Why it matters and how to set up a privacy policy for your site

To build trust and demonstrate credibility and transparency to its users is recommended that your site has a privacy policy visible, that explains how the information collected in your address are used. It is also important to include in this term which navigation data is collected while the user is visiting your domain.

In this article we show why it is critical to have these very clear rules and give some tips of what it takes contained in the document.

The importance of including a privacy policy on your company’s website

A privacy policy is nothing more than a report on the practices carried out by your site in relation to the information your visitors are contact data sent by the user, either navigation information (cookies) on the pages, sources traffic, location and more. It is necessary to clarify how these data will be used and for what purposes, and also whether the company will transfer them to partner companies, for example. See our privacy policy to get an idea of how it can be.

The first reason for which your company must display a privacy policy on your site is to demonstrate transparency to its users. The second reason is that as a consequence of this approach, it gains in credibility with visitors.

If the company provides educational material and in return, asks visitor data via a Landing Page , for example, is important to the Privacy Policy available at each of the pages that have form.

And if your company wants to disclose Landing Pages through any Google Adwords ad , this is the  third reason  why your website should have a privacy policy. Know that this is a requirement from Google. As there collecting visitor information, one may feel that their privacy has been invaded. Thus, to avoid legal action, Google guides so that access to these practices are visible on every page of the websites using the tool for monetization. this also applies to the case of using remarketing campaigns and sites that use AdSense.

Tips to build a privacy policy

The privacy policy should be a complete document – and totally honest – that addresses the key concerns of users regarding the data collected directly, via form, or indirectly, via navigation (cookies and web beacons) on your website.

See what your company should take into consideration when drafting the document:

1. Tell that pages and in what situations are requested data on the visitor and on their interactions with the site.
2. Detail the information collected via form.
3. Specify for what purpose the email will be used. If your company is sending out newsletters also inform the periodicity.
4. Explain whether the privacy policy also includes the information requested by your company by other means such as email, telephone and personal contact.
5. Alert the user to the use of cookies and web beacons on its website, although these data collection capabilities are implemented by partners or suppliers (Google Analytics, for example).
6. – Describe how each information will be used, whether the data via form, such as navigation data.
7. Warn about the possibility of browsing anonymously on your website so that user actions are not identified by cookies or beacons.
8. Signals if the company intends to share the collected information with third parties and, if possible, tell who these partners and how they intend to use the information. (It is not at all recommended marketing these data).
9. Clarify how the sharing buttons posts via social networking or even social payment feature in exchange for free content to the user.
10. Report settings and server security policies where your company’s website is hosted.
11. Tell me how users can change or update the information provided to your site.
12. Explain how they will learn about the possible changes in the privacy policy : notifications will only be on the site pages or also by email, for example?
13. Say that your company is committed to maintaining a visible link to the document on every page of your site and forms available
14. Let the available service channels to questions from users.

E-commerce requires more detailed privacy policy

If your site is an e-commerce, the term should be further detailed, explaining how the bank details are handled, among others. See the extra information required:

1. Specify the safety standards used on the site to process transactions .
2. Tell us how the buyers of information is available in case of evaluation of products.
3. East on the existence of a document that explains how to give the purchasing procedures, including terms of use or purchase agreement.
4. Explain how data is stored over financial transactions, whether they are encrypted, if there is a partner responsible for mediating the payment, and also how long they are stored.

As you can see, it is important to detail the most information that your site requests the user and how they are processed and stored. It is important to be transparent and honest in order to avoid any legal problem. Take these tips and ensure the security and credibility of your company!