Privacy Policies are intended to create transparency between users and yourself via your blog or website.
If you read blogs then you know that you leave little bits of your personal information behind when you visit. Things like your IP address, your name (or username), and email. If you make a purchase, there’s even more personal information that can be collected by the site selling you something.
A privacy policy informs your visitors what information is collected from them when they visit your site, how you use that information (ie: emails for your newsletter), and who else has access to the information (like your hosting company).
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires that any web page collecting information from consumers and/or that uses cookies have a privacy policy available to visitors.
Not only is it legally required, but having one builds a greater sense of trust with your readers and makes you look more professional.
WHERE DO I GET ONE?
Creating and implementing a privacy policy doesn’t have to be hard. You can start with an attorney-approved template, and then customize it to your situation.
You can also take note of what other companies use for their privacy policy. While I’m not recommending that you simply copy/paste, you’ll likely run across a few things you haven’t thought of, and you’ll get a sense of how a Privacy Policy can be made to represent your brand.
I recommend grabbing a template from The Contract Shop to make sure you are legally protected based on your business needs.
*You may also need to install a cookie consent bar, or pop-up, on your site that asks users to consent to the cookie policy as stated in your new GDPR compliant Privacy Policy. To learn more about adding a cookie consent, click here.
*In full disclosure, we want you to know that we are an affiliate for The Contract Shop, which means that if you make a purchase from one of the links above, we may make a commission, but I only recommend this because I believe in the value of it.
Privacy Policy
A basic terms and conditions policy tells people what they can and cannot do with your original content (like your photos, your content, or that cool idea you talked about in your last post.) If you also sell content, it can be extended to protect you in the event that someone wants a refund or shares your content illegally.
It’s not at all uncommon for photos and content to be shared — with or without the permission of the creator — and often without credit. If this happens to you, what recourse do you have?
This is where terms and conditions can help protect your interests. If you’ve clearly spelled out that you need to be asked for permission before your content is shared, then you’re on firmer ground if you need send a cease and desist letter or claim copyright infringement.
Having a Terms and Conditions puts you on the level with your readers and consumers, lets them know that you’ve given thought (and care!) to what you’re doing and creating, and gives them clear instructions on how they can interact with your content.
WHERE DO I GET ONE?
You can start with a solid, attorney-approved terms & conditions template and customize it to your needs which should cover everything you need and some things you might not have thought of.
I recommend using a template from The Contract Shop to make sure you are legally protected based on your needs.
