3 Easy Steps to Protect Your Online Empire
Online presence is everything these days. From your website to your social channels to your email list, your e-presence is crucial to your visibility and success as an entrepreneur.
Have you ever wondered: Is all of your online real estate actually safe and secure??
Most of us do a darn good job keeping our physical real estate safe. We lock doors and windows, install security systems and cameras and ask our friendly neighbors to keep an eye out when we leave on vacation.
We put up window coverings to protect our privacy. We know where the boundaries of our property are so we can be sure we aren’t encroaching on our neighbors, and they aren’t encroaching on us.
Guess what? Your online real estate needs the same kind of protections! Without three key pieces in place, you are leaving the door open to legal drama. And it is my mission to make sure entrepreneurs like you don’t make that mistake!
Today, I’m sharing the top 3 ways you must protect your online presence - the what, why, and how of it all. Let’s dive in!
First, you need to have your Website Terms and Conditions clearly posted on your website. Basically, the terms and conditions language sets up all the ground rules for your website. It tells anyone who visits your site how they can and can’t use your content (no swiping allowed!). It covers your online commerce policies, how you handle disputes, and it declares a limit on what your financial liability is in case things go off track.
This is your #1 most crucial line of protection that you must have before going live with a website.
Next up is your Privacy Policy. This lets everyone know how you collect, use, share, store and protect your visitors’ information on your website. Basically, it’s a promise to your website visitors that you won’t share or misuse their personal information, like selling email addresses to spammers. Having your privacy policy posted gives people confidence that you respect and will protect their privacy. Also, failing to have a privacy policy that is GDPR compliant can result in hefty fines. Not good!
Lastly, you need to have a Website Disclaimer. This is a statement that tells people who you are and what you do. More importantly, it tells people who you are not and what you do not do. This clearly defines what you will (and will not) bring to the relationship, preventing you from being blamed for any negative results. It’s like a very important asterisk declaring *I am not a medical professional/This is not an attorney-client relationship/My marketing advice does not guarantee your launch success/Consult a qualified CPA before acting on the financial education I provide…etc, etc, etc.
If you already have these things in place, amazing!! I suggest taking a quick peek at each of them to make sure everything is clear and up to date.
Missing something? Don’t panic! But do take action ASAP so you don’t get yourself into any legal hot water. You can grab my customizable templates via the links below:
Better yet, you can grab the Legal Foundations Bundle and save yourself loads of $$ and headaches! It includes these 3 key contracts, plus 7 other foundational agreements, including a 1:1 client agreement, testimonial release, and more.
You’ve worked hard building your online presence. Take action to keep it safe, secure and drama-free. You will be so glad you did!
