Good question. If you are asking this question it’s because you’ve read enough to know that you need to do something. UK Regulations dictate that users of your website must be informed that you are using cookies whilst they are browsing and be given the choice to accept that or opt out. Perhaps the most obvious question is what exactly are cookies? When you understand this more clearly it is easier to see why this can be a sensitive issue.
Good Cookie Bad Cookie?
Cookies are basically text lines that serve as instructions. They are a means of tracking what you are doing on a website. At first inspection that may sound ominous but really all they do is help the website to remember certain user preferences and information to make your use of the site easier. Autofill within forms or even language preferences are all managed by cookies. So, overall cookies are a good thing. However some caution is required when using or allowing third party cookies. These are often used by advertisers.
There are some excellent resources to help you get started with your cookie policy and implementing it on your website. Go to www.aboutcookies.org for more advice on the law associated with cookies. Alternatively make sure you are using a web designer who is keeping up with UK regulations as they change in this area of the law.