[FAQ]

I’m designing the footer for our marketing emails, and I want to make sure I include all the necessary information to be both professional and legally compliant.

What are the essential things I should include in my email footer in 2025, for both legal reasons (like CAN-SPAM and GDPR) and just for general best practice? I’m thinking about things like the unsubscribe link, company address, and social links, but I want to make sure I don’t miss anything important.

Thanks for the help!

[Jeff Bullas]

That is a great question.

Quick Answer: Your email footer must legally include a clear unsubscribe link and your physical mailing address. For best practice, you should also include social media links, a link to your privacy policy, and a reminder of why the person is receiving the email.

The footer is a small but critical piece of real estate that impacts both your brand’s professionalism and your legal compliance. Here are the essential elements you should include.

First, and this is the most critical legal requirement under laws like CAN-SPAM and GDPR, you must have a clear and easy-to-find unsubscribe link. Hiding this link or making it difficult to use is a major violation and a fast way to get your emails marked as spam.

Second, you need to include your physical mailing address. This is another legal requirement of the CAN-SPAM Act in the United States and is considered a global best practice. This can be a street address or a P.O. Box.

Third, it is a very good practice to add a permission reminder. This is a simple sentence that reminds the subscriber how they got on your list, for example, “You are receiving this email because you opted in at our website.” This helps to reduce spam complaints.

Fourth, for branding and community growth, you should include links to your primary social media profiles.

And fifth, you should always have a link to your website’s Privacy Policy. This is important for transparency with your users and is also a requirement under regulations like GDPR.

While not a requirement, including your company name and a copyright notice, such as “© 2025 Your Company Name”, adds a final professional touch. A well-constructed footer is not just a legal necessity; it is a tool for reinforcing your brand and maintaining a healthy relationship with your subscribers.

Cheers,

Jeff

[Author]

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