3 Tips For Collecting Data Safely Online and Protecting Your Brand

Websites and mobile apps give companies unprecedented insight into customer interests, activities, and behaviors. In the age of sharing, the data you collect and how you use it has the potential to make or break your business. When it comes to collecting customer data, are you the perfect date or the creepy stranger? You want your personal data practices to be transparent with potential customers so they stay in a relationship with you. If they feel like they are being stalked, or don’t have meaningful control over the situation, you may make them less likely to do business with you. Here are three tips for making a good first impression with you customers and maintaining a trusted relationship:

'''1.	Be up front '''

Website visitors and app users want to know how you collect their data and what you do with it. A privacy policy is a good place to start, but you should make the effort to communicate what you do with their data in a more timely, accessible manner. For example, if you have a lead form and will share that collected data with a marketing partner include a short privacy notice on the page. Transparency helps you build trust with your customers.

'''2.	Respect their preferences '''

When customers make informed choices, they should always be respected. If a customer opts-out of receiving marketing communications you should not send them promotional material disguised as a newsletter. If you use third party trackers on your online properties and a customer opt-outs of behavioral advertising you should ensure that their decision is honored on your site. Trust has to be built over time, but can be lost in an instant.

'''3.	Vet your partners '''

Your company’s privacy reputation is only as strong as the privacy reputation of your business partners. You may partner with a wide variety of third parties to analyze and process your customer data. It is your responsibility to vet the privacy practices of these partners to ensure that they meet your high standards. Too often companies find themselves the victim of a business partner’s privacy failure. What your partners do with your customers’ information reflects directly on your brand because your customers trusted you with their data and visited your website. Whether you have a website, mobile app, or deliver a cloud-based service, start with privacy in mind to build long-lasting relationships with your customers.