How to Add Social Media Icons to WordPress Footer

Placing social media icons in your WordPress footer is one of the quickest wins you can get for your website. It’s a simple way to connect your site visitors to your social channels, helping you build a community and grow your brand beyond just your blog or business page. This guide will walk you through several easy-to-follow methods, from using your theme’s built-in settings to leveraging the power of plugins, so you can pick the approach that works best for you.

Why the Footer is Prime Real Estate for Social Links

You might wonder, "Why the footer?" While you can place social media icons in your header, sidebar, or even within blog posts, the footer holds a unique strategic advantage. It’s the finish line of your webpage. When a visitor scrolls all the way down, they're often looking for what to do next. An email signup, a contact link, or - you guessed it - your social media profiles.

Here’s why the footer is such a great spot:

• It's Non-Intrusive: Header icons can sometimes compete with your primary navigation. Footer icons are out of the way, providing a gentle nudge for users who have finished consuming your main content and are looking for more ways to connect.
• It’s Expected: Users are conditioned to look for "utility" links in the footer. Think contact information, privacy policies, terms of service, and social media links. Placing them there meets user expectations.
• It's on Every Page: Your footer is global. It appears on your homepage, your about page, your blog posts, and your contact page. This consistent placement gives visitors a reliable way to find your social profiles no matter where they are on your site.

Essentially, the footer acts as a final, persistent call-to-action to join your community on social media. It captures users who are already engaged enough to reach the bottom of your page, making them highly qualified potential followers.

Method 1: Using Your Theme's Built-in Options (The Easiest Way)

Before you rush to install a new plugin, check what your current WordPress theme already offers. Many modern themes, especially premium ones, have built-in features for adding social media links directly through the WordPress Customizer. This is by far the simplest and most lightweight method if it's available.

Here's how to find and use this feature:

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Navigate to the WordPress Customizer: From your WordPress dashboard, go to Appearance &rarr, Customize. This will open up a live preview of your site with a panel of customization options on the left.
2. Look for "Social Media," "Header/Footer Options," or "Theme Options": The exact location varies wildly between themes. Start by looking for an obvious section dedicated to social media. Common names include "Social Media Settings," "Social Links," or "Social Icons." If you don't see that, check under more general sections like "Footer Options," "Header Options," or a catch-all "Theme Options" or "General Settings."
3. Enter Your Social Media Profile URLs: Once you find the right section, you'll likely see a list of popular social networks (Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter, LinkedIn, TikTok, etc.) with empty fields next to them. Simply copy and paste the full URL of your social profile into the corresponding field. For example, paste https://www.instagram.com/yourusername/ into the Instagram field.
4. Enable and Place the Icons: The theme might require you to check a box like "Display Social Icons in Footer." There might also be a dropdown menu to select the location (e.g., Header, Footer Bar, Above Footer). Make sure you select a footer-related option.
5. Publish Your Changes: After adding your links, you should see the icons appear in the live preview on the right. If everything looks good, click the blue "Publish" button at the top of the Customizer panel. Go back to your live site and refresh the page to see your shiny new icons in the footer.

This method is ideal because the icons will be perfectly styled to match your theme, requiring zero code and no extra plugins to slow down your site.

Method 2: Using a WordPress Navigation Menu

If your theme doesn't have a built-in option, creating a "social menu" is a clever and powerful alternative. It leverages WordPress's core menu functionality, giving you a native way to manage your icons without a plugin. Many themes have a dedicated footer menu or secondary menu location that you can use for this purpose.

This approach has a minor learning curve but offers great control.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Create a New Menu: In your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Appearance &rarr, Menus. Click the "create a new menu" link. Give your menu a descriptive name like "Social Footer Menu" and click "Create Menu."
2. Add Social Links as Custom Links: In the "Add menu items" panel on the left, click on the "Custom Links" dropdown. This is where you'll add your social profiles one by one.
   • In the "URL" field, enter the full link to your social profile (e.g., https://www.tiktok.com/@yourbrand).
   • In the "Link Text" field, enter the name of the social network (e.g., "TikTok"). The text itself won't be displayed, the icon will take its place.
   • Click "Add to Menu." Repeat this process for every social profile you want to add.
   Your menu structure should now show a list of all the social networks you've added.
3. Assign the Menu to a Footer Location: Under "Menu Settings" at the bottom of the page, look at the "Display location" options. Your theme may offer choices like "Footer Menu," "Social Menu," or "Secondary Menu." Check the appropriate box. If your theme doesn't have a menu location in the footer, you can still add this menu using a widget (see next section).
4. Save Your Menu: Click the "Save Menu" button.

