How to Make a Cookie Policy?

Creating a cookie policy involves clearly explaining to users how your website uses cookies and giving them control over non-essential cookies. The first step is to audit all the cookies your website sets. This means making a list of every cookie, noting whether it is essential for the website to function, functional (enhances usability but isn’t strictly necessary), or used for analytics and other purposes. You should also note whether each cookie is set on the server or client side, as this affects how it’s managed.

Once you’ve completed the audit, categorise the cookies and write your cookie policy in plain, accessible language. Each cookie should be listed under its category with key information, including its name, purpose, who sets it (particularly for third-party cookies), and when it expires. The policy should clearly distinguish between cookies that are strictly necessary, those that allow the website to function, which don’t require user consent and non-essential cookies, which do require consent.

To manage consent, you can use a cookie banner or provide settings on your cookie page where users can choose their preferences. The policy should be easy to find, linked from both the footer of your website and the cookie banner. Finally, establish a process for keeping the policy up to date whenever cookies are added or removed, ensuring that your users always have accurate information about how their data is being used.