only informs but also engages and inspires action.

Legal Compliance 

Staying legally compliant protects your business from risks and ensures long-term sustainability. This includes adhering to regulations like data privacy laws, advertising standards, and industry-specific guidelines. Compliance isn’t just about avoiding penalties, it’s about building a reputation as a responsible and ethical brand.

Social Media Promotion 

Social media is a powerful tool for increasing your brand’s visibility, and connecting your different channels for client communication. Regular engagement, creative campaigns, and authentic storytelling can turn followers into customers.

Website Traffic 

Your website is your digital storefront, and driving traffic to it is critical for growth. SEO, paid ads, and content marketing are just a few ways to boost visibility and attract visitors. Once they arrive, a well-designed and user-friendly site can convert them into loyal customers.

Legal And Confidentiality Footers

Legal and confidentiality disclaimers are important pieces of information to add to your emails and are typically used to protect the confidentiality of the details in the email as well as the identity of the intended recipient. 

Imagine you accidentally send an email that includes billing information to the wrong client. This can land you in legal trouble, however, by adding a confidentiality disclaimer to your email, you’ve added an extra layer of protection to your business.

It might be in your best interest to consult with a lawyer to discuss the exact legal verbiage and information you should include that makes sense for your business.

Tips on How to Add Legal & Confidentiality Footers

Adding legal and confidentiality footers to your emails is a simple yet essential step to safeguard your business communications. Take care to:

• Ensure the footer is concise and professional 
• Include your company name and contact details 
• Use legally reviewed language tailored to your business needs 
• Add disclaimers about confidentiality and intended recipients 
• Make sure the footer is automatically applied to all outgoing emails 

Example of a Legal Disclaimer Email Footer

According to a law firm, this is a good example of a legal disclaimer that can work for your business:

The information transmitted by this email is intended only for the person or entity to which it is addressed. This email may contain proprietary, business-confidential, and/or privileged material. If you are not the intended recipient of this message, be aware that any use, review, retransmission, distribution, reproduction, or any action taken in reliance upon this message is strictly prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the sender and delete the material from all computers.

Example of GDPR Compliant Footer

The GDPR disclaimer should be used in the event that you collect any type of customer data that can be interpreted as personal or confidential and that can potentially identify an individual person. Therefore, if your clients ever fill out a web form with details such as their name, address, or email address, this data is considered personal and needs to be protected.

The GDPR email footer might look something like this:

[Company Name] is compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (EU) 2016/679. We are committed to guaranteeing the security and protection of the private information that we process. To understand more about how we collect, store, and process your personal information in compliance with GDPR, please take a look at our privacy policy. 

Security or Virus Disclaimer

If you usually send a lot of links or attachments in your email, this is an important email footer to include. You don’t want to hold your company liable for any unknown viruses or malware that might be lurking in any of your emails. 

Tips on How to Add Security or Virus Disclaimers to your Footers

Adding a security or virus disclaimer to your email footer is  simple yet crucial for protecting your organization from potential liabilities. Consider the following tips when crafting your disclaimer:

• Use clear and concise language to explain that your organization cannot be held responsible for any viruses or malware within attachments or links. 
• Specify that recipients should scan all attachments and links before opening them to ensure safety. 
• Avoid overly technical jargon to ensure the message is understandable to all recipients. 
• Regularly update the disclaimer to reflect any changes in your company’s cybersecurity policies. 
• Consult with legal or compliance teams to ensure the disclaimer aligns with industry standards and regulations.

Example of a Security or Virus Disclaimer

Consider adding a brief email footer that warns the recipient of the (small) but potential threat of viruses being transmitted via email. Consider phrasing it like this:

We do our best to make sure our emails are safe, but despite our efforts, we cannot provide a 100% guarantee on the security of each email we send out. As such, we strongly recommend using a malware scanner to check the contents of this email and its attachments, if there are any. Since emails can be lost, intercepted, or corrupted, [name of your company] accepts no liability for damages caused by viruses transmitted via this email.

Green Email Footers

There was a time when people would print out email messages to serve as reminders or to use in meetings. However, nowadays, we tend to print a lot less and it’s not as common for people to print out their emails. 

That being said, adding an environmentally conscious email disclaimer is still a good move. These email footers show your client that you committed to being a more environmentally friendly business, and also serve as a small reminder to help reduce paper consumption for those few people who might still consider printing out an email.

Tips on Creating Green Email Footers

Creating a green email footer is a simple yet impactful way to promote sustainability and reduce unnecessary paper waste. 

If you want to show real involvement in eco-friendly policies, you can also add a disclaimer about environment-related charities your business is involved in.

