Reasons Why Your Website Needs a Privacy Policy:
Build Trust
When someone sees that you have a privacy policy, whether or not they read it, there is a subconscious belief that they can trust you.
It’s the Law
Almost every state and country, as well as several state-sponsored organizations, requires you to display a privacy policy. If you collect, store, or share personal data like emails, names, or payment info, you need to explain what you plan to do with your visitors’ and customers’ personal data.
Make More Money
Research has shown that if you are honest and upfront with people who visit your website by providing them with a privacy policy, more of them will do what you want them to do. If you are an e-commerce company, that means that you will make more money with one than you will without one. Even getting people to fill out surveys, forms, and signing up for newsletters is easier with a privacy policy.
Fulfill Third-Party Requirements
Companies like Google and Apple require that you display a privacy policy on your website. Even if you’re not planning on personally collecting sensitive personal data, using a third-party service to collect data or display ads, like with Google Analytics or Adsense, it still means that you’re collecting personal information and the user has a right to be informed.
Don’t Get Sued
As a consequence of not abiding by the previous reason, without a comprehensive privacy policy, you risk the probability of being sued. Delta Airlines, SnapChat, Google and many more companies have all faced lawsuits over questionable privacy policies. Whether you own an online website, blog, or mobile app, you should protect yourself from potential lawsuits.
Keep Your Money
To protect the American consumer, hefty fines are another consequence, often enforced by the Federal Trade Commission, for not displaying an active privacy policy.
Give Visitors Peace of Mind
Privacy policies effectively provide peace of mind to individuals who read your privacy policy. By explaining to them exactly what you plan on doing with their personally identifiable information (PII), they feel comfortable, stay on your site longer, and they may even refer their friends and family to join them.
Why Does Your Website Need a Terms of Use Policy
You are not required by law to display a Terms of Service policy, but it is recommended that you have one in place. Here are five reasons why.
Abuse Prevention
The agreement is a contract between you and the visitor to your website. It sets forth the rules and guidelines the visitor to your website must follow. It helps to prevent abuses.
Content
The agreement informs users that you are the sole owner of the content on your site and that content is protected by international copyright, trademark, patent, trade secret, and other intellectual property or proprietary rights laws.
Termination
If your website makes it possible to register as a user, then your terms of service agreement makes it clear that you have the right to suspend users who break the rules.
Liability Limit
The terms of service usually includes a warranty clause that states that the owner cannot be responsible for errors in content or the information provided.
Governing Law
The terms of service sets forth the jurisdiction that applies to the terms presented in the agreement.