Once you save, visit your site. If your theme automatically recognizes social links in its menus, you might see nicely formatted icons appear instantly. If you just see text links like "Facebook" and "Instagram," it means your theme doesn't automatically add the icons. Don't worry, a plugin or a bit of CSS can fix that, but often the simplest solution is to just use a dedicated plugin instead.

Method 3: Using a Plugin for Ultimate Flexibility

For the most control, customization, and user-friendliness, a dedicated social icons plugin is the way to go. Plugins handle all the heavy lifting, giving you a visual interface to choose icons, adjust sizes and colors, and place them exactly where you want them.

A great, popular option is Social Icons Widget & Block by WPZOOM. It's user-friendly and works with both the classic Widgets system and the newer Block Editor.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Install and Activate the Plugin: From your WordPress dashboard, go to Plugins &rarr, Add New Plugin. Search for "Social Icons Widget WPZOOM." Find the correct plugin, click "Install Now," and then "Activate."
2. Navigate to Your Widgets Area: Go to Appearance &rarr, Widgets. This will take you to the screen where you can manage your site's widget areas, including your footer.
3. Add the Social Icons Block/Widget: Your footer will likely have several widget areas, such as "Footer Column 1," "Footer Column 2," etc. Click on the + icon inside the footer area where you want the icons to appear. Search for the "Social Icons by WPZOOM" block and click to add it.
4. Configure Your Icons: Once the block is added, a settings panel will appear. Here, you can:
   • Give the widget a title (or leave it blank).
   • Choose the icon style (solid, outlined, etc.), size, and padding.
   • Add your social profiles. Click "Add More" and choose an icon from the vast library. Then simply paste your profile URL into the link field next to it.
   • Customize colors to perfectly match your brand's aesthetic.
5. Update and Check Your Site: After setting up your icons, click the "Update" button in the top right corner of the Widgets page. Now visit your website, and you should see your perfectly customized social media icons in the footer.

The plugin method is excellent for beginners and those who want detailed control over styling without touching any code. It’s also easily updateable if you want to change icons or links later on.

Best Practices to Keep in Mind

Now that you know how to add the icons, here are a few quick tips to make sure they're effective:

• Keep It Simple: Don’t link to every social profile you've ever created. Stick to the 3-5 platforms where you are most active and want to build a community. An overwhelming number of icons can create clutter.
• Use Recognizable Icons: Always use the official, up-to-date logos for each platform. Users should be able to recognize an icon in a split second. Avoid overly stylized or abstract versions.
• Open Links in a New Tab: Configure your links to open in a new browser tab (target="_blank"). This keeps visitors on your website while still allowing them to check out your social profiles, preventing them from navigating away entirely. Most plugins and menu settings have a checkbox for this.
• Size and Color Matter: Ensure your icons are large enough to be easily clickable on both desktop and mobile devices, but not so large that they dominate the footer. Their color should either match your brand's accent color or be monochrome to fit seamlessly into your footer design.

Final Thoughts

Adding social media icons to your WordPress footer is a foundational step in integrating your website with your broader social strategy. Whether you use your theme's built-in options for a quick setup, a navigation menu for a lightweight solution, or a plugin for full creative control, the process is straightforward and offers a high return on effort by helping you grow your audience across multiple channels.

Once you’ve set up those links, the next step is keeping your social channels filled with engaging content so that new followers have something to connect with. We built Postbase to streamline social media management, especially for modern formats like short-form video that older tools struggle with. With its visual calendar and reliable scheduling, it can help you maintain a consistent content flow across all those profiles you've just linked to, turning clicks from your footer into loyal community members.