• Use a concise message encouraging others to avoid printing emails unless absolutely necessary. 
• Include an eco-friendly icon or symbol to visually reinforce the message. 
• Opt for a clean, minimalist design with environmentally conscious language. 
• Ensure the footer is legible and compatible across devices and email platforms. 

If you want to show real involvement in eco-friendly policies, you can also add a disclaimer about environment-related charities your business is involved in.
Example of a Green Email Footer

These types of email disclaimers can be short, sweet, and to the point. Here are some examples of green email footers you might want to consider using:

• Stop! If you care about the environment like we do, then please reconsider printing out this email
• Thank you for not printing this email!
• Save a tree. Don’t print.

If you don’t want to mention printing emails, there are other ways you can be eco-friendly as well. You can choose to include an environmentally-themed quote in your green email footer or share a short eco-friendly tip.

Social Media Buttons as Part of Your Footer

You can also add some buttons that link to your social channels from your email footer to encourage your clients to engage with you on social media.

Depending on your business, you can tailor these buttons according to your brand’s needs. Do you want more clients to like your Facebook Page? Or do you want more people to see your Instagram posts? Maybe you want to connect with potential clients on LinkedIn. When it comes to SMM, the possibilities are endless. 

You want to choose wisely, though. Adding too many social links to your signature or email footer can be overwhelming and it will make recipients not click on anything. Instead, focus on a few social channels, we recommend selecting one to four and adding icons for those.

If your business uses a lot of visual elements, you can also add the latest posts from your Instagram feed to your email footer. This can help clients see new products you’ve posted about and get a better sense of your brand.

Tips on How to Add Social Media Buttons to Your Footer

Here are some tips on how to add social media buttons to your email footer:

• Use clickable icons instead of longer links.
• Don’t link to accounts that aren’t regularly maintained.
• Use this as an opportunity to connect with your clients outside of an email or strictly professional setting.
• Add social media icons either to your email signature or to your email footer just below the signature.

Example of Email Footer with Social Media Links

There’s not one good way to add social buttons to your email footer. The main point is making sure they are visible, easy to understand, and engaging. Here’s an example of how you could do this:

Unsubscribe Footer Links

As a business, it’s always a little bit of a heartbreak to see a customer unsubscribe from your mailing list. However, searching high and low for an unsubscribe button can be even more frustrating.

Though you might not like it, adding an unsubscribe form to your emails is crucial. Not only is it helpful for clients who no longer wish to receive your emails, but it is also considered to be important for GDPR compliance.

If you’re sad to see a client go, look at it this way: the recipient who unsubscribed likely already wasn’t interacting much with your emails. Now, you may have one less client on your mailing list, but your mailing list has become more streamlined in that you know that the clients who are receiving your emails truly want to receive them.An unsubscribe link in your email footer is especially important if you’re sending out newsletters. They’re not always relevant to personal interactions between you and a client.

Tips for Unsubscribe Footer Links

Including an effective unsubscribe footer link is essential for maintaining a positive relationship with your audience and adhering to email marketing best practices. Be sure to:

• Make the unsubscribe link easy to find and clearly labeled. 
• Use polite language to convey the option to unsubscribe, such as “Click here to adjust your subscription preferences.” 
• Offer options to modify email frequency rather than only an outright unsubscribe option. 
• Ensure the unsubscribe process is quick and straightforward, requiring minimal steps. 
• Comply with legal regulations like the CAN-SPAM Act to avoid penalties. 

Examples of Unsubscribe Footers

If you’re short on ideas, here are some examples of unsubscribe footers to consider:

• We’re sad to see you go! If you no longer wish to receive our emails, please unsubscribe here.
• You have received this email by subscribing to our newsletter. If you no longer want to receive these types of emails, you can always unsubscribe from our mailing list.
• Thank you for subscribing to [Your Company’s Name]’s newsletter. We strive to deliver quality information to all of our recipients. If you decide that you no longer want to receive emails from us, please click here to unsubscribe.

Marketing Email Footers

There are  many other types of email footers that you can implement. Aside from legal technicalities (like the ones mentioned above) and social buttons, footers are also a great place to sneak in some email marketing in personal emails.

You can use your email footers to promote things like sales, new product launches, a new blog post, an event, or simply an invite to visit your website. You can do this by adding things like banners with CTAs that pique curiosity and encourage them to get more information about whatever it is you are trying to promote.

