Why Every Business Needs a Privacy Policy Page

If your website collects any information from visitors you need a privacy policy: names, emails, phone numbers, cookies. That includes the contact form, and it applies at every size of business.

01It's the Law (Seriously)

Laws like the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) and GDPR in Europe require businesses to tell people what data they're collecting and what they're doing with it. Even if you're a small business in Texas, if anyone from California or Europe visits your site, those laws can apply to you. Not having a privacy policy is a liability you don't need.

02It Builds Trust

Beyond the legal stuff, a privacy policy tells your visitors that you take their information seriously. It says, "We're a legitimate business and we respect your data." That reads as a small thing until somebody is deciding whether to hand you their phone number.

03What to Include

Your privacy policy should cover: what information you collect, how you collect it, why you collect it, how you store and protect it, and whether you share it with anyone. It should also explain how people can opt out or request their data be deleted. You don't need a lawyer to write one, but it helps to have someone who knows what they're doing make sure you're covered.

A privacy policy page takes an afternoon. Skipping it risks a complaint you have no answer to, and it is the cheapest problem on this list to solve.