Bottom Toolbar on Websites

Nowadays it feels like every other site I'm visiting has a bottom Facebook-like toolbar even though they don't seem to serve any real purpose but to promote their Twitter account or some such.

What do you think about it?

Examples?

I don't have a Facebook account so I have no context for what you mean by "Facebook-like" toolbar...

I'm curious now.

If you mean the static ones that stay at the bottom of the page even through scrolling, I feel an uneasy tension most of the time. They can be done well, but static content more often than not doesn't sit well with me.

Like any tool/technique they can be used effectively or they can be used poorly.

It seems like the majority of people are using it poorly at the moment.

I guess the question is... what can make bottom-bars useful? What links could go there? What features could be implemented?

Does anyone have an example of this being used effectively? I've yet to see one. (And yes, I'm one of those people who liked the old Facebook better.)

Funny that you called it Facebook-like and not Windows-like. It's a good design pattern for certain needs (facebook certainly uses it appropriately). I think the one you typically see is actually a copy-paste JavaScript plugin from Meebo called the Meebo Bar http://business.meebo.com/publishers/

I can't stand them to be honest with you. They always draw my eye constantly and it keeps it hard for me to focus on the content. I can see why they are used, but it doesn't mean I have to like them.

they are freaking annoying. but hey, people like them for some reason.

Do people like them or site owners just like them? Just because we put something on a website it doesn't mean our audience likes it.

Most of the time I think they are used poorly. I personally don't like them, because I think it just get's in the way and reduces the amount of content you can see. It bugs me to death.

I really really hate them. They just get in the way and reduce the amount of reading area on the site.

I agree with Scrivs, I generally don't like footers unless they suit some purpose for the end user.

The Crate&Barrels site is a nice example - they have a footer which acts as a shopping cart. Brilliantly executed in my opinion.

MoMa also has a footer which is used for registration; also nicely done.

Facebook got rid of their bottom toolbar. What will we do now?!

Abduzeedo has one and it makes me not want to visit the site anymore.

In my opinion the bottom of the page should make you want to go the the top of the next page, much you would a book.

Talking of added bars, have you noticed the feedback bar on the left/right hand side. Viagogo has one. Not sure whether they get much use or not, but interesting to see how designers are trying to maximise space within the page.

oopps the link was Viagogo

I just came across the first useful one that I've found over at http://www.reuters.com/news/video and I thought I'd add it to the discussion.

Yeah, I'm considering adding a similar one to Drawar, but it has to serve the purpose of the site and not an ad that annoys. I think it works well if done right to simulate the the bottom toolbars you find in many desktop OSes.

See, that Reuters one a) Fits the site's design so doesn't catch your eye in a jarring, unnecessary way, and b) Serves the purpose of the site without adding bloody social networking links all over the place.

Thanks, Tony. That's a brilliant example of a bottom bar done well.

@Fred just subscribe to their RSS. I never visit the website. Everyone touted the redesign as being amazing and yet I just couldn't see it. Some stuff they added was cool, some stuff was like they just chucked a load of features on the page (the footer-bar included). I do love their content though, thus RSS solves the problem.

ok, i just connect to comment on this thread.

IMO, those bottom toolbars are annoying. they make scrolling a bit jaggy. i end up blocking http://*.meebo.com/* :D

Oh please don't add one of those damned things here.

They clog up the loading of the page and also mess up scrolling.

I'm against all of these floating, persistent things. They are nothing but clutter and often distracting.