Most small business owners skip the privacy policy when launching a website. It seems like something only big companies need. I used to think that too. But even if you’re just using a basic contact form, you’re collecting personal data, and you’re expected to tell people how you handle it.
Why It Matters
It’s legally required
If you collect names, emails, or anything else that can identify someone, privacy laws like GDPR (Europe) and CCPA (California) apply to you. These laws don’t just apply to big businesses.
Platforms expect it
If you ever want to run Google Ads, Facebook Ads, they’ll technically require your site to have a published privacy policy. No policy, no approval. I worked with a client last year that needed to add a privacy policy to their website before they could work with a certain marketing platform (I helped them with that).
It builds trust
People are more likely to contact you if you’re upfront about how you handle their info. A basic privacy policy shows you take your business seriously and respect your visitors.
What Counts as Personal Data
Even if you don’t store anything in a database, collecting names and emails through a contact form still qualifies as handling personal data.
Other things that count:
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IP addresses (via analytics)
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Form submissions
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Embedded chat or contact widgets
If your site does any of that, it needs a privacy policy.
How I Wrote Mine
I kept it simple and honest. My site only collects what someone types into the contact form. I don’t track anything beyond that except through Google Analytics.
Here’s how I structured it:
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What I collect: Name, email, and message via the contact form
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What I use it for: To reply. Nothing else
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How I store it: I don’t. The message just gets sent to my email inbox
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Third parties: I mention Google Analytics, if I’m using it
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User rights: I let people know they can ask me to delete their message if they want
After writing it, I had a lawyer review the policy to make sure it was solid. That’s something I recommend for every site, and it’s a service I include when I help clients launch or clean up their websites. You can find mind in the footer of this website
Takeaways for Other Business Websites
If you have a contact form or use analytics, write a simple privacy policy. Don’t wait until you’re setting up ads or working with a client who asks about compliance.
You don’t need a lawyer to write it, but you should have one look it over. Better to catch issues early than deal with problems later.
Want Help?
If you’re building or improving your website, I include privacy policy guidance and legal review as part of my setup service. I’ll help you get a site that’s fast, clean, and compliant — so you can focus on running your business.