Guide
What legal pages your website needs
Nobody sets out to write policy pages, but they are part of running a site that takes enquiries. They are short, they only need writing once, and their absence is noticed by the people you least want noticing. This is general information and not legal advice.
Privacy policy
The essential one. It explains what personal information you collect, why, how long you keep it and who else sees it.
If your site has a contact form, you need this.
Cookie information
Says what cookies the site uses and what each type does, paired with a consent banner where tracking is involved.
It usually sits alongside the privacy policy and links from the banner.
Terms and conditions
Covers how your service works, payment, cancellations and the limits of what you are responsible for. More important again if you sell anything online.
For a trade business it also sets out the basis on which quotes are given.
The rest
Depending on what you do, these are worth having.
- Refund or cancellation policy if you take payment online
- Accessibility statement
- Acceptable use if customers can post anything
- Your business details, including company name and registered address
Put them in the footer
Every one of these belongs in the footer on every page. That is where people and regulators look for them, and it takes nothing away from the rest of the site.
We include the standard set on every build so this is one less thing on your list.
Common questions
Can I copy policy pages from another website?
It is a bad idea. They will describe someone else business and may be wrong for yours. Have them written for what you actually do.
Do I need terms if I do not sell online?
They are still useful. They set expectations on quotes, payment and cancellations, which prevents arguments.
Where to go next
Want us to sort this for you?
We build the site for free and look after the hosting, the updates and the local SEO for €59.99 a month on a 12 month minimum. Have a chat with us and see if it suits.
More guides like this
- Grants and Supports for Small Irish FirmsThere is help available for going online. Here is where to start looking.
- GDPR Basics for Small Irish BusinessesLess frightening than it sounds, but it does apply to you.
- Cookie Banners ExplainedEveryone has one. Most are set up wrong. Here is the short version.