How to make your website legally compliant

You know there are legal documents you need on your website.  You might have copied some terms you found online or maybe you haven’t quite got round to putting anything on there at all.  But it’s difficult to get to the bottom of what you really need, the terminology is confusing and now the fuss about GDPR has died down, it doesn’t really matter, does it?

Actually, yes! It really does!

Almost every small business website I look at has big gaps in their website legal documents - or maybe even nothing at all! 

There’s a lot of confusion out there. In this article I am going to spell it out for you in very clear terms, so you can take simple action and get it sorted.  Job done!

But before we dive in I just want to share with you why it’s so important to get this right. 

First, of course, there are certain things you need on there to be legally compliant and meet obligations under GDPR and other legislation. 

Second there are provisions that protect you - they protect your IP on the website and also limit your liability in relation to the information on your website. 

Finally, and really important from a commercial point of view - it just makes you look professional and like you know what you’re doing.

If you don’t have your legals sorted on your website, or they are out of date, it makes you look like an amateur. 

It doesn’t need to be difficult - stick with me and I’ll give you the lowdown!

1. YOU NEED SOME WEBSITE TERMS OF USE. 

These are entirely different to and should be separate from your terms for selling products or services. 

They govern the relationship between visitors to your website with your website. They also protect your IP and limit your liability.  We like terms of use!

2. A GDPR COMPLIANT PRIVACY NOTICE. 

This lets people know how you are going to use their personal data (usually contact details) and is essential so you comply with GDPR.

It needs to be up-to-date and a lot of the documents you find online aren’t: so be careful.  

3. A COOKIE POLICY. 

In addition to the policy itself you need something obvious when visitors first land on your site - often a pop up - alerting visitors your site uses cookies and gaining consent and also with a link to your full cookie policy. 

There should also be a link to the full policy in the header or footer of each page.

The ICO has recently issued a new guidance on this which has shaken things up a bit!

In particular, we can no longer rely on implied consent and visitors need to do something affirmative like ticking a box or clicking a button to confirm they consent.

4. YOU NEED THE CORRECT GDPR CONSENT WORDING.

Wherever visitors give you their personal data on your website, for example on opt in and contact forms. 

Make sure you get this right because it will affect the value of your email list - and we all know how crucial that is!

5. SALES TERMS AND CONDITIONS.

All of the things we have discussed so far you need regardless of whether you sell anything through your website.  

If you sell your products or services through your website then in addition you need your sales terms and conditions.  

Now you have started to take action on getting your legals in place, don’t stop there – my Website Protection System has everything you need to protect yourself online.

Want to protect your content as well? My Website and IP Essentials Bundle will give you the lowdown on protecting your IP as well as your online business.