Privacy policy is seen as a minuscule link right at the bottom of web-pages and most of the times it is ignored. However, this legal document is the most important web page that one can have on websites. Do you know why your website needs a privacy policy?
Along with the terms of service documents, this web page is used primarily for obtaining users’ consent and Cookies’ law. Privacy policy is a great way to make your websites comply with the national and international regulations.
Here are a few pointers that mention the importance of privacy policy on any website.
All the Details of the Company Can be Explained Here
Visitors want to know better about the company when they visit its website. This legal document contains all details of the company, its establishment procedures and a lot more.
Introduction, information pertaining to the data, collection and storage of data are given here. Hence, privacy policy is an integral part of a website.
The document should contain introduction, information pertaining to the data collection, storage of the data and contact details.
Giving Privacy Policy on Websites is a Law
One of biggest reasons why websites need a privacy policy is the fact that they have to comply with the privacy laws which apply to wherever there are consumers.
Businesses build websites to expand their reach which means more and more laws to be taken care of. Giving privacy policy means abiding by these laws.
Third Party Apps Need it
There are a large number of third-party apps that need their business partners to disclose how they handle all the private data.
This is one of the reasons but the primary reason of the privacy policy on websites is to make sure that there should be some authentic and protected data from vendors to the end users.
Way to Build A Bond of Trust With Customers
Having a privacy policy on the website shows it clearly that you care about the privacy of your potential customers. However, a great care is to be taken for not to endear users as if they feel that the policy is confusing, they may disregard it or not comply with it or even just stop using the site.
Privacy policy is a way to make customers believe that you can be trusted. All the users are interested in how their personal information is being handled, is it in safe hands etc. The document should be able to state carefully how well all the personal information of the customers is handled and whether it is clear, accurate and thorough.
People do take care of their privacy. They want to know are they on the safe hands when they pay or make any other transactions. Also, customers want to make sure whether their personal information is in the safe hands. Your customers always want to feel that their concerns are addressed time to time. A good privacy policy can be a great marketing tool.
For SEO and Marketing Purposes
A good privacy policy is an apple of eye of all the prominent Search Engines.
They always prioritize ranking of the websites that have privacy policies which is a great sign that security has been taken care of. Apart from that, plenty of ad sellers also want businesses to have privacy policy before they run ads on their sites.
Sites that do not have privacy policies are lesser trustable than the ones that have the policy.
Privacy Policy Will be Indispensible in the Near Future
The technology is growing constantly and so are the user expectations also. Hence it is reasonable to predict that privacy policy will be a must in the near future. Customers are much more comfortable with the businesses that put it on their websites.
It is Customers’ Moral Right
Privacy policy is the moral right of every visitor that comes to your site.
Every visitor on the website becomes a data source for the companies. Hence everybody has the right to know what is happening all over the Internet. They have the right to know what is happening to the information that they are furnishing and what will happen to that information.
Around the world, people need greater privacy rights. A clear-up-to-date privacy policy is helpful in letting them know what all personal data you collect and what will happen with that data.
In the near future, it will be mandatory to have a privacy policy on every website. This legal agreement explains what type of personal information you collect from the website visitors and how you make use of this information and how you keep this information safe.
What to include in a privacy policy?
A privacy policy provides legal protections to the customers by openly disclosing how your company would handle all the information and will protect the user information. It is the place where the company discloses what all personal information it collects from the users, how that information should be used and whether it will be shared with the third parties.
An ideal privacy policy should cover:
- Types of information collected by the app or websites.
- Purpose for gathering the data.
- Details of the data transfers
- Use of the cookies
- Affiliated websites or units including third parties.
For the new businesses and start-ups drafting legal agreements like privacy policy can be a challenging task. Online privacy policy generators can be made use of for writing a privacy policy. Businesses can draft their own privacy policy. Here is a help to create a website privacy policy.
How to Create a Privacy Policy For a Website?
The general purpose of a Privacy Policy is to inform the website users on things like what all personal information is collected by the website or mobile apps, how this information will be used and how it will be protected.
Here are a few basics to create a privacy policy for your website:
The document should begin with which information gathered.
Information we collect:
Under this subhead, all types of personal data which is collected from the users are enlisted. Right from the IP addresses and e-mail addresses to the financial and the payment information, this subhead should contain everything. Apart from that, this sub head should be as elaborative as possible.
All the information that a website gathers from a user should be mentioned here like username, password, e-mail address, photos that you post to the service and more.
