If you are running an online business, there are few things more certain than this – you definitely need to have a privacy policy on your website.
Why? Because people need to know how you are handling their information. They need to know what information you collect about them, how you are storing it, and what you might do with it.
Not to mention, if you are even thinking about running paid traffic to your page, all of the major paid traffic sources (think Google and Facebook for starters…) require a privacy policy on your website or they will cut off your ads.
Privacy Policy Do's and Dont's
Here are a few quick tips with things that you should and should not do with your privacy policy:
- Don't be dishonest about the information you collect and what you are going to do with it. Tell your visitors exactly how you are going to handle their information. If you plan to use their email to send follow-up marketing or a newsletter, tell them that. This doesn't have to be overly complicated or “legal”.
- Put your privacy policy on every single page of your website – not just the “landing pages”. The best and easiest way to do this is by including it in the footer of your website. Even though it is called a “policy”, a privacy policy is a legally binding contract between your business (if you forgot that your business is a distinct entity that is separate from you personally, shame on you – go back and read this) and the visitor to your web page. If you don't have the policy posted where they can see it – then there is no contract.
- If you are using a third party software, such as Infusionsoft, Aweber, or Ontraport to collect and send email on your behalf, you must include this information in your privacy policy.
- Cookies are tasty, but they also can provide you with information about your web visitors. Your site visitors should be able to opt-out or disable cookies on your website if they want to. Make sure to include information on how they can do this.
This stuff is pretty simple and easy for you to implement in about 15 minutes.
And if you are still looking for a privacy policy for your website, here is our DIY Lawyer-drafted Privacy Policy that is compatible with California law as well as GDPR.
