Many websites don’t realize that they need a privacy policy. Maybe this is even your first time hearing about this. If that’s you, don’t fret! Read on. We’ve got you covered. 

How do I know if my website needs a privacy policy?

If you’re collecting email addresses or any other personal information about your website visitors, you’re required to post a privacy policy about how you’ll use that information. This includes any contact forms, lead magnets, email opt-ins, newsletters, credit card information and ecommerce transactions, and more. These are all ways websites collect personal information, so they require that your website have a privacy policy clearly laying out how you’ll be using that information. 

Who enforces privacy policy compliance?

The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a European Union law that dictates how websites, companies, and organizations treat personal data. If your website has visitors from the European Union and you process personal data, then you’re required to get prior consent from the customer or client. This consent has to be based on easy-to-understand information about how you’ll be using their personal data and for how long.   

The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), on the other hand, relates to California-based websites and visitors that are involved with business transactions that occur in California. While the GDPR requires consent from consumers before personal data collection, the CCPA gives consumers the option to opt out of data disclosure after their personal information has been collected. More states are following suit; in 2022, more than 15 state legislatures have plans to introduce bills that address consumer privacy protections. 

Ultimately, even beyond these regulations, including a privacy policy is something you should do to establish trust and credibility. With the recent surge in privacy breaches from websites and tech companies, it’s important to establish to your consumers that you have nothing to hide. You want to give them reassurance that you will be respectful of their personal information, and that there’s transparency around how that information will be used and for how long. 

What’s included in a privacy policy?

A privacy policy involves the following information clearly laid out for the customer or client:

• Business contact information

• What specific information the business collects 

• How the business plans on using the information

• Disclosure about if the website uses cookies

• Disclosure about if the business will share the information with third parties

• Instructions for how the customer or client can update their information

• Instructions for how the customer or client can unsubscribe
  

How does a privacy policy differ from terms and conditions?

Privacy policies are designed to show your customers or clients that you value their privacy and are committed to protecting their information. For this reason, you want to spell out for them exactly how you’ll use their personal data. Terms and conditions, on the other hand, are there to protect your company: your intellectual property, assets, and liabilities. Terms and conditions stipulate that, if a visitor wants to view your website, they are promising to do so following the terms and conditions outlined on your site. For example, if you are an e-commerce site, you may want to include terms and conditions that protect your logo, package designs, and other brand materials. If you are a service-based business in the wellness industry, you might want to include a disclaimer that your blog is not to be considered medical advice. You also may want to have pricing and payment terms for any online purchases. 

How do I create a privacy policy?

There are a couple of different ways you can develop a privacy policy for your website:

1. Hire an attorney. You can always enlist the help of an attorney to help pin down the legal language and ensure you’re covering all of your bases.

2. Look at other websites for inspiration. Examples of website privacy policies that might be useful for drafting your own language include Apple, American Red Cross, and REI. You’re also welcome to check out The Look and The Feel’s very own privacy policy here. 

3. Use a privacy policy generator. If you’d like more guidance, you can always use an automatic privacy policy generator from the list here.  

Creating a privacy policy might feel like a hassle, but it’s quite simple to do and can be an important way of earning and keeping your customers’ or clients’ trust. Collecting personal information is critical to finding and keeping in touch with your customer base. However, it’s also important to recognize that people are understandably anxious about providing personal data, and want to see that companies will respect and use their information responsibly. Do your own due diligence by being upfront about what data you’re collecting and how you’ll be using it. This will give your customers or clients peace of mind and increase their trust in you!

Looking for other easy ways to improve your website? Feel free to check out our blog post here for more tips and tricks.