Have you heard of Favicons?? Whether you have or not, this post will tell you all you need to know and help you create one and add it to your website.

What is a Favicon?

A Favicon is simply an icon associated with a particular website, typically displayed in the address bar of the web browser as you can see by the ‘WG’ favicon I use for Web Goddess.

Why do I need a Favicon?

The honest answer is that you don’t.  There are many websites out there still using their hosting favicon or nothing at all.  But if you do have one, it is yet another subtle reminder to customers that they have found the correct website if it matches the rest of your branding.  It also shows that you have put enough thought into your site to have included one.  When browsing the internet, we see images before we read text, so it is worth the small amount of effort to add a favicon to your site.

How do I create a Favicon?

Favicons are special files that have an .ico extension and so you cannot simply use an image file that you already have on your computer.  However, there are many free websites that allow you to convert image files into .ico files quickly and easily. Robert Mening’s post is a great summary of all the best free online tools available at the moment so pop over and check it out if you need to create a favicon. Each of these will automatically save your favicon with the file name “favicon.ico” and it is important to leave it named that way as your website will only recognise it as a favicon with that specific name.

How do I add the Favicon to my website?

Every website builder is different, so it is worth visiting the help centre and checking out the full details for your particular site. If you use create.net the step by step instructions are below:

1. Log in to your Create account
2. Click on “Site Content” on the top menu
3. Select “Add/Delete Files” from the left-hand menu
4. Click the “Add New File” button and select “favicon.ico” from where you saved it on your computer
5. You will then need to publish your website via the “Preview/Publish” area in your top menu

Simple!

Is there anything else I need to know?

Yes, remember that a favicon is only 16 x 16 pixels so is it best to find a line drawing or simple image to use instead of a complex photograph.  If you don’t have anything suitable then The Noun Project is a great place to go and find free or inexpensive logos to suit any brand. So, if you haven’t yet got a Favicon – what are you waiting for!!