Favicon is short for ‘favourite icon’ and it is the little icon/graphic that appears in the browser tab, or search results page.
The favicon allows us to identify different websites when we have multiple tabs open.
And if you search for a website, you will see that the search results also display this icon alongside the company name.
Google uses the favicon to help you recognise familiar companies
The same thing happens when you view your history, having a set of icons to glance at is much quicker than reading the names of the websites you visited.
The variety of icons displayed makes it easier to see which websites I have visited recently
Will having a favicon improve SEO?
Yes, but not in the traditional sense of SEO, it doesn’t improve the ranking of a site, but it does help in the following ways:
Increase click-through rate
As you can see in the screenshots above, a visually appealing favicon can help a website stand out from other competing links and websites.
Improve user experience
A favicon can help users quickly identify a website’s tab, which means they will find your site easier than having to text.
Make a website look more professional
A well-designed favicon can make a website look more professional to consumers, especially if you are in the digital world. It helps with recognition, and should be an essential part of your branding and identity.
Help with followup visits
If a visitor bookmarks a website, a recognisable favicon can help them find it again.
In summary
They may seem tiny, but favicons are really important to users, they reinforce your brand identity and act as a quick reference point. They are very simple to implement, and yet they say a lot about your business/website — to me this tiny icon tells me a lot about a company and their commitment to user-centred experiences and the small details in life.
