What Is a Favicon？ [+4 Tips for Creating an Impactful Favicon]

Web browsers present a challenge when it comes to recalling the titles of bookmarked pages. However, upon revisiting these bookmarks, a small icon adjacent to the page name aids in recognition, identifying the website previously visited. This icon, known as a favicon, is small in size yet plays a crucial role in brand recognition. This article delves into the question, “What is a favicon?” and explores the importance of creating one, offering four key tips for crafting a memorable and compliant website favicon. Stay informed about favicons and marketing insights by subscribing to our weekly newsletter.

A favicon is a compact icon associated with your website, displayed alongside the page name or title tag. These icons are prominently featured in various locations, such as:

Browser tabs

Bookmarks

Toolbars

Recently visited pages

Search bars

Mobile search results

This subtle icon is a fundamental element of your website’s interface, facilitating brand recognition and aiding users in locating your site when revisiting it. Many companies opt for a simple logo as their favicon, with Target being a prime example, utilizing its iconic bullseye emblem.

Alternatively, you can choose a favicon featuring one to three characters of text, as seen in Wikipedia’s distinctive example.

The primary objective is to design a clear, memorable, and easily recognizable favicon. The subsequent question is, “What is the optimal size for a favicon?” Given their small dimensions, it’s essential to understand the correct dimensions to ensure your favicon is not distorted. Favicon dimensions may vary depending on the browser or website hosting platform, but your file size should be a multiple of 48px square, such as 48x48px or 144x144px. Your image will be rescaled to a 16x16px ratio, and if you use a website builder, your favicon sizes may differ. For instance, WordPress requires a 512×512 pixel favicon, while Squarespace requires a 300×300 pixel favicon. It’s also important to note that favicons appear on browser tabs, bookmark lists, and as shortcuts on user desktops. Your icon must be easily scalable for these instances, as your favicon may appear larger.

Understanding the sizing for these different instances will help you create a better favicon for your business.

Favicons offer numerous benefits for your business, including:

Building brand recognition: A favicon that reflects your business helps people become more familiar with your company and remember your brand.

Adding legitimacy to your site: A favicon completes your website, giving it a professional appearance in the online sphere.

Assisting with search engine optimization (SEO): A user-friendly website is crucial for SEO, and a favicon can help increase brand recognition, encouraging people to return to your site and convert.

Aiding your audience in locating your page if they bookmark it: A favicon makes it easier for your audience to find your website when they bookmark it, as they recognize it by its favicon.

Helping people locate your business with multiple tabs open: People can recognize your company’s page by its favicon when they have numerous browser tabs open, saving them time and effort.

These are just a few reasons to use a website favicon. By adding a favicon to your website, you’ll reap these benefits and grow your business online.

Ready to create an icon for your website? Check out these four helpful tips for designing a favicon:

1. Use space wisely

When designing a favicon for your business, it’s crucial to use space wisely. You want to create an icon that is easily visible, but also includes enough white space. Many companies choose to use their logo as their website favicon.

While it’s a great idea for branding, your logo may not scale down well or look good as a favicon. It may not use the space effectively or fit within the pre-set favicon dimensions. If you need to create a new icon, optimize your space and plan your favicon to utilize the pixel space given without making it look overcrowded or empty.

2. Keep it simple

When designing your favicon, keep it simple. The purpose of this icon is to reinforce your brand and make it easier for your audience to find you. An intricate design can overwhelm the user and make it harder for them to remember your brand or locate your page. The best approach is to create something clean, brand-related, and easily recognizable.

3. Reflect your brand

Make sure your favicon reflects your brand. Your audience uses this icon to find your business in their tabs or bookmarks. You want to use an image that complements the rest of your brand.

Walbert Animal Hospital is an excellent example of a favicon that reflects its business. As you can see, Walbert Animal Hospital uses paw prints as their favicon. It’s a great association with their business and reflects their brand.

It’s important to use the right symbols in your favicon. In this example, people associate paw prints with animals. When a user sees these paw prints, they assume the business works with animals in some way. If you choose to use color in your icon, stick to your brand’s colors. A yellow favicon wouldn’t fit with a purple and gray business color scheme.

It’s essential to keep your icon the same colors as your brand to support brand recognition.

4. Consult a designer

If you’re unsure about what to do with your favicon, consult a web designer. A web designer can provide you with a unique favicon that’s correctly scaled for the web.

Many businesses rely on generators to create favicons. While these generators are easy to use, they require you to search through databases of icons to find the right one for your organization. You then have to resize and scale it appropriately.

With a web designer, you don’t need to pull a stock image from a database. You get a customizable favicon that’s unique to your business, correctly scaled, and reflective of your company.

A favicon is a critical component in building brand recognition. Creating and uploading your website favicon helps users recognize your business and find it quickly on their browsers.

Don’t know how to create a quality favicon for your business? Our team at WebFX can help. We have a team of dynamic, award-winning web designers that will assist you in creating a stunning favicon. Want to learn more about how to design a high-quality favicon?

Contact us online or call us today at 888-601-5359 to speak with a strategist.