Why Website Policies Matter
And what you risk by skipping them
For many small business owners, website policies feel like boilerplate. But with privacy laws evolving across states and countries, having the right policies in place isn’t just a formality—it’s a legal and operational necessity.
At Cloverjet, we help our clients understand not just the tech side of their website, but also what needs to be in place to keep it compliant and trustworthy. Whether you’re using advanced analytics, offering online scheduling, or collecting emails through a form, you’re likely required to disclose how that data is handled.
Here’s what you need to know.
1. Privacy Policy
This is the most important policy your website should have.
A Privacy Policy outlines how your site collects, uses, and shares personal information—things like names, email addresses, and IPs. Most modern websites collect this information just by using forms, analytics, or embedded content.
Why it matters:
- Multiple state laws in the U.S. now require it—even if you’re not based in that state
- Third-party tools like Google Analytics require it
- Fines for non-compliance can start at $2,500 per visitor
Even if you’re a small operation, you are not exempt.
2. Terms of Service
This policy protects you by setting the ground rules for how your website is used.
It can help limit your liability for things like:
- Broken third-party links
- Users misusing your content or features
- Accidental copyright infringement
If your site links out to external tools, blogs, or embeds content (like YouTube videos), this policy adds a legal buffer.
3. Disclaimers
If your website includes product recommendations, affiliate links, or general advice (especially health or financial), you need a disclaimer.
It clarifies:
- That you’re not responsible for third-party outcomes
- That your advice does not substitute for professional services
- That you may receive commissions through affiliate links
This helps preserve user trust while reducing risk.
4. Cookie Policy + Consent
Cookies are small tracking tools—used by analytics, ads, embeds, and more.
If your site installs non-essential cookies (like marketing or tracking cookies), you may be required to:
- Have a Cookie Policy explaining what they are
- Use a cookie consent banner to get user permission before they’re triggered
This is especially important for businesses with international traffic or plans to scale.
So What Should You Do?
We recommend using a policy generator service like Termageddon, which keeps your policies updated automatically as laws change. It’s the same solution we use for our own website and offer to clients who want a reliable, low-maintenance option.
Even if you’re not ready to implement all policies today, it’s smart to review what data your site collects and what your exposure might be.
Bottom line: Website policies protect your visitors—but they also protect you. And in today’s privacy-focused web, skipping them isn’t worth the risk.
