Header and Footer Setup

byJohnMaluth

433 followers

2 weeks ago

A clean header and footer make your entire site feel organized from the start. Beginners often skip these areas or leave them in their default state, which makes the website look unfinished. These steps help you build a simple, professional structure without confusion.

Step 1: Open the Customizer
Go to Appearance → Customize.
GeneratePress controls most header and footer settings from here.

Step 2: Go to Layout → Header
This section controls your logo, site title, and overall header structure.

Step 3: Add Your Logo (Optional for Beginners)
If you have a simple logo, upload it.
If not, leave the text title for now.
A clean text title is perfectly fine while you learn.

Step 4: Adjust Your Site Title
Go to Site Identity.
Check the spelling of your site name.
Keep the tagline short or leave it empty.
Too many beginners write long, messy taglines that clutter the header.

Step 5: Choose a Header Layout
Back under Layout → Header, choose “Navigation Below Header” for beginners.
This keeps your menu simple and easy to manage.

Step 6: Set Header Padding
Still in Header settings, find Padding.
Set top and bottom padding to 20–30px.
This gives your header enough breathing room without feeling oversized.

Step 7: Build Your Navigation Menu
Go to Appearance → Menus.
Create a new menu called Main Menu.
Add these pages:
• Home
• About
• Contact
• Blog (optional)
Save Menu and assign it to the Primary location.

Step 8: Check Your Mobile Menu
Go to Customize → Layout → Primary Navigation.
Scroll to Mobile Menu settings.
Choose “Hamburger Menu.”
This keeps your mobile layout clean and predictable.

Step 9: Build a Simple Footer
Inside the Customizer, go to Layout → Footer.
Choose “1 Column Footer” for simplicity.
Add the following:
• Copyright line
• Year (optional)
• Site name
• Privacy Policy link
• Affiliate Disclosure link
This keeps your footer aligned with trust and transparency.

Step 10: Add Footer Widgets Only If Needed
Most beginners do not need footer widgets.
Leave them disabled for now.
You can add them later once you understand layouts better.

Step 11: Preview Header and Footer
Click Preview and check desktop and mobile views.
Make sure:
• the logo or site title is clear
• the menu is easy to navigate
• the footer looks clean and readable

Step 12: Publish Your Settings
Click Publish once everything looks right.

Your site now has a stable, clean header and footer. This small step makes your website feel finished long before your first posts appear.

In the next post, we will create the four essential pages every beginner needs before they start publishing real content.

That’s all for now! What do you think about this post? Share your thoughts in the comments below.