A privacy policy and terms of services are essential documents on any website. It details your website's governing policies, terms and conditions applied to visitors/users, and procedures for collecting information from them.
Hence, both documents are technically legal. Therefore, they should be accurate and easy to interpret.
The articles will help you understand the privacy policy, terms of services, and why a website necessarily has both.
Privacy policy
A legal statement explains how a website collects, handles, processes, and secures the personal data of its customers. Moreover, a privacy policy should be clear and have a simple language so your visitors understand it correctly.
Know our privacy policy by clicking here.
What to include in your privacy policy?
A privacy policy informs visitors about the information collected, method of collection, storage of information, and contact details. So let's discuss in detail,
What types of information do a website collects?
The collection of data depends on the purpose of your website and customer, such as,
- First name and last name
- Email address
- Contact number
- Age and sex
- Nationality
- Credit card details
Furthermore, some other details can also be collected depending on the action of users.
How does a website use users' information?
The information that is collected must be secure and used legally. In addition, users should be informed about how the information is gathered on your website. Therefore, the process of personally identifying and non-personally identifying information must be written in the privacy policy so that your users stay informed.
How and when does a website share your information?
Every website or company collects your details when you signup for their services. Websites use statistics to determine their services' progress and users' behavior. When you visit a website's privacy policy, you understand how and under what circumstances a customer's information is disclosed.
How can a user contact a website when needed?
It is essential to allow your users to contact you if they have a query. The way of access should be transparent; either include your email address or a real-world address, or both.
Reasons why you should have a privacy policy for your website?
- Trust-building
- Its a legal and third-party obligation
- To protect what you own
- To reduce the risk of legal battles
To read more about the necessity of a privacy policy, click here.
Terms of services TOS (terms and conditions)
Website creation has never been easier with any software. However, once you build your website, it is vital to set terms and conditions and legal contracts with your visitors/users; you must have rules that users agree to and follow.
Know our terms of services by clicking here
What to include in your terms of services TOS?
Website intellectual property rights
Set terms and conditions to ensure you own your intellectual property on websites such as music, photos, written content, and graphics. It must have shown your ownership or the one who owns certain content you share on your blog. Yet to protect your intellectual property, use copyright and trademark.
Limitation of liability
You are legally accountable for whatever happens on your website; however when you can limit liability to protect yourself from any defamatory posting on your website. Limitation of liability is crucial if you are a website that allows user-generated content. If not, you could have to pay expensive fines for one's original work. Therefore, create a list of responsibilities regarding commenting on your blog posts or products.
Transparent service or product terms
If you are a business platform, you should include a clear description of the product/service, minimum delivery time, and supply conditions. Moreover, you should adequately inform your customers about your product's return policies and under what circumstances it can be canceled. So the privacy, security, and return policies must be defined appropriately.
The terms of payment
You should accurately state the product or service prices and locate where your customers can find them. Everything must be clear to the user, from retail prices to taxes and shipping charges.
Changes to the TOS
If ever you need to amend your terms and conditions, then make sure you include a clause where you mention how customers may be notified about those changes.
Rules and regulations of conduct
Your visitors/users should be familiar with the terms of conduct while interacting with your website. Therefore, make a set of rules obvious so your customer will follow them to access your services and products. Moreover, you set penalties for violations.
Users' rights and responsibilities
A set of does and don'ts can help your user better experience your services. So it is your responsibility to make their limitations and restrictions clear.
Termination and banning
Terms and conditions must include a clause that clearly states when, why, and how someone can be banned or terminated from using your services.
Legal disclaimer
To protect your privacy and security, you must offer a legal disclaimer where you limit your responsibility and set liability to the user for specific actions.
Governing laws
It would help if you mentioned where your website operates in terms and conditions, such as which province/state and country's laws govern your TOS.
Reasons why you should have terms and conditions for websites?
- You can legally own your content
- You can prevent abuse from users
- You can easily limit liability
- You can set governing laws
- You can terminate abusive accounts
Take away
Bulletproof your website with legal documentation. If you have a website or software application, we highly recommend that you must have a privacy policy, a set of terms of services, and a comprehensive list of terms and conditions. However, you can use online policymakers and terms & conditions generators for your website, blog, eCommerce store, or app.
