3 Reasons Your Website Should Have a Privacy Policy

October 8, 2019

What is a Privacy Policy?

Before we dig into the 3 reasons why having a Privacy Policy is so important for your website, let’s first understand what it does. When browsing a website, have you ever had to fill in some personal information, like an email or a phone number? Finding the site’s Privacy Policy will explain how the site uses your submitted information. It is a legal agreement explaining why the site collects information and how they intend to use it. It will tell you what information the site collects, if it uses cookies, how it protects your information, etc. So why should your site have one?

1. It’s the Law

When it comes to Privacy Policies, it’s important to know the facts. First and foremost – for legal reasons. When using a website that collects and utilizes personal data, it’s important to disclose how the information will be used. In some circumstances, the lack of having one is illegal. In California, for example, operators of any commercial website MUST post a Privacy Policy if they intend to collect personal data from its citizens.

2. Builds Credibility

When asking your website audience for personal information, it’s essential to keep your intentions clear. With a Privacy Policy, users don’t have to question where their data is going and how it’s going to get used. By staying transparent with your audience, you’re able to continue building credibility and trust.

3. Required by Third Parties

That’s right, big names like Google and Apple actually require that you have one. For example, in Google’s Terms and Services Agreement, they state, “You will have and abide by an appropriate Privacy Policy and will comply with all applicable laws, policies, and regulations relating to the collection of information from visitors.” However, in addition to having it, they also require that it is easily visible and accessible to the user. Failure to do so could result in your site being shut down.

Creating a Privacy Policy is important for these, and many other reasons. It serves as a resource for your site visitors and acts as a form of protection for both you and your audience. Even if your site doesn’t collect personal data, having one posted is the first and easiest step to building a trusting relationship with your users. Ask us for some of the best ways to get a Privacy Policy for your website.