6 places to put your new privacy policy
Updated: Jan 31, 2022
Now that you know you need a privacy policy or maybe even grabbed a template from the Shop, where should you put it?
Make a shareable link
In short, most privacy laws say the policy has to be easy to locate and easy to access. So first, we have to create a link for it. I’ve got 2 options for you here.
Make a publicly viewable Google Doc with the policy and grab the link & QR code that sucker
If you have a google account, you have access to their version of Word called Docs. The great thing about Docs is that it's already online so it is inherently a link. You just have to make it public.
So move your privacy policy into a Doc.
Name it 'Privacy Policy
Then click on the blue 'Share' button in the upper left-hand corner (on a desktop) and click on "change to anyone with the link". Make sure it's set to 'Viewer' only so bots can't start leaving you nasty comments on your privacy policy.
In the end, it should look like this.
Now just copy the link above and you’re good to go.
If you don't like that option, then you can get more tech with option 2 below.
2. Create a standalone page on your website that includes the policy
If you’re tech-savvy enough to edit your own website, have one of those drags and drop sites, or have a website person, this part's easy. Send them your customized privacy policy text and tell them to make a new page with the slug ‘privacy’. Then you’ve got a personalized static link that you can use to drop your privacy policy all over the web.
Now, just throwing up the page or the google doc likely won’t do anyone any good unless you link that somewhere, so where should you link it?
Put it in all the right places
A privacy policy goes anywhere that people give you information. Depending on how your business is set up, that could be a LOT of places. But here are a few very common spots it should go:
Link on the footer of your website
The footer is the bottom part of your website that shows up on every single page. Putting a link to it here will make sure anyone who needs to can find your privacy policy.
If you’ve got an endless scrolling situation where you never get to the bottom of your site *cough Pinterest cough*, your side menu is a great option to turn into a footer. You can also lump your privacy policy in with the terms and conditions of your site, just like Pinterest here.
About us section
If you already have the footer, this may be repetitive, but it’s not a bad idea either way. How you treat your potential customers' information is certainly a reflection of who you are as a businesswoman and reflects on the values of your company.
Any newsletter or freebie opt-in pages, sales pages, webinar registration pages, pop-up email request, etc
Basically, anywhere that you ask for someone's consent to contact them in the future or get more information about them. Because consent is sexy.
‘Contact’ forms
Although customers make a choice to give you info, it’s always good to give them the chance to see what you are going to do with it.
Throw in a short link somewhere near the ‘submit button
Checkout
Arguably this is where some of the most personal data you get from your customers comes from, so let’s be sure to tell them it's in safe hands.
*Notice how most of these require the customer to check the box that gets them to agree to the privacy policy and the terms and conditions? Europe demands that check box and it’s the internet equivalent of them signing a contract on your desk and the best protection you're going to have against a customer complaint or chargeback later on.
**Don’t have terms and conditions? That's another series.
Footer of your customer emails
If you’re asking for folks to give you information or even just respond to your emails, it's a great idea to go ahead and link that policy puppy in these too.
This isn’t a complete list. It’s just some ideas, but the basics are to throw that privacy policy link anywhere that customer data is being requested. Virginia’s new Consumer Data Protection Act requires it. The California Consumer Privacy Act and the EU’s GDPR require it.
Plus, when you ask for permission before sliding into someone's inbox, they will probably let you hang around a little longer that way. And the longer they let you hang around, the more likely you are to get that discovery call or webinar attend or website visit that leads to more $$$ in your pocket!
If any of this made you rethink your policy on privacy policies, you can grab a lawyer-approved privacy policy over at the shop for 1/10th of what it would cost to have a lawyer write one just for you.
**Disclaimer: This is only general information, not legal advice specific to your situation, and does not create a client-attorney relationship between you and Samantha Bradshaw, a Virginia licensed small business lawyer, or InLine Legal, a 100% virtual law firm. If you need legal advice, please contact a lawyer in your area.
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