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7 Privacy Policy Tips for Your Website

I recently read that only 5% of real estate agents post a formal Privacy Policy on their websites. So, I did a little test of my own. I randomly searched the Internet for real estate agent websites which asked for information from their website visitors. I found that not one of them had a "privacy policy" posted anywhere on their site.

You would think that, since internet users are willing to share some very personal information via social networks, privacy would not be an issue. However, these same internet users get very wary when asked for any personal information, even when it is just their email address. Strange, but true. They are willing to put family photos on My Space and let you know where they are having dinner on Twitter, but ask them for an email address and the sweat-beads begin to pop out on their forehead.

Why is this so? Because they don't know you and you are the dreaded salesman/woman. Sellers are afraid of you because you may make them sell their house and they know you will sell it for less than it's worth. Buyers are afraid of you because, once you get their contact information, they will never be free of the "hound from h#!!".

Just as you must overcome these fears in the real world, you must overcome them in the virtual world. But, how do you do that when you can't meet with them face-to-face? You give them what they are looking for: a little reassurance. You give them a Privacy Policy. It does not have to be long or complicated. As a matter of fact, you should keep it as simple as possible. I found a great online privacy policy statement generator that was easy to use and only took a few minutes to complete.

7 Privacy Policy Tips:

   1. Start with a "thank you".
   2. Let your visitor know that their privacy is important to you and will be respected by you.
   3. Explain how their information will be used. If you are adding them to your contact database, then disclose it.
   4. Give visitors an "opt-out" option.
   5. Ask the visitor to contact you by phone if they are still uneasy.
   6. Keep your Privacy Policy short, clear and simple.
   7. Link your Privacy Policy to every page on your website.

If you are asking website visitors to share personal information, even if it is only their email address, then consider putting your visitors at ease by posting a "privacy policy" on your website. At the very least, include a simple statement such as "We will never share your information with anyone - ever!" and place it on every page that asks your website visitor for personal information.

Taking this little extra step may convert your next visitor into a prospect, who could then convert into a life long client.

Online Privacy Policy Statement Generator:
http://www.dmaresponsibility.org/PPG/

Pamela Cendejas - Second Self Virtual Assistance: When There Isn't Enough of You to Go Around!

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Posted by Pamela Cendejas, Second Self Virtual Assistance (928) 692-3235 on 06/18/2009 08:54 PM

Comments (47)

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Originally posted at: Virtual Views - The View From Here : 7 Privacy Policy Tips for Your Website

Post is included in group: Website Ideas, Content and Help for newbies.
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47 Comments on 7 Privacy Policy Tips for Your Website

JUN

Good information .. and great way to build client trust

Pamela, thanks for the tip! Marti

Pamela - we are required to provide the following Privacy Policy on our websites:

The Privacy Code of The Canadian Real Estate Association
(I am a / We are) member(s) of The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) and adheres to and abides by the principles set out in the CREA Privacy Code. All employees and sales representatives associated with ( my / our office) sign an acknowledgement that they will comply with the requirements of the Code
The Policy Statement
We only collect personal information necessary to effectively market and sell the property of sellers, to locate, assess and qualify properties for buyers and to otherwise provide professional and competent real estate services to clients and customers.

Thank you for sharing, Susan. Your privacy policy is very short, clear and to the point.

It's also important to remember to include an Opt-Out of any email newsletter that you send out to comply with the Can-Spam Act.

Also, most Realtors forget to include a sign up box for their newsletter on their home page.

Hi Pamela;

Thank you for the super tips, I thank you for sharing with us. Good Luck!

Pamela,

Thanks for the reminder and tips, and then more from the comments here.

You are so right, Mark. When I get a newsletter or other promotional information that doesn't include an easy opt-out, it's not frustrating. It makes me a little suspicious about the sender.

Thanks Pamela

I really never thought about a privacy policy for my website. I checked out the websites you added to your post, very informative. Thanks again

Thanks Pamela,

Very informative post on privacy policies for our websites. Thank you for sharing.

Great information! Any tips on Terms & Conditions?

Reuben

http://www.TurnKeyFlyers.com - Handcrafted "Turn-Key" Flyer Templates! Check em out!

Great idea...I will be checking my site to see if that is already been put their by our webmaster.

I have received many more responses and leads since I stopped making it mandatory for viewers to give me information about themselves before they could see my properties' details. When I go to sites that demand that from me, my first action it to put in a false e-mail or phone number. I too do not want to take the chance that I will be spammed or called. As it is we real estate agents get spammed and telemarketed with the person on the other end using the ruse that "we requested a quote from them" or "we inquired about their services". We must face it, if you force the agent to surrender personal info to see your site, he or she will almost always just move down the list to another that does not make that requirement (or they will give you false info). So what have you gained.

