When it comes to an outdated Copyright Notice on websites, I’m a bit of a stickler. That little © at the bottom of your website may not be something you pay much attention to. But at least once a year you should. Often it’s an oversight. However, an outdated copyright on your website can be perceived or reflect business services and products which are old or outdated.
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Is that the message you want to convey to potential customers?
Would You Trust Something Expired by Years?
Who at some point hasn’t eaten food labeled “expired”? Perhaps you’ve bravely take a sip of milk even though it’s bordering on unpalatable. Heck, the smell alone may have been a dead give-away.
But if something was expired by years would you trust it??
So when a website’s copyright info is outdated by years it could be perceived like promoting “expired food”. The content may no longer be relevant or reliable considering its outdated state.
At the speed our world changes, keeping information on your site updated matters to your current users as well as potential new customers.
Where a Copyright Notice is Located on Your Site
If you look down in the footer area of just about any website, you will see some form of copyright notice info. It may read ©1999-2021 or Copyright 2021 or similar. Regardless of the format, it’s more than likely there.
Savvy businesses and organizations recognize the importance of this little item on their website. They want to ensure customers know that the information pertaining to their products or services is up-to-date.
Keeping your copyright notice updated helps potential customers or visitors know that you’re current and not taking a passive approach to your business. And as business owners, they want to reflect being trustworthy or an authority in their industry. Kind of important, wouldn’t you say? The little things do matter.
How to Update the Copyright Notice
The process itself will vary depending on the platform your site has been built on. For newer WordPress themes, the copyright notice appears to update automatically. This is a nice feature. That way you don’t even need to think about it.
For older themes you will likely need to go into the Appearance/Editor/footer.php file yourself and update the notice. If you are a do-it-yourselfer, you likely already have this figured out which is great! For others, they will likely need to reach out to their web person.
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You Never Get a Second Chance to Make a First Impression…
Your website is likely the first interaction potential customers may have with you. If your copyright info is literally outdated by years – along with your content, what is that saying about your business?
Think of it this way:
“When the decision to stay or navigate away is made in a few seconds, perception is everything.”
Written by Barbara Rogers of Future Primitive Graphics. Graphic Designer and Nature Inspired Art photographer visually enhancing client’s print and digital media. Creatively collaborating with those who genuinely want to make the world a better place.