Do I Need a Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions on My Website?
The short answer is yes.
You absolutely need to have website terms and conditions and a privacy policy on your website according to federal law.*
*IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER: I am not an attorney and cannot advise you on legal matters.
What I can do is share the sources I have found in my research, echo the words that attorneys have shared, and point you to some resources to help you operate your business legally and ethically.
I am always an advocate of you doing your own research!
Below are a couple of the sources that I’ve found from the Code of Federal Regulations that point to the legalities surrounding Privacy Policies and Website Terms and Conditions as well:
Wait. What about a cookies opt-in banner?
Yep. You need that too!
It is a legal requirement that you alert people about whether or not you use cookies on your site. If your website tracks any sort of website analytics - then you use cookies! (SOURCE)
And, if your business is in the medical field like clinics, counselors, therapists, or any other medical field, you also need to have a HIPPA notice on your website as well. (SOURCE)
Additionally, in many cases, it is also wise to have Terms of Purchase listed on your website as well.
Why are Privacy Policies, Website Terms and Conditions, and in some cases, Terms of Purchase and HIPPA Policies legally required to be on your website?
The answer is all in the name of ethical business practices! Each of these documents helps to ensure the safety and security of your clients and your business as a whole.
These documents inform your website users, customers, and clients exactly what you do, or do not do, with their personal information. Information like email addresses, names, IP addresses, payment information, and more.
They also set appropriate expectations so that your clients and customers know what to reasonably expect from your services or products.
If you have any sort of analytics on your site (you likely do) then your website is using cookies to collect this information. This means you’ll also need to display a cookies opt-in banner. (SOURCE)
This pop-up banner can be customized and formatted to include a notice saying that by using your website they are also agreeing to the terms of (XYZ) policies.
How do I get privacy policies for my website?
You have two main options:
Work on one with an attorney
Use an attorney-made template
Using an attorney-made template for your Privacy Policy (and all other necessary policies) is the most affordable way to go!
I highly suggest using The Contract Shop.
I have been using their templates for several years and recently became an affiliate for them. I trust their templates that much! I recommend them to every client and I am using them for my own website as well.
They are simple, user-friendly, and very affordable!
Where do I put my Privacy Policy on my website?
This is a wonderful question! A link to a page with the full policy should be listed in the footer of your website.
There are templated pages for Privacy Policies, Website terms & Conditions, and Terms of Purchase within each Website Template in the Site Café (aka my website template shop.)
HOW TO ADD YOUR WEBSITE POLICIES:
Grab your website template from The Site Café.
Select the right Privacy Policy Template Bundle from The Contract Shop.
Then you’ll customize your website template.
(I have created “Brew Instructions” to help you every step of the way!)Customize your Policies
(The Contact Shop has a guided “Hold My Hand Guide” to make what could easily become an overwhelming process so straightforward!)Then copy and paste your policies into the appropriate pages on your new website template!
And Bam! You’ve got yourself a professional, stunning, strategic, and legally legit website!
Your website is the hub of your business - it’s your goals and dreams set into motion.
Here at Caffeinated Sites, my goal is to help you take the drama (and price tag) out of getting your website launched so you can energize your business aglorify God in all you do.
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