Customers Demand Internet Privacy

... and you'd better sit up and take notice! Customers concern over Internet privacy issues is on the rise, and for good reasons.

Because of SPAM and phishing e-mails, identity theft and viruses, it's completely understandable that customers have a hightened concern about their Internet privacy. And it's not only about e-mail adresses and credit card numbers either. More and more companies are collecting vast amounts of data on their customers surfing and buying habits, which could give fascinating insights!

We'll see that more and more customers are demanding to be informed about how companies are addressing these concerns. And every ons is scrutinized to see if they deliver on the promises made. So businesses can better comply, or prepare to be left behind.

How you can assure Internet privacy for your customers

1. Create a privacy policy and stick by it

As said, customers will want to know what your internet privacy and security policy is, so you'd better have one! It should have the following aspects in it:

  • Secure data: All data must be protected by firewalls, virus protection and any other measure you can take to establish data integrity and data security
  • Limit access: Access of data must be granted to as limited a group of employees as possible
  • Opt-in: Always ask a customer for the use of personal data, tell the goal for which you need the data, and use the data only for that specific goal
  • Double check: If you cannot be sure of the users identity (e.g. when they enter an e-mail address for a news letter) have the request confirmed
  • Permission: Never share the information with any 3rd party without the customers permission (don't forget to check the Internet privacy policy of the 3rd party)
  • Customer access: Give customers access to their own data, and an option to change it (this does not have to be online, but is to be preferred)
  • Local data: If you use a local means of storing data (ie. on the customers PC, like cookies), explain why and how you use this information
  • Enforce: Make sure you enforce this privacy policy, if possible by becoming a member of a 3rd party privacy program, like TRUSTe or the Better Business Bureau
  • Children: This is an adult game, do not actively collect personal information from children
  • Change: Tell what you will do when you change the privacy policy

2. Make info available online

Make sure that your Internet privacy policy is prominently available on your site, preferrably from every page. Also, make all contact information (e-mail, address, phone number, etc.) available in the same fashion. You don't want your customers to have to search for the info, do you? They might not find it, and then it's...

Click. Bye-bye!

3. Address all concerns

Even with an Internet privacy policy prominently available on your site, customers will contact you, to double-check that they can trust your company with their personal data. This is no distrust, sometimes customers want to be reassured by a real, life person. So make sure that you can handle all those inquiries, fast and reassuring.

Marjan Steneker is your host at http://www.customerservicepoint.com, your resource on good customer service, CRM, customer service books, help desk software and quotes.

In The News:

pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Stop Spam! New Spam Blockers

News last week that Internet service provider Verizon settled its... Read More

Spam Filters Explained

What do they do? How do they work? Which one... Read More

How You Can Avoid The New Dangers Of Spam

Until recently, spam has been an annoyance, a definite load... Read More

Dealing With SPAM - An E-mail Address Strategy

With SPAM being such a problem it might seem the... Read More

20 Words That Kill - At Least When It Comes to Spam Filters

Spam, spam, spam. It's terrible not only for those of... Read More

The Trouble With Spam Is....

Each day we all face the same challenge. Spam. It... Read More

Wiki Reek-y Havoc

The Vandals are coming! And this time they're after your... Read More

What To Do When You Get Spam

When you go to your mailbox and find pieces of... Read More

SPAM: A Nutrious Food or a Waste of Time?

Unless the filters on your computer are really good, you're... Read More

Take Back Control of Your Inbox: Eliminate Annoying and Potentially Harmful E-mails

Are you tired of spam stealing your time, your money,... Read More

Edating Readers

One of our Australian clients sent out a campaign using... Read More

Phishing for an Identity

Phishing is rapidly becoming on the largest threats to your... Read More

What to Do to Avoid Getting Banned

How would you feel if you found a link on... Read More

Which Spam Filter Is Best For You?

With the number of spam filtering solutions increasing each week... Read More

Is There A National Do Not Spam List?

You may have already received a do not spam list... Read More

Spammer Stole My Email Address?

Do you get bounced, or rejected emails sent by someone... Read More

Im Guilty Until Proven Innocent

No doubt about it."Spam" (unsolicited commercial email) threatens to paralyze... Read More

Anti Trackback and Comment Spam Methods

What is spam ? ... Read More

Why Your ISP Takes Bribes From Spammers

The lifeblood of the spammer is email. They need to... Read More

How to Avoid Spam Complaints in Your Emails

Spam filters are responsible for deleting a high percentage of... Read More

Stuffing the Spammers!

I'm really, truly fed up with spam. Every day when... Read More

Dont Give the Spammers Your Address From Your Page

Spammers get email addresses from web pages using programs called... Read More

How To Stop Spam (Especially If You?re Already a Victim)

Spam. Those annoying, time-consuming emails that clog your Inbox and... Read More

What Is Spam?

If you've been around the interenet any length of time... Read More

Spasms & Spamocidal Mania

Below is a letter I wrote to the following organizations:S.H.U.... Read More

Avoiding the Spam Trap: Get Your Message Delivered!

Your message is not being delivered.If you send emails to... Read More

Get Your News Releases Through the Spam Filters in 11 Easy Steps

In today's spam-filled email world, it's sometimes VERY difficult to... Read More

Do You Know Whats in Your Trash?

A hearty welcome to all the spam fighting filters and... Read More

Evict the Spammers from Your Inbox

Block Spam and Other Email Threats From Entering Your Gateway... Read More

The Fastest Delete Finger in the Midwest!

There are hundreds of thousands of people who are trying... Read More

CAN-SPAM Basics

I. BACKGROUNDThe CAN-SPAM Act of 2003 (Controlling the Assault of... Read More

Why Is Spam Such a Problem?

Spam can be a lot more damaging than you might... Read More

BUSTED: Anti Spam Forces Bankrupt Super-Spammer Scott Richter

Microsoft scores one for the good guysScott Richter, the self-proclaimed... Read More