When designing websites, one thing you may not often think about is privacy policies. However, privacy is an important concern for website users. Thus, it is important that your website has a privacy policy. This can ensure that you are more transparent while informing users about how their data is utilized.
What is a Privacy Policy?
Before talking about how to incorporate a privacy policy into your website design, it is first important to ensure we are on the same page when discussing the topic. Essentially, a privacy policy is a formal document or statement that details how your website collects and manages personal data from people that visit it.
What is Included in a Privacy Policy?
There are a variety of components that are typically included in privacy policies. Before you begin writing one for your website, it is important to understand the different aspects. While policies may vary a bit based on the purpose of your website and how users interact with it, here are some common aspects of a policy:
- Data Collected – list the different types of data collected by your website.
- How Data is Used – be transparent about how your organization uses data, specifically if you share data with any third party.
- Data Security – disclose to your visitors how you store and protect their data that you collect.
- Opt Out Statement – visitors should be informed how they can access an opt out feature for any data that is collected.
Website Design: Where Does a Privacy Policy Go?
A common question when it comes to privacy policies is where exactly they should go. When it comes to website design, there are a few different locations where it makes sense to include a link to your privacy policy. We recommend the following as potential areas:
- In the website’s footer (allowing it to be accessed easily from any page).
- Referenced in any sign up forms.
- Referenced on checkout pages for e-commerce sites.
Key Points for Privacy Policies
You already have a general sense of the things that should be referenced in a privacy policy. This includes what data is collected, how it is stored, and how you use it. This provides a broad overview of how to begin constructing a privacy policy. However, there are a variety of other things that you will need to discuss in the policy in certain situations. Let’s take a look at some key points for various situations.
When Using Google Analytics with Website Design
Google Analytics is an excellent tool that allows you to measure how your website is performing. It also helps you leverage data to gain insights into your users. However, if you utilize Google Analytics with your website design, you must disclose this use to your visitors. An example of this is below.
We use Google Analytics to collect information, assess the results of our marketing campaigns, and better direct you to relevant services via advertisements on Google. If you have an account with Google, you can manage your advertising settings. Otherwise, you can manage them via your web browser’s settings.
If Your Website Design Includes a Subscribe Box
Another situation that requires specialized key points in your privacy policy is when you use a subscribe box. These types of boxes allow your users to sign up for newsletters, marketing e-mails, updates, and other types of features. A transparent, useful policy will include the following:
- Note that subscribing is optional.
- List the specific rights that subscribers have.
- State how you will use e-mail addresses.
- Get consent during signup process.
- List the specific types of personal information that is collected.
- Note the reasons for subscriptions.
- Disclose your data retention policy noting how long information is stored.
- State any method in which their e-mail address will be shared.
- Detail the process for withdrawing consent.
If Your Site Has e-Commerce
If you take payment from customers on your site, there are several other things you want to discuss in addition to the standard aspects of a privacy policy. These are things that you should take note to specify when designing your privacy policy:
- Disclose if you use an outside payment processor.
- Disclose any information stored by your payment processor.
- Detail if you store any customer payment information on your own servers.
- Note the specific types of personal information collected as part of an e-commerce transaction.
- Detail third parties with which customer information is shared with for order fulfillment and shipping.
- Spell out the use of cookies and other tracking technologies including how to opt out.
- If you utilize any third party services related to chat support or customer reviews, disclose what information is shared with these parties.
- Note how long customer information is stored.
If Website Design Includes Retargeting Ads
A final special situation that requires additional content for your privacy policy occurs if you use retargeting ads as part of your website design. These are ads that target previous visitors to your website by sending e-mails or displaying ads. For example, retargeting may advertise a product to someone that previously looked at it on your website or notify a customer that they left an item in their cart. If you use retargeting, you will want to include the following in your privacy policy:
- That your website engages in retargeting.
- The specific forms of retargeting used by your website such as cookies and other technologies.
- Note the purpose for data collection.
- The specific types of personal information collected for these purposes.
- Detail any way in which personal information is shared with a third party.
- Disclose any third party websites or services involved in retargeting and their role with data collection, storage, or usage.
- How users can opt out of retargeting.
- Add a link to Google’s Privacy Policy.
How to Get a Privacy Policy
As you can see, privacy policies are incredibly important for your website. They can also be a bit difficult to write for some people. However, there are some options out there that can help you develop a privacy policy.
- Privacy Policy Generator
This free service will help you to create a privacy policy for your website fairly easily. You simply type in a variety of information about your website and allow the Privacy Policy Generator to write a policy that you can use. - Get Terms
A similar service, Get Terms helps you with a variety of paperwork including privacy policies for your website. Their generator allows you to create a custom privacy policy using language that your users will understand. This is a paid service. - Termly
Termly prides itself on being a compliance solution that can allow you to generate a variety of official documents, helping you adhere to the various regulations governing websites. This includes a privacy policy generator. Termly has both free and paid options, providing versatility based on your needs.
Reach
Reaching the Right Audience One of the fundamental metrics to measure is reach, which refers to the number of unique users who have seen your content. It indicates the potential size of your audience and can help you assess your brand’s visibility. However, it’s essential to focus not just on the quantity of reach but also on reaching the right audience. Targeting relevant demographics and ensuring your content resonates with them is key to maximizing your social media ROI.