Updating Your Website Footer Copyright Year

If you are like me, you have an annual reminder in your task list or calendar to update the year in all your website footers. This lets visitors know that your blog is up-to-date and actively being updated.

There are several ways you can do this depending on the type of website you have.

If using regular PHP, you could add the following code in your footer section:

<div>Copyright &copy; 2008
<!-- Begin Year Script -->
<script type="text/javascript">
	<!-- Begin
	var year=time.getYear();
	if (year < 2000) // Y2K Fix, Isaac Powell
		year = year + 1900; // http://onyx.idbsu.edu/~ipowell
	document.write(" - " + year + " ");
	// End -->
</script>
<!-- End Year Script -->Company Name, LLC - All rights reserved. <br>
Street Address &#124; City, State Zipcode Country<br> 
Tel: (###) ###-### &#124; Fax: (###) ###-###<br>
</div>

If you have a WordPress site, depending on your theme you can use one of the following options.

For Genesis Theme or related child themes:

Option 1: Use Genesis Simple Edits Plugin

Install and activate Current Year and Copyright Shortcodes Plugin and Genesis Simple Edits Plugin.

Then under Genesis > Simple Edits, update the footer output as shown in the image below.

Sample code:

<p>Copyright &copy; 2016-[y] Company Name LLC - All Rights Reserved.<br>
<a href="http://yourwebsite.com/privacypolicy/" target="_blank">Privacy</a> &bull; 
<a href="http://yourwebsite.com/legalpolicies/" target="_blank">Legal &amp; Policies</a></p>

Option 2: Use Genesis Simple Hooks Plugin

Install and activate Current Year and Copyright Shortcodes Plugin and Genesis Simple Hooks Plugin.

Then under Genesis > Simple Hooks, scroll to the bottom and under Footer Hooks and make sure that

1. genesis_footer Hook has “Unhook genesis_do_footer() function from this hook?” box checked
2. genesis_after_footer Hook has “Execute Shortcodes on this hook?” box checked and
3. then enter your desired copyright notice code as shown in the image below.

Sample code:

<p style="margin:10px;">Copyright &copy; 2009-[y] Company Name LLC - All rights reserved. <br />
Street Address | City, State Zipcode<br />
Tel: (###) ###-### | Fax: (###) ###-###</p>

Option 3: Use Genesis Footer Builder Plugin

Use the Copyright Duration feature and then use your custom footer code like the sample below.


Sample custom footer code:

<p>Copyright &copy; [gfb-date] &mdash; [gfb-brand] &bull; All rights reserved. 
&bull; <a href="http://yoursite.com/privacypolicy/" target="_blank">Privacy</a> 
&bull; <a href="http://yoursite.com/legalpolicies/" target="_blank">Legal &amp; Policies</a></p>
<p>[gfb-affiliate-link] &bull; [footer_wordpress_link] &bull; [footer_loginout]</p>

For Catalyst Theme:

Install and activate Current Year and Copyright Shortcodes Plugin then update the Cataylst Footer as shown in the image below.