A privacy policy is a statement or a legal document that discloses some or all the ways a party gathers, uses, discloses, and manages a customer or client’s data. It fulfills a legal requirement to protect a visitor’s or your client’s privacy. One of the most discreet but essential authorised requirements of a website is the privacy policy, and this will apply to any website, large or small. But, why do you need it for your website?
Keep your website private
The privacy policy is a document with personal/private information you collect from your users or visitors, stipulating how you are going to use that information privately. The particular content required will depend on the applicable laws or policies. The definition of what constitutes your visitors’ personal information varies, but it often includes their names and email addresses, and even IP addresses as well as browser cookies.
It is necessary for you to have a privacy policy across websites and mobile apps. Some possibilities on why you might need a privacy policy may include:
- It is required by law
- Third-party services may need to be involved
Places all around the world have specific laws that require you to have some kind of privacy policy present on your site. If you work or run your business in their jurisdiction, or even as far as collecting information from the residents of said jurisdiction, it may be required by law for permission to do so.
Be transparent
Being as transparent as possible when it comes to your clients’ information will create a sort of trust and comfort between you and your clients, allowing them to rest easier. Sharing authentic and trusted information about what data you collect and how it will be used goes a long way towards establishing confidence with your users. Collecting and using their data without the knowledge of the client is dishonest and could lead to you losing clients, or could even cost you legal implications.
When generating a privacy policy, the thorough information required will depend on the relevant laws. Privacy policy laws require you to inform your users of your business name, your location, and obviously your contact information. You also need to be precise when letting your clients know what information you’re collecting from them including their names, email addresses, IP addresses, and any other information that you may be obtaining from them. Just remember, you will have to state how and why you are collecting said information, and what you are going to use it for. It will also be a good idea to show your clients how you are going to keep their information safe and secure from the public. You will need to include whether or not it will be optional for them to share that information, how they can be opted out, and the implications of doing so.
Create reassurance
As website users become increasingly conscious of the importance of being protective about their personal information online, the need for websites to comprise of a comprehensive privacy policy is imperative. Should you simply have a blog and only collect subscribers email addresses for your weekly or monthly newsletters, it is completely necessary to make your users aware that you are gathering the email addresses for newsletter intended purposes. Therefore, it is undeniably important to let them know how that information is going to be used.
Many visitors and frequent users in the online world trust websites that protect their confidential and personal information, whether that be their email address, billing information, etc. They have the expectancy to see some form of confirmation that their details will be protected and will not be abused while visiting a website. Thousands of users (even the more paranoid users) are probably not even reading a privacy policy statement completely, but they will still be more at ease and feel secure knowing a privacy policy is in place protecting their information.
Bloggers and website owners misguidedly trust that just because they do not collect any information they will not be required to set a privacy policy in motion for their business at all. However, these business owners will still need to have a privacy policy that lets their visitors know that you do not collect their information.
Build your customer relationships
Privacy policies help businesses build customer relationships as there is a subconscious belief that they can put their full confidence in your business and your services. To support your relationship growth, effective websites all around the world display what you call privacy safe trust seals. These are basically digitally designed images instantaneously showing visitors that you have an up-to-date privacy policy. These have been shown to directly increase the level of confidence between business websites and their online visitors.
Privacy policies effectively provide peace of mind to people who recite your privacy policy. By explaining what exactly you plan on doing with their information, they can feel more comfortable staying on your site longer, and they may even refer your business to other people who could use your services, ultimately expanding your business horizon, and improving your overall business flow.
Your privacy policy is there to protect and serve you. Research has shown that if you are transparent with the people who come knocking at your door with your apps, blogs, and websites, more of them will do what you want them to do. Life will overall become easier for you. Ultimately, you could make more money with a privacy policy than you would without one.
Protect yourself
Having a privacy policy also protects you from any possibility of getting sued or any legal implications you may run into as a business. If you ever run into any legal implications, your privacy policy will be your backbone and your support stating that you have proof of protection. Even if you have an app, you need to have privacy policies linked to your app before you release it to the market. If app users cannot gain access to your privacy policy for whatever reason, your app could be suspended or even as far as terminated.
Be on the safe side
Your privacy policy will bring more people to your doorstep. If you would like to start the process of a obtaining a privacy policy, there are simple and quick ways to create one. By bringing trust into the equation, you will improve your business ten-fold. Your reach will be improved, you will be protected, and you can continue your life with one less stress when it comes to your apps, blogs, and websites.
Not sure how to create or effectively implement a privacy policy? No problem. Get in touch with us and we will gladly assist.
Further reading
- https://termsfeed.com/blog/top-4-reasons-you-need-privacy-policy/
- https://legenova.com/7-reasons-privacy-policy-importance/
