1. Cookie Consent Banner:
When users visit your site, it’s important to show a clear and visible cookie consent banner. This banner should appear as soon as the user enters the website, giving them the option to accept or manage cookie preferences. The banner should briefly explain that cookies are being used on the site, along with a link to your full Cookie Policy.
“We use cookies to enhance your experience on our website. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our use of cookies. You can manage your cookie settings at any time. Learn more in our Cookie Policy.”
The banner should have the following options:
- Accept All Cookies: By clicking this, users agree to all cookies being used on the site.
- Cookie Settings/Manage Preferences: Users can customize which types of cookies they allow (strictly necessary, performance, functional, targeting).
- Reject/Decline: Users can choose to reject non-essential cookies
2. Types of Cookies:
To ensure transparency and compliance with regulations like the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act), you need to categorize and explain the types of cookies being used on your site. Typically, cookies are divided into four categories:
Strictly Necessary Cookies:
These cookies are essential for the basic functionality of the website. Without these, your site may not work properly. For example, cookies that maintain a user’s session, login status, or shopping cart information.
Example:
- Session cookies to remember user preferences during a single session.
Performance Cookies:
These cookies help improve website performance by tracking how visitors interact with the site. They are often used for analytical purposes (e.g., Google Analytics) to collect information like the number of visitors and how they use the site.
Example:
- Google Analytics cookies for tracking user behavior across the website to identify pages that are frequently visited.
Functional Cookies:
These cookies allow the website to remember user choices (such as language preference or region) and provide enhanced functionality. They help provide a more personalized experience.
Example:
- Language or region preference cookies, remembering if the user selected a specific language.
Targeting Cookies:
Also known as advertising cookies, these are used to track users across websites and deliver targeted advertising. These cookies help create a profile of users’ interests to serve relevant ads.
Example:
- Cookies used by advertising networks like Google AdSense to show targeted ads based on user behavior.
3. Cookie Policy:
You need to have a Cookie Policy page on your website that explains in detail how and why cookies are used. This page should cover:
- What cookies are and their purpose.
- The types of cookies you use (e.g., performance, functional, targeting).
- How users can control and manage cookie settings.
- How long cookies stay on the user’s device.
- Any third-party cookies being used (e.g., Google, social media plugins).
It is crucial that this policy is easily accessible from the cookie consent banner, usually through a link to the full policy.