I need to build a privacy policy for my site. I had one with my old HTML site, but hadn't put anything on the Joomla or WordPress sites.

good ideas-

Thanks Pamela, very timely information, we all value our privacy; why not show that we are serious about our customer's right to privacy.

We need to add one to uor site and thank you for reminding me to.

Mike McCann Broker

Thank you for the reminder. You have some great tips and the comments add more helpful ideas.

Hi Pamela -- You touched on a very good point, one which gets virtually no attention, even my website as well! LOL Thank you. :-)

Very good tip Pamela. I am going to have to check to see if this was added to my site.

Hmmm . . . need to check, but I don't solicit information from visitors, so it might be an issue at all.

Very good and informative information..People need to know we are not selling their information

JUN

I think this is a good idea and I will include it as I develop and revamp my web sites.

I think that it is important to have a privacy policy. That said, I need to check mine.

VERY TRUE! BEEN DOING THAT FOR A LONG TIME!

Think about it, do we go on sites and give info out. NOT I!

Great post. .thank you form your valuable tips. Just in time for me, I'm revamping my entire website

Great point. So basic it's something you don't even think about. Thanks

Excellent, now I need to revamp my flat roofing website.

Never thought that at our little ole website, people would be afraid of leaving e-mail, I thought only the big globe business website would have that reputation. But I guess we are all globe NOW.

Good article

I think an opt-out page which the internet user controls ensures the best integrity for your site. It's comforing to the users to know they won't have to contact you when they want to unsubscribe.

Great information - my IDX service doesn't allow me to customize my registration page, so it is a great idea to post the policy on the lower navigation bar.

Michael Russer taught this back in the ancient internet days of the 1990's. The opt out clause is of particular importance.

Great tips. I don't have a privacy policy just because I don''t require prospects to sign up in order to get info on homes. They have the option to set up a listing notifier and I add them to drip mail (weekly or monthly) if they provide an email which they can easily unsubsrcibe from however, if I had the policy and required registration perhaps I would get even more qualified leads!?

Very good insight into the consumers' possible mindset. Adding a privacy policy can only help give a better comfort level; one might consider personalizing their privacy policy, too.

Hi Pamela,

Thank you for sharing this valuable information on privacy. Keep up the outstanding posts.

Jerry gray CRB,CRS, GRI / Prudential Carolinas Realty / Winston Salem, NC

Great tip, thanks!

Reuben - I found a free Terms and Conditions template for you at http://www.docstoc.com/docs/301241/Website-Standard-Terms-and-Conditions-Template Hope this helps!

Fernando - Good luck with updating your website. I am currently writing a mini-course about the main elements of a successful real estate website.

Marian - I'm always a little suspicious of a website that doesn't give me an opt-out option.

Kerry - You might want to add a link to your Privacy Policy at the bottom of every page on your website. If you make it part of your site map, it will automatically be added to new pages as well.

Joe - I would never argue with Michael Russer! He's always been a leader in all things Internet.

Pamela Cendejas - Second Self Virtual Assistance

I thought it was law for the opt out clause that people not be contacted by email if they want?

Great tip, Pamela! I can tell your post struck a note of sympathetic concern with a number of people!

If we're collecting any information on visitors, we owe it to them to post a privacy policy. In addition to a privacy policy page, I find it's good practice to put a disclaimer on every page where we're asking for personal information. It doesn't have to be formal like the privacy policy... I use something like this:

If you're like me, you hate spam. Rest assured I will NOT sell or give your personal information to anyone. From time to time, I'll send you an email with information like you're requesting. You will have the ability on any email I send you to opt out of future mailings.

I haven't had one hit on my privacy policy page in over three months. But it's there if someone wants to read it. During that same period of time I've gotten over 50 leads from the site. Some of them gave bogus information. Most of them didn't.

AUG

Pamela - I think I had read something about this before, and sort-of started one. I need to re-visit this and get a stronger privacy policy implemented. I want to make sure any prospects know that their information is safe with me.

AUG

Hi Pamela! Great stuff here! I like that you start off your privacy policy thanking the client/and or customer. Thats definitely a nice touch. I have had a privacy policy on my site for a few months now and while I initially worried that I had covered the meat and potatoes of privacy policies, like you, I googled it and was able to craft a policy that is fair and forthright. Thanks for posting this one. Everybody should have some sort of privacy policy, especially if they are collecting information on their websites! Thanks again!

DEC

I'm late in the game here, but these are wonderful tips for something that is not used to being in the spotlight...a Privacy Policy. Yet, it's essential for businesses online that deal with the public. I'm re-blogging this...thanks, Pamela! :)

Leilani

Hi Leilani - I'm so glad you found these tips useful. And, thanks so much for the re-blog! Enjoy your day!

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