Do You Need a Cookie Consent Banner on Your WordPress Website?

Do You Need a Cookie Consent Banner on Your WordPress Website?

Have you ever wondered if you need a cookie consent banner for your website?

A cookie banner is a pop-up message on the screen that appears when the users visit the website for the first time. It notifies the users about the usage of cookies on the website.

If you are a website owner and your website has cookies, then having a cookie consent banner is mandatory according to privacy regulations worldwide.

So, in this article, we will talk about the importance of the cookie consent banner and how it safeguards you from legal penalties of rules and regulations worldwide.

A cookie consent banner is a cookie notification or a cookie notice displayed on the user’s screen for the first time when they browse your website.

A cookie banner notifies users about the usage of cookies on the website they are browsing and asks for users’ consent to collect their personal information in the form of digital cookies.

The cookie banner should be placed on the website such that it is noticeable and easily accessible. The Cookie message should be written in simple language for the users to understand.

When somebody gets on your app or website, a pop-up appears on the screen. Through this banner, you can let your visitors know that you are using cookies and get their consent for the same. 

However, most of the websites, even before getting the users’ consent, set up their cookies. They don’t wait to get permission or ask for it while collecting the data. 

This results in massive losses and heavy fines, leading to loss of credibility and trustworthiness of the company. In such a scenario, even if there is a cookie banner on the website, it would serve no purpose. 

Now you would be wondering if you require this banner on your site or not. So basically, you would need a cookie banner if you are collecting data from those visitors who belong to European Union countries; or California residents or if your website is functional in any of the countries where cookie banners are necessary.

You are bound by the law to show this banner to your visitors. However, users who are visiting your website or app are really not in your control, and you might also be using tracking technologies, such as social media buttons, WordPress plugins, etc. It would be recommended to have a cookie banner to stay protected. 

Initially, the European Union regulated this matter in 2002 with the ePrivacy Directive. Back then, they made it mandatory for site owners to get consent from the visitors. And, this is when the appearance of cookie banners took place on the internet. 

And then, in May 2018, the General Data Privacy Regulation (GDPR) came into effect and made it mandatory to put up cookie banners, avoiding which would impose heavier penalties and fines. 

If you have not published a cookie notice so far, now is the perfect time to do so. Here are a few things that you must add to the cookie notice banner:

  • A brief explanation of the purpose of cookie installation on the site
  • Clearly stating the use of cookies on the website.
  • Keep everything short and noticeable.
  • Make categories of cookies, usage, purposes, and third-party activities, or link the banner to the cookie policy page.

What Are The Requirements of GDPR?

Before GDPR, you had the liberty to add a banner stating, “By using this website/app, you accept cookies.” However, this does not work anymore. Now, you have to specifically ask the consent to use the personal data of visitors.

On top of that, they must also opt-in to provide you with permission to use the data. In simple language, the GDPR cookie consent policy needs you to publish a cookie banner that would inform visitors about the cookies and how and why their data is being collected. Along with that:

  • You must also provide the chance to opt-out or opt-in any cookie type
  • Get the consent before taking any data
  • Keep a complete record of accumulated consents
  • Let visitors withdraw their consent at any given time
  • Delete the data of visitors upon request

Let’s go through some of the examples of where and how you can display the cookie consent notice on the website. 

One of the most common locations for the cookie banner is the footer of the site. Take the example of The Guardian – the UK newspaper that has put a box in their site’s footer with a link to the cookie policy. 

Footer banner- cookie consent

Header Banner

Another location to post the cookie banner is on the header section of the website. Through this, you can make the banner instantly visible to anybody who would visit your site. In the example, check out BBC’s cookie consent banner:

Header banner - Cookie consent

Corner Box

Some of the companies prefer keeping a pop-up box in the corner of the website. However, to see the box, visitors would have to interact with the same. Financial Times has a similar box on the site:

Corner box- cookie consent banner
Wp Cookie Consent plugin

Now that you know whether you need a cookie consent banner on your website and the pros & cons of cookies. Now you must be wondering how to create one for your website to stay compliant with the laws.

WP Cookie Consent is a powerful cookie consent plugin that helps to build cookie consent banners for your websites. The plugin also ensures compliance with privacy regulations such as GDPR, CCPA, e-privacy directives, and other laws. In addition, it also offers premium features.

Features such as Geo-targeting, script blocker, data request, white label, and Cookie scan. This plugin also helps to make sure that user privacy remains the top priority while being compliant with the laws.

Let’s install the WP Cookie Consent plugin.

From your WordPress dashboard, navigate to Plugins > Add New.

Adding plugin through dashboard

Search for  WP Cookie Consent in the search bar.

Searching for the plugin

Click on the Install Now button.

Installing the plugin

After installation, click on Activate to start using the plugin.

Activate the plugin

That’s it! The WP Cookie Consent plugin is now installed and activated! From the WordPress dashboard, hover over to WP Cookie Consent and click on Cookie Settings

Plugin Activated in the dashboard

In Compliances Tab, Click on Banner Preview to see the cookie consnet banner on the backhend of the websites and make any necessary changes t the cookie notice message.

Banner preview in the backhend

In the same tab (Compliances) select any law that suits your website’s traffic, and click Save & Continue.

Compliances tab

That’s it your cookie banner is now live and is visible on the website.

Cookie Banner live on the website

Conclusion

In a world where digital privacy is a concern, having a cookie banner for your website is essential. If your website collects cookies from users’ devices, then a cookie consent policy is necessary.

Having a cookie consent banner on the website not only informs users about the usage of cookies but also builds trust among users and helps the website owners comply with regulatory compliance.

To begin the process of creating a cookie banner for your website. We recommend usung WP Cookie Consnet Plugin. It is a powerful solution with some advanced features that help to make the right balance between data collection and user privacy.

If you’ve liked reading this article, check out our other articles as well:

Are you looking to create a cookie consent banner or a cookie policy for your website? Grab the WP Cookie Consent plugin.

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