As the saying goes: “Trust takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair.”
And in this day and age of online interactions and e-commerce, one way a company can earn (or lose) that trust is by how it treats someone’s personal information.
We frequently get asked what info can be collected, what shouldn’t be collected, and all the “whys” that support our answers.
Below are the three reasons we share most often about why the “less = more” approach is the way to go.
Trust takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair.
#1 – More people will fill out your web form.
That’s right! By limiting the number of form fields to collect only the intel you need, you’ll most likely see an uptick in the number of forms submitted.
#2 – Not storing personal info IS a best practice.
There are quite a few types of personal information, and it’s best to avoid storing info you don’t absolutely need.
- PII (Personally Identifiable Information) — Learn more about PII.
- PCI (Payment Card Industry) — Learn more about PCI compliance.
- PHI (Protected Health Information)* — Learn more about PHI.
*By the by, WP Engine (the most popular WordPress website hosting company) expressly prohibits the collection, transmission or storage of PHI on their servers.
#3 – It’s easier to remain compliant with privacy laws.
Protecting personal info doesn’t just protect your customers. It also protects your business.
Over the last few years, several states (and a certain European Union) have passed privacy laws that businesses must comply with or they face potential fines, penalties or lawsuits.
- California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA)
- Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act
- EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) — Bonus: Check out our blog post about GDPR – 4 Steps To Get You Started.
Got questions about all this data collection stuff and how it impacts your website?
The Geeks can help!