Methods of Collection and Data Usage:
How you collect your data is the next thing that has to be included in the privacy policy. In this section you can include things like contact forms as well as personal information which websites collect invisibly on the back-end and the customers don’t know. For instance, the personal information can be collected from the contact details, payment or billing data.
How You Use That Data?
This is the most important things to let the consumers know. It is inseparable part of the privacy policy as well. Visitors to your websites are prospective customers and they should know how their data should be used. Primarily, the information should be used for the following.
- For notifying visitors about some important up dates.
- For contacting customers for marketing.
- For improving the content.
- Can be shared with the third parties for advertising and analytics.
- Providing customers with new offers and services
Children Privacy:
A clause that needs to address child privacy should be there in the Privacy Policy. This is so because no site can collect information from minors. If they do so, they need to use a specific protocol. If your businesses do not target children, you just need to put a simple clause that our website is not meant for children under 13 or 18 etc. and we do not intend to collect personal information from them.
Communications With Consumers:
There will be times when you want to get in touch with the customers and they will also want to set a contact with you. A communication clause should be included in the website wherever necessary. This is the section where you will inform them how they will be contacted, why you plan to contact them etc.
It is very important to include a communication clause because often times businesses want to get in touch with their customers. You need to list the methods that you want to use for communicating with them. Apart from them, it is always a good idea for mentioning how they can opt out from the communications.
Third Party Disclosures:
A lot of visitors are worried and apprehensive about if their information gets shared with the third parties. So, in a sub-head a third party disclosure should be there that can let the visitors know if this is done by you and under what circumstances.
How Information of the Visitors is protected?
Users need to be reassured that their personal information will be stored safely. In this section, you do not have to give specifics about how exactly you secure the data but you just need inform them that you do use protocols for security.
Visitors need to be ensured that their data is kept fully confidential and. You can make use of the site security provisions that you are following like SSL encryption. Certain businesses include disclaimer also that states no system is 100% secure and this clause can be mentioned by you as well.
Rights of the Users:
A section covering rights of the users is a must include. This particular section explains all the rights of the users like they can make amendments to the data, they can delete the data, review the information and more. This section is important for the users so that they can be assured that their privacy is protected and they can remove the personal information any time they want.
Business Transfers:
This can also be included. Even if the business has no plans to get sold, it is always a good idea to include business transfer clause to limit the liability if it happens. This way, users are aware that their personal information would be passed to the new owners in case the business is acquired by another entity.
Some other important things to include in privacy policy:
Storage and Sharing:
Your users should know where the entire business data has to be stored, for how long that data can be retained and if that data can be transferred internationally. If you are using analytics or advertising services, this should also be mentioned in the policy.
There are many other types of third parties, affiliate companies, service providers and social media networks that can be considered while writing a privacy policy.
Cookies:
Most of the businesses use cookies and it is good to disclose this information in the privacy policy as a link to the page on your website where your cookie policy is hosted.
Opting Out and Data Subject Rights:
You should explain that sharing the personal information is not mandatory and the users of the website can choose to opt out of what they share and revoke at any time.
Free privacy policy generator can be made use to for creating privacy policy. You can make use of it.
You can have a thorough thought of what all a privacy policy is all about.
Top Things to be Taken Care of While Creating a Privacy Policy
- It should be clearly mentioned that the information collected is provided voluntarily by the users. Users should know that this privacy policy is not invading. So, the word “voluntarily” must be used.
- Let the users know what all information will be collected and for what purpose.
- If cookies are used, it should be clearly explained why you use cookies.
- People should be assured that their financial information is protected.
- If the policy is legally binding a lawyer should be hired.
- Let people know what they can do in case the policy is violated.
Here are a few do’s and don’ts of writing privacy policy that you must know:
Where Should You Place Privacy Policy?
Privacy policy needs to be placed in a prominent position on the website from where personal data is collected from the users.
Header Menu:
The clearest and the most prominent placement of the privacy policy is to have it on the header menu. This menu is available from any page on the website and users can easily navigate this page. It should be properly marked so that users do not have any confusion.
A conspicuous and easily accessible privacy policy is located on the website is a must for every business. It can be on the header menu, footer, about us, check-out forms and more.
Here is the more elaborate view:
https://www.indiafilings.com/learn/website-privacy-policy-requirement/
Conclusion:
In short, having a privacy policy on website is important for every business. When visitors on your website are sure about what all information you are gathering about them, why you are gathering that information, how you store it and where you use it etc., they are more comfortable and feel secure.
