As a blogger , you have a responsibility to protect your readers’ personal information you might be storing about them. Your blog readers should expect a privacy policy, so let’s go over how to create a privacy policy for your blog that will keep users trusting your blog.  

What is a privacy policy?

Your privacy policy is a legal agreement between you and your users that describes what types of personal information you collect, what you do with it, and how you keep it secure.

Your privacy policy should be easy to find on your website or app. You can add it to your navigation bar or footer with a link called “Legal” and your terms and conditions to the page. You can also name it “Privacy Policy”. But most importantly, it must be easy to find and understand.

A website privacy policy deals with the collection and use of personal information in relation to:

• Submitting an email inquiry
• Subscribing to newsletters
• Submitting comments on blog posts
• Downloading free content such as e-books or other resources
• Purchasing products or services

Do I need a privacy policy for my blog?

You are legally required to have one if your blog collects any type of personal user data in certain countries around the world.

Also, if you are trying to join an advertising network, you may be required by law to have a Privacy Policy in place before they will accept you into their program.

Additionally, having a privacy policy in place helps build trust with your users. People want to know that the websites they use take their privacy seriously. This can help keep them loyal to your business and increase sales.

If you don’t have a privacy policy could lead to fines from government regulators and legal action from your users. We’ll go over some examples of this later on.

What do you need to include in your privacy policy?

A privacy policy for your blog usually includes:

• Information about cookies the site uses and why. For example, does the site only use session cookies (cookies that expire once you close your browser) or does it use persistent cookies (cookies that have a long expiration date)?
• Information about whether or not data collected will be shared with any other companies
• How users can request access to their own personal data
• The categories of personal data your company collects
• The purpose for which your company collects or processes the data
• How long the information is stored
• A statement notifying users that your privacy policy can change at any time. 

How to make your privacy policy effective and compliant

When creating your privacy policy for your blog, it should be:

• Clear and understandable-  Keep the legal jargon at a minimum. 
• Concise – so it is not hard to read.
• Written in plain English – so that it is clear what you are telling your customers/users what information you take from them, why you take it and how you use it.
• Written in active language – so that it addresses the user directly and gives them clear instructions about their rights.
• Easy to find on your website – so that users can easily access it when they want to.

 

Takeaway: A privacy policy can help you protect yourself from legal liability and keep your readers happy.

In the end, a privacy policy gives your blog readers the information they need to keep their data safe from your hands. It’s an easy way to give them peace of mind and avoid any potential legal challenges down the line. Plus, it’s just the right thing to do!

Get your own attorney drafted privacy policy template today.