Do I Need A Cookie Policy On My Website?
Do I Need A Cookie Policy On My Website?
If you’ve ever wondered whether your website needs a cookie policy, you’re not alone. It’s one of those things that seems technical and a little confusing - but it’s also really important and, in some cases, a legal requirement. Whether you’re a business owner, content creator, or running a personal brand, if you have a website that collects any kind of data, there’s a good chance you need one.
Let’s break it down in simple terms.
First, What Even Is a Cookie?
Cookies are small data files stored on someone’s device when they visit your website. They can do helpful things like remember preferences, keep someone logged in, or track what they’re looking at or clicking on through tools like Google Analytics.
Not all cookies are created equal though. Some are essential to your website functioning properly, while others are used for things like marketing, analytics, or personalised advertising.
When You Do Need a Cookie Policy
If your website uses any kind of cookies beyond the strictly necessary, you’re legally required to have a cookie policy - especially if your site is visited by people in the UK, EU, or other areas covered by data protection laws like the GDPR or PECR.
This includes if you:
Use Google Analytics or any tracking/analytics tools
Embed content from other platforms (like YouTube, Instagram, or Spotify)
Run ads or remarketing campaigns (e.g. Facebook Pixel, Google Ads)
Offer logins, user accounts, or remember form details
Have email sign-up popups or chat tools (like Mailchimp, Intercom, etc.)
In short? If you’re using tools to better understand your audience or improve their experience - there’s a high chance cookies are involved.
What the Law Says (And Why It Matters)
Under data protection laws like GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and PECR (Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations), you’re required to:
Inform users about what cookies your site uses and what they do
Get consent for any non-essential cookies (before setting them!)
Offer users a way to manage or withdraw their consent later on
Just popping a note in your footer that “we use cookies” isn’t enough anymore - you need a proper cookie banner and a detailed policy.
Are There Any Exceptions?
Yes - but they’re limited.
If your website only uses cookies that are strictly necessary (for example, to enable shopping cart functionality or basic site security), then you don’t need user consent, but you should still provide a policy explaining what’s in use.
What Should Your Cookie Policy Include?
A solid cookie policy should cover:
What cookies are being used (and what they do)
Whether they’re first-party or third-party
How long they last
How users can control or disable cookies if they choose to
If you’re using Squarespace, Shopify, or another website builder, they may offer a built-in cookie banner - but you still need to customise your policy to reflect your actual tools and integrations.
Need Help With Yours?
If this feels like a lot to wrap your head around, don’t worry - most business owners feel the same. I help my clients set up everything from cookie banners to custom privacy policies that are aligned with the tools they actually use (without the legal jargon overload).
Whether you’re just launching or refreshing your site, I can support you in making sure it’s not only beautifully designed, but compliant too.
If you’d like to try generating your own free Cookie Policy, you can do so using the link here!