As most people know, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) went into effect on May 25, 2018. This was put into effect to give EU citizens much more control over their personal data and how websites are able to use this information. With these new regulations in place, website owners are scrambling to make sure their sites are fully compliant with GDPR.
What Does It Mean to Be GDPR Compliant?
Being GDPR compliant means not only ensuring that any personal data is gathered legally and ethically, but also that those who protect the gathered personal information must ensure it is not misused or exploited. According to the GDPR website, this is the biggest and most important data protection regulation that has been put into law in twenty years.
7 Important Rules for Making Your Opt-In Pages GDPR Compliant
If you have not yet started working on your opt-in pages, do not waste any further time. Getting compliant as soon as possible is crucial for your protection as a website owner. Because your opt-in pages are the ones that will be gathering personal data, this is where you must begin your work.
1. Transparency is key when it comes to becoming GDPR compliant. You MUST tell your visitors what you plan on using their email address for before they sign up. Making this information perfectly clear is your responsibility.
2. Make sure you allow your visitors to know what data has been collected from them. They have the right to know this information under GDPR so making this change as soon as possible is best.
3. It is also imperative you offer your visitors a way to change their information or opt out if they wish. If you do not give visitors this option, your opt-in pages and website are not going to be GDPR compliant.
4. If a visitor asks to have their data removed, make sure you completely remove it. Once it has been requested to be removed, the data is no longer legally available to you.
5. It is wise to update your terms and conditions and your privacy policy so they are GDPR compliant. Make sure to include information on what data will be collected and how it will be used to the individual has the opportunity to decide if they agree to the terms or not.
6. Website owners need to make sure they are working with GDPR software so they can be sure they are fully protecting the collected data of their visitors. With the right software, you will not have to worry about your visitor’s data being misused in any way.
7. It is also a sound idea to get in touch with everyone who is already opted in to your list to update them about their rights under GDPR. By keeping everyone informed, you can save yourself a lot of hassle in the long run.
Should You Hire Professional Help?
Because of the new GDPR laws, these can affect US website owners. Some website owners have hired professional marketing companies to help them in the process of making sure their opt-in pages are fully compliant.
Hiring a professional can make the process much easier and they can also help with your marketing campaigns. While using white label marketing, they can help your website rise in rank so you experience greater levels of traffic than ever before. The positive results will not happen overnight, but they will happen with work, patience, and dedication.
Conclusion
If your website is not yet GDPR compliant, now is the time to take action. Get your site ready for visitors and ensure you are compliant so you do not run into any problems with the EU laws.
