Google Privacy Policies
Here’s a quick reminder for those of you who are new to writing and blogging. If you are anything like I was, I know that when you sign up for services you do not read the entire Terms of Service document before clicking the little checkbox that says that you’ve read it while creating your account. Just give me the account already, right?
Don’t be embarassed. It’s human nature.
This usually doesn’t cause problems, but if you’re running Google AdSense on your blog it just might. Here’s why.
Back in early 2008 (I believe), Google made some major changes to their Terms of Service. One of the changes mandated that users running AdSense on their websites and blogs include a privacy policy detailing the fact that third party advertisers may use cookies and other tracking methods in their marketing. I really doesn’t have much to do with your page itself, but with what happens when users click on advertisements in your blog.
The privacy policy itself is made up of a bunch of legal mumbo-jumbo that your visitors probably won’t read, but the link to the privacy policy must be clearly identifiable on your site.
Now, this rules isn’t as difficult to comply with as you might think. There are a handful of astute bloggers who not only analyzed the TOS changes to death, but then turned around and created privacy policy generators and templates that they gave away for free. You put in your website address, check off a few boxes, and then cut and paste the resulting Privacy Policy page to your website. Easy!
Why am I bringing up an issue that’s almost a year old (an eternity in the blogging world)? Because there are hundreds, if not thousands, of new blogs and web pages running AdSense WITHOUT a Privacy Policy. You may not get caught but if you do Google can withhold that check you’re working so hard to earn. Hey, they might even block you from the AdSense system.
Check your blog. Are you running AdSense? If so, do you have a privacy policy? If not, take care of business. You’ll have a hard time figuring out how to make money writing if your website gets blocked from Google’s system!