The pages most sites need
| Page | When you need it |
|---|---|
| Privacy policy | Any site with a contact form, analytics or ads |
| Terms of use | Sites with accounts, bookings, payments or content rules |
| Accessibility statement | Recommended for every business site |
| Cookie notice | Sites using tracking or ad cookies, depending on your visitors |
| Text messaging terms | Sites that collect consent for marketing texts |
| Industry notices | Healthcare, legal, finance and other regulated fields |
Why a privacy policy is a must
Contact forms collect names, phone numbers and emails. California's online privacy law, known as CalOPPA, requires commercial websites that collect personal information from California residents to post a privacy policy conspicuously. Your visitors can be in California even if your business is not.
Larger businesses may also fall under California's consumer privacy law, the CCPA. It applies to companies above set thresholds, like gross annual revenue over $25 million. Covered businesses that sell or share data need a "Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information" link.
Industry rules
Health providers covered by HIPAA that run a website about their services must post their notice of privacy practices on it. Law firms often need advertising disclaimers under state bar rules. Businesses that text customers need clear terms for their messaging program.
What a good privacy policy says
- What you collect and why
- Which tools collect data, like analytics and ad pixels
- Who you share data with
- How people can ask for access or deletion
- How to contact you about privacy
Good example. A clinic's privacy policy names its analytics tool, its CRM and its text messaging provider, and explains how patients can contact the office.
Bad example. A clinic copies a policy from another site that mentions an app it does not have and never mentions its forms.
This is general information, not legal advice. Our web design team sets up these pages and links them sitewide, with your lawyer reviewing the text.