The 3 must-do’s for handling
personal data on your website
Have you ever entered a giveaway or signed up for a newsletter, only to discover your inbox suddenly flooded by companies you have never heard of? That happened to me recently, and it left me feeling a little misled.
Here is what happened: I received an email from a company I trust and have purchased from before. They were running a giveaway, so I clicked the “Enter to Win” button and filled out the form. Just before submitting, I noticed the fine print:
By entering this giveaway you agree to receive email communication from all participating brands.
Technically, they followed the rules. The disclosure was there, the privacy policy existed, and they even had a checkbox to confirm agreement. But as a user, my trust took a hit.
This experience highlighted 3 simple things every website should do to earn and keep trust when asking for personal information:
1. Be clear about how information will be used
Visitors should know upfront how their data will be used and what they will get in return. If the giveaway had said early on that “you will be hearing from our partner brands, and here is why that is a benefit,” I may have felt more confident about entering.
2. Only ask for what you really need
Keep forms simple. If you only need a name and email to enter, do not ask for birthday, gender, or extra details unless you can explain why. People hesitate when they see unnecessary fields, and that hesitation erodes trust.
3. Have a clear privacy policy and be proactive about it
Every site needs a privacy policy and terms that reflect how information is handled. But go further by highlighting the key points instead of burying them in legal text. Being proactive shows respect and prevents visitors from feeling deceived.
Final thought
Trust is the foundation of every online relationship. When people feel confident in how you handle their personal information, they are more likely to engage with your brand, share honestly, and stick with you long term.
Further reading
- PIPEDA requirements in brief – Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada
- Privacy Guide for Businesses – Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada (PDF)