A privacy policy page is one of the most important pages that an e-commerce business should have on its website. Most of the time, a privacy policy page can be accessed through a clickable link on the e-commerce website itself. Additionally, the link typically takes consumers to a page that explains, in detail, why personal information is collected. It also tells users where the information is used and stored.
Every e-commerce website, big or small, needs a professionally written privacy policy page. This protects e-commerce merchants from legal issues, and it also boosts consumer confidence, which could possibly lead to more sales. However, a survey conducted by TRUSTe in 2009 reported that 56% of small e-commerce websites don’t have a privacy policy page. The survey also revealed that one-third of small businesses admitted to “copying and pasting” the privacy policies from an existing website. This not only infringes a copyright, but it also damages a business’ reputation and creates a risky situation for all the visitors of the e-commerce site.
Tips for Getting a Privacy Policy Page
The best solution is to have a lawyer draft a privacy policy document made especially for your e-commerce business. Of course, small businesses do not exactly have the budget for this, so instead, you could opt to draft the document yourself and have it double-checked by a lawyer to lower the legal fees. Another option is to hire a reputable company that specializes in writing privacy policy pages to create the document for you.
Going the DIY Route in Creating a Privacy Policy Page
If you choose to write the privacy policy page yourself, first study the Federal Trade Commission website. Once you have studied all of the requirements, consider these points in order to come up with a professional sounding document:
- Specifically state what information you intend to collect and tell consumers which portion, if any, is personally identifiable.
- Inform visitors why you are collecting their information, how your e-commerce business intends to use the information collected, and how long the information will be stored.
- Walk visitors through your data collection process.
- If your e-commerce site runs third-party ads or services that collect user data, be sure to link your page to the third-party provider’s privacy policy page.
- Allow users to give their consent on the information collection procedure. Also, make sure customers can opt-out without disrupting their site experience.
- Ensure that your privacy policy adheres to guidelines of The Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).
- State all applicable laws used to govern your privacy policy.
- Provide contact details for visitors who may have questions or concerns regarding your policy.