Finale WebsitesGuide
Cookies and privacy notices for a small business site, in plain words
What a cookie notice and a privacy notice are for, and why they should match what your site really does. General information, not legal advice.
A note first
This is general information about how websites work, not legal advice. Rules differ by place and change over time. If you are unsure about your own situation, ask a lawyer.
What a privacy notice is
It tells visitors what your site collects (for example, what someone types into a contact form), why, who sees it and how they can ask about it. It should describe what your site actually does, not what a template says.
What a cookie notice is
Cookies are small files a site can store in a visitor's browser. Some are needed for the site to work. Others are used for statistics or advertising. A cookie notice explains which ones a site uses. A site that sets none, and loads no advertising or tracking tools, can say so plainly.
Why the notices must match the site
A notice that says one thing while the site does another is worse than none. Whenever a tool is added, such as a map, a chat widget or an analytics script, the notices should be checked again. This is part of what we do each month for the sites we run.