Someone asked me a great question last week, about a new page I added to the blog. She wanted to know why I bothered to publish a new page all about cookies, (that’s browser cookies, not the delicious ones!)
The new EU cookie regulations!
I explained that there was a new ruling here in Europe. It means that every Europe based site that uses cookies, has to make its European based readers aware that the site uses cookies and what they use them for. In case you don’t know, cookies are stored on our Internet browsers and are used for things like the Twitter and Facebook buttons we see on blogs and also for the software that people use, to measure their site traffic. Cookies are also used on sites that carry advertising, sites that have a commenting section and sites that allow you to personalise your visit, etc. As a result, pretty much every blog uses cookies and the massive majority of websites do too.
I wanted to be among the first to comply with the cookie regulations, so the page went up along with a new banner in my sidebar, so people could see it on every page they visit here.
Blogger concerns about cookie disclosure
Over the past few weeks, many bloggers have told me that they are in no hurry to disclose their use of cookies. It isn’t that their blogs do anything weird with them. Their concern was that by being among the first to offer cookie disclosure, they may lose traffic.
Their logic looks like this: Most people (and many bloggers) have no idea that almost every blog uses cookies, so if they make a point of highlighting THEIR policy, before the other bloggers, some readers will wrongly assume the other blogs don’t use cookies. They think this, even though cookies usually make the reader experience better and allow the blogger to improve the quality of their blog.
I see transparency as an opportunity
One of the best kept secrets in business, is the amazing power of transparency. People like the idea that the people around them are being open and honest with them. Conversely, they lose trust in people, who they discover have been hiding something relevant from them.
In my experience, whenever you are gifted with an opportunity to display your eagerness to be transparent, you should grasp it with both hands. This is even more important online, where people often connect with your work, before they have the chance to meet you or check you out in person. Transparency helps us earn trust and build credibility.
Those are 2 extremely valuable assets, which every business needs.