Tips for Marketing Email Footers

Here are some effective tips to create compelling marketing email footers:

• Keep the design simple and uncluttered to ensure easy readability. 
• Include your company’s contact information, such as email, phone number, and address. 
• Add social media icons to encourage recipients to follow your profiles. 
• Use a clear and actionable call-to-action (CTA) to drive engagement. 
• Ensure your footer complies with email regulations, including an unsubscribe link. 
• Incorporate your brand logo for consistent branding and recognition. 
• Test your footer design across various devices to ensure it is responsive and visually appealing. 

Example of a Marketing Email Footer

There are many ways to include marketing links into your email footer (as long as you don’t overcrowd the space, of course). The best way to do it is by personalizing the footer according to your email’s intent and recipient.

For example, if you’re contacting a potential client to answer a question about your business’s services, it would be a good idea to add a banner with a CTA that promotes signing up for your service. 

How to Optimize Your Email Footer 

Optimizing your email footer is crucial because it’s one of the final impressions your recipient will have of your message. A well-designed footer can enhance your brand identity, encourage meaningful action, and provide valuable information—all without overwhelming the reader. Let’s dive into how you can make your email footer work harder for you.

Include Your Logo 

Your logo is the face of your brand and should take a prominent place in your email footer. A well-placed logo builds trust, reinforces your brand identity, and makes your messages instantly recognizable.

Consistency is essential, so ensure your logo appears in the same location across all your email, typically the footer or header. Pair it with some breathing space in the design to make it stand out without feeling cluttered.

Keep It Simple 

Simplicity is the secret to creating a clean and effective email footer. Avoid overloading your footer with too much information, as this can overwhelm the reader. Instead, focus on delivering a clear, concise message.

Use clean layouts, a limited color palette, and minimal text to make your footer visually appealing and easy to read. Remember, less is often more, and cutting out unnecessary elements ensures your audience quickly absorbs the most essential details.

Keep It Consistent 

Consistency is key to building a strong, professional brand presence. Make sure your email footer aligns with the rest of your branding by using the same fonts, colors, and tone of voice that you apply to your website, social media, and other materials. A cohesive design not only gives your communications a polished look but also makes your brand more memorable and trustworthy. Your email footer is an extension of your identity, so treat it as a vital branding opportunity.

Make the Email Footer Mobile-Friendly 

In today’s mobile-first world, ensuring your email footer is mobile-friendly is a must. With more people accessing emails on their phones, use responsive layouts that adjust seamlessly to different screen sizes.

Some of the most important markers of mobile-friendliness in email footer design include:

• Using a single column layout
• Increasing font sizes for easy readability on smaller screens
• Optimizing images and logos for faster loading on mobile devices
• Avoiding excessive use of graphics or animations that may not display properly on mobile devices

Include a Call To Action 

Every email should have a purpose, and your footer is the perfect place to drive action. Whether you want recipients to visit your website, make a purchase, follow your social media, or sign up for a newsletter, a clear and compelling Call to Action (CTA) is essential. Use action-oriented language like “Shop Now,” “Learn More,” or “Subscribe Today” to encourage engagement. Position your CTA prominently and make it easy to click. Strong CTAs can turn casual readers into loyal customers.

Test Different Versions 

Don’t assume the first version of your email footer is the best it can be. Experiment with various layouts, colors, wording, and CTAs to find what resonates most with your audience. A/B testing is an excellent way to compare performance between different designs, giving you valuable insights into what works best. Iteration and testing are key to continuously improving your email footers and achieving better results over time.

Use Tracking & Analytics 

To truly optimize your email footer, use tracking tools to measure its performance. Metrics like click-through rates, conversions, and engagement levels will help you identify what’s working and where adjustments are needed. For example, are recipients clicking on your CTA? Are they engaging with your social media links? Use these insights to refine your strategy and create footers that consistently drive results.

Update It Regularly 

Design trends, user preferences, and business priorities change over time, and your email footer should evolve accordingly. Regular reviews and updates ensure your footer stays fresh, relevant, and impactful.

Don’t be afraid to refresh the design, tweak your CTAs, or even test new branding elements to keep your communications engaging and aligned with current trends. A well-maintained footer signals that your brand is active, modern, and always thinking ahead.

Don’t Know Where to Start? Use WiseStamp

We know it can be overwhelming to create an email footer that encompasses all your needs. That’s why we’ve created a free email signature generator service (or email footer creator) that allows you to easily include all the elements you want in your email footer in just a few simple clicks.

Once you’ve created your new personalized signature, you can take the customization options even further by including specific email footers. 

WiseStamp goes a step further by offering you customized email footers based on your industry’s needs. There are plenty of predesigned banners for different businesses, such as real estate, photography, accounting, law offices, and more. Take a look at all the options that WiseStamp offers for email footers:

Create a branded Email footer using WiseStamp