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What does GDPR mean for your website?

If you own a business website, it’s essential that you’re up to date with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This represents four years of EU-wide effort to bring the Data Protection Act up to date in an increasingly digital world.

What does GDPR mean? GDPR gives people a far greater degree of control over the way that they allow organisations to save and make use of their data. Crucially, it also brings in hefty fines for any business that doesn’t stick to the rules or which has a data breach. It applies all across the EU – so Brexit isn’t a ‘get out of jail’ card!

Why has GDPR been brought into law?

Basically, the pace of change online means that organisations have been able to use – and sometimes abuse – individual data in ways never dreamed of when the original data protection acts were created across the EU. Tech giants and the Cambridge Analytica Scandal are just two notable reference points! GDPR also acts to standardise regulation in the field across the EU as a whole for consistency of approach. At the same time, the new act gives organisations far greater clarity over how they need to behave.

When does GDPR come into effect?

The GDPR is enforced across all EU member states as of 25th May this year. It’s a regulation too – which means that it applies in the UK automatically.

What happens if my business doesn’t comply with GDPR?

Hefty fines can be levied – both if you are found not to be compliant or if your business experiences a data breach. Fines of up to 20 Million Pounds or 4% of a business’s annual turnover have been specified.

Who does GDPR apply to?

GDPR Applies to all organisations that control or process data. Data controllers define how data is gathered and processed and how processors carry it out. So the act applies to all businesses – profit or non-profit, government organisations and charities who deal with any kind of personal data. Data controllers who outsource work to processors retain responsibility for the compliance of their customer data.

What does data processing look like within GDPR?

The key driver is that controllers must guarantee that all personal data that they hold is being processed transparently, lawfully and for a clear and defined purpose. Crucially, once that purpose has been achieved, the data should be removed and deleted.

The question of consent

One highly visible and vital aspect of the new regulation is the issue of consent. Pre-ticked consent boxes simply won’t suffice anymore. Data usage consent must now be affirmative and active by the customer. If you have started to receive emails from subscriber lists that you follow asking you whether you want to continue to receive communications, this is an example of GDPR being implemented. The controller must then keep a full record of when consent was obtained from an individual. The individual can then withdraw this consent at any point, and it must be fulfilled.

What is personal data now?

The definition of personal data has greatly expanded and it can even include IP addresses. It can also include cultural, mental health and economic information.

The right to be forgotten

GDPR also introduces the right to be forgotten, which allows individuals to request that their personal data be wholly and completely deleted from corporate records. Remember, if the regulation is now followed or a data breach occurs, heavy fines can follow.

Get the help that you need

If you aren’t yet up to speed with the changes needed on your business website before the new regulation goes live in May, we are offering a website GDPR 7-point update for just £99. Get in touch if you want to know more.

In our modern day and age, opportunities abound, and lots of them come from the internet. Yes, there are those who resent the moral decline of our teenagers and the evils of technology, but for most people, having access to the online world entails only good things: improved relationships with long distance friends and family, an easier and more streamlined day-to-day existence, and lots of chances for the entrepreneurial to make their mark on the world, including starting an eCommerce store.

At Design Box Media, we’re big fans of it, as you might imagine from our line of work. We see what people can achieve with an internet connection and eCommerce websites are something of a speciality for us.

Here to help those who need it, we’ve picked up some great e-commerce store tips and tricks along the way, so before you consider breaking into the business yourself, here are a few hard-earned insights you might find helpful when starting an eCommerce store…

#1: The customer is always right

Good customer service is a must for any successful business, and eCommerce enterprises will find they’re no exception to this rule – in fact, they’re probably even more bound by it than most.

The thing is that most people want just a few things from you, but if you fail to deliver on these, you’re highly likely to disappoint, and in doing so, to find yourself being criticised online.

The best way to avoid this is simple: provide a strong client experience from the word ‘go’. This means ensuring an easy checkout, quick posting, and a cost-effective but competent couriering service too. On the odd occasion that you do get it wrong, don’t quibble – apologise and try to make amends instead.

Even if an incident arises where you have been at fault to the customer or vice-versa, instead of using it as a mistake to dwell on, use it as a lesson that will allow you to ensure a more positive experience for customers moving forward.

It is important to take criticism in your stride and communicating your acceptance to learn from that criticism and improve upon it is something that can even turn a leaving customer into a returning one once again.

#2: Be explicit

Rule number two is another that should be obvious but sometimes isn’t. You need to be explicit with regards to your website content. Whereas a product bought in-store is available for inspection, buying remotely is a whole other ballgame.

People want to know exactly what they’re purchasing before they take the plunge. Make absolutely certain that any important information is included in your listing. You’re more likely to make a sale and less likely to find an item winging its way back to you.

This can go beyond just simply describing your product clearly. You need to ensure that the images of your products are high-quality images that are exactly as the product will appear in the hands of the customer.

Furthermore, there needs to be alt descriptions provided for each image in order to improve accessibility on your website.

This is partly because you need to consider people who may have disabilities that make it difficult for them to see certain images.

One more thing to bare in mind when it comes to being explicit with your product information is to ensure that the product is described well both on the page as well as within the title and meta description.

If you outline the specific features of the product, it is not only likely to catch more attention, but it will also reassure the customer as there are more areas that confirm the details of the product.

#3: Utilise every available opportunity

Last but not least, make sure you use the opportunities that are open to you when starting an eCommerce store. The internet provides a fantastic platform for raising your brand profile, but only if you take advantage of it.

One of the best things to take advantage of is Google shopping Ads. As some searches related to products will appear right at the top of SERPs, it is important to strategize around this so you can improve your chance of visibility for your products to prospective customers.

Market yourself, make the most of the free advertising offered by social media platforms, and be sure to brush up on invaluable skills like search engine optimisation and social media strategy.

We hope these tips for starting an ecommerce store will help you with your path to success. To learn how Design Box Media could help you with your eCommerce store, get in touch with our team today.

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