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Starting an online service-based business can be overwhelming. When starting a service-based business, you need to pick your niche, create content, and make sure that you reach and connect with your target audience. And now, you also have to implement terms of service, privacy, and cookie policy — what are those anyway?
In this article, I will share the importance of implementing all three to help protect your business. You have to be meticulous about your policies and terms and with Termageddon you can establish ALL terms and policies without a hitch. However, I strongly suggest talking to an attorney to make sure all your terms of service, privacy policy, and cookies policy are following the state and country guidelines.
The Terms of Service and why do I need it?
You have probably encountered Terms of Service at least 924 times already. Before you sign up, purchase, or successfully fill out forms, you need to agree to the Terms of Service or Condition. You probably asked yourself what Terms of Service are and what does it entail?
Terms of Service is a legal document that entails an agreement between an individual and an establishment. It explains how your website gathers and collects data, the purpose of the said data, and how you disclose them.
To protect your business and your website, you need to implement Terms of Service. You may use it as a disclaimer to help your users understand the scope of services and site policies. In your terms of service, you can also discuss the establishment of your first-party cookies to ensure a pleasant and easy browsing experience.
With Terms of Service you will be able to:
- Maintain a level of authority over your business, website, and your clients or users
- Protect the intellectual property of your site, logo, images, and content
- Avoid copyright infringements
- Protects your business from acquiring liability regarding the services you rendered
- Establish resolution and easier settlement in case of disputes.
Why do you need to have a Privacy Policy in place?
The purpose of the Privacy Policy is to educate site visitors of your website regarding your privacy practices. A privacy policy is an agreement that users and businesses have — this allows your business to gather personal information from users while understanding the purpose of the information collected and its disclosure.
Implementing a Privacy Policy on your website allows users to protect their data from personal information such as name, email, phone number, billing address, and shipping address. Privacy policy tackles the gathered information from data transfers, site cookies, and analytic services.
Here is a great example: If you own a service-based, consulting, or coaching business, you must promote your content and services through email newsletters. But, before you start asking for users’ data, make sure that you have established a Privacy Policy to avoid fines and lawsuits.
Why do you need to have a Privacy Policy on your website?
- To protect the users’ rights and privacy. Your clients and users must be aware of how their personal information is gathered, whether it is shared or tracked. As the owner, you must take precautionary measures to ensure that your users’ information is safe and secure
- Prevents security breaches and data leaks which allows your users to have peace of mind
Protect your users from predatory online behaviors, cyber attacks, and data leaks
Cookie Policy — is it a must?
Yes, it is a must! Cookies are there to give businesses a better understanding of who their potential clients are. This allows companies to gauge the interest of their clients to give better services that are tailored to them.
Now that’s established, there are six (6) types of cookies that you may have encountered whenever you browse websites or pages online:
- First-Party cookies improve the overall functionality of a website. It is set up by the site owner to ensure a smooth browsing experience for their users. These cookies stay on your device to make it easier for you to use the website the next time around.
- Session cookies mean that they are temporary and they only last for a session. As soon as you have closed your browser, the cookie disappears and will never be stored on your computer or devices.
- Persistent cookies stay on your computer even when the browser is closed. It is useful in remembering your preferences for a set period — from log-in details, wishlist, shopping carts, and recently viewed or liked items.
- Third-Party cookies allow third parties to check their ad performance and metrics on other sites. When you click an ad from ABC company while browsing the website of DEF company, you will be getting cookies on your computer that are from ABC company. Also, this type of cookie is running out of style, so you might not encounter them often.
- Marketing cookies are the less invasive sister of Third-Party Cookies. Companies utilize marketing cookies to boost their visibility. You will be encountering ads that are tailored to you.
- Performance and Analytical cookies help the website assess website performance and overall usability.
As a business owner, I know the importance of connecting with my audience. I would need to collect data to create content that is tailored to my niche. In return, I want to make sure that my site is secured so that it will be a safe space for anyone who visits and seeks my offered services.
You must implement these THREE to cover your bases to ensure that your business is safe, your users’ information will remain private, and make sure that anyone who views your site has a pleasant browsing experience.
Are you ready to protect your business? Click the link below to get your Policies to protect your business
