Do You Need a Cookie Banner on Your Website?
Have you been wondering why so many websites have new pop-ups (complete with cute cookie emojis) that require you to accept certain policies before you continue reading?
That’s a cookie banner, and the reason it’s popping up so much recently is that it’s now a requirement of GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation, an EU law on data protection and privacy that went into effect in 2018)—which makes it an essential component of GDPR-compliance on most websites.
So, in other words, if your website uses cookies (which it most likely does), GDPR requires that you have a cookie policy and corresponding cookie banner to alert visitors of this.
First of all, what’s a cookie? 🍪
Cookies are little bits of data a web browser uses to keep track of visitor activity—for example, saving your password so you don’t have to log in each time you open Facebook, or leaving items in your Amazon shopping cart so they’ll still be there if you close the window and come back later.
By default, Squarespace places cookies on visitors’ browsers to help your site run effectively. Certain types of cookies are required for specific functionality on your site (for example, customer accounts and the e-commerce checkout process require cookies to function).
Other types of cookies are used to help Squarespace collect analytics on how your website visitors interact with your site—information like your website’s traffic sources, unique visitors, conversion rates, and the e-commerce Abandoned Cart feature.
It’s possible to disable your Analytics and Performance Cookies on your Squarespace website (though this will affect key metrics in your website analytics), but it’s not possible to disable Squarespace’s Functional and Required Cookies.
Here’s more information the specific types of cookies Squarespace uses. Nothing out of the ordinary, but still something that requires recognition in our new GDPR environment.
Disclaimer: The purpose of this article is to provide helpful information to assist you in making informed decisions for your business. I’m a web designer, not a lawyer, and this post shall not be construed as legal advice.
Do you need a cookie banner?
Most likely, yes.
If your website uses cookies (which all Squarespace websites do) and your website is used by people in the EU, the GDPR requirements for “cookie consent” apply to you.
Here’s what the GDPR specifies you need to do to comply:
Explain to site visitors how and why cookies are being used.
Receive users’ consent before using any non-essential cookies.
Document and store consent received.
Allow visitors to access your content even if they don’t allow the use of certain cookies.
Allow visitors to withdraw consent (switch off previously activated cookies).
Squarespace’s built-in cookie banner easily meets the four of these five requirements: it lets visitors know that cookies are being used, and allows you to link to your cookie policy, which explains how and why cookies are being used; it’s possible to adjust your site settings to turn off Analytics (“non-essential”) Cookies until a visitor accepts your cookie policy; a visitor could continue using your site without touching the cookie banner or offering consent; and, once accepted, the cookie banner will reappear every 30 days, allowing users to opt-out down the road if they’d like.
Squarespace does not document and store consent (requirement #4)—but, if they’re not too worried about it, neither am I. 😁
How to add a cookie banner to your Squarespace website
Squarespace offers a built-in cookie banner that’s super easy to add to your website.
Head to Settings > Cookies & Visitor Data > Cookie Banner and you’ll see the options for adding and customizing your site’s cookie banner.
Simply check Enable Cookie Banner to turn it on.
How to customize your Squarespace cookie banner
Squarespace offers default text for your banner, but also includes the appropriate disclaimer that it’s simply for illustrative purposes and you shouldn’t assume it satisfies your particular legal needs.
While the default text is likely better than nothing, it’s a good idea to be aware of your site’s actual use of cookies, include a specific cookie policy in your site’s privacy policy, and adjust the cookie banner text to suit your business’ particular needs.
Also in your Cookie & Visitor Data settings, you’ll see a few options to stylize your cookie banner:
Cookie banner type: You have the choice of using a pop-up (small box in the corner of the screen) or a bar (appears along the full length of the top or bottom of your screen).
Cookie banner position: You get to choose where on the screen your cookie banner is positioned—top, bottom, left, right, etc.
Cookie banner theme: Squarespace offers two options for styling your cookie banner: light or dark theme. (Yay! So many options! …just kidding.)
Cookie banner CTA type: You have a choice if you’d like consent to be provided via a text link, a button, or “icon”—which means the X to close out the window.
Note: This is also where you’ll disable Squarespace Analytics Cookies, if you choose to do so—more on that below.
What to include in your cookie banner
Exactly what you include in your cookie banner is a legal decision that should be based on your particular business needs and how you actually use cookies on your website.
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to what your cookie banner should say, or what settings you should use for it—but this is what I use and suggest most often:
Explanation of cookie use: Write your own succinct statement regarding your use of cookies and why you use them on your site. I recommend keeping this simple, brief, and a bit light-hearted if it fits your brand (we’re all sick of reading these things, so it’s nice to have a little variety and humor!).
Link to your cookie policy: In your brief explanation, link to a longer, more comprehensive cookie policy in your website’s privacy policy.
Select a consent message: Select a form of consent (text link, button or X icon) and, if applicable, use language that fits with your explanation (for example, “Cool, I accept!”)—keep in mind the button/close icon is giving affirmative consent.
Disable Squarespace Analytics Cookies: This is a little painful, but to stay GDPR-compliant, check “Disable Squarespace Analytics Cookies” in your Cookie & Visitor Data Settings to disable them for any visitor who does not provide consent.
Choose what you want to do with your Activity Log: This information is stored for only 7 days, so many people aren’t very worried about it. Choose what you feel comfortable with for your own site—either disabling it (to be GDPR-compliant), or keeping it enabled (to receive better analytics).
Here are the cookie banners I use for my own businesses, simply as an example. (Keep in mind these are based on my particular business needs and may not serve the needs of your business and the way you use cookies.)
Custom code for your Squarespace cookie banner
As you can see, Icouldn’t help but customize our cookie banners a little more to match the overall site branding. If you’re comfortable using CSS on your Squarespace website, here are some simple code snippets to update your cookie banner:
This is what’s displaying on my site; simply change the values to match your brand.
Cookie banner font
.sqs-cookie-banner-v2 p
{color: #484b49 !important;
font-family: ‘brandon-grotesque’;
font-size: 14px;
font-weight: 400;
line-height: 1.4em;}Cookie banner background
.sqs-cookie-banner-v2
{background-color: #eeeeee;
opacity: .85;}Cookie banner button
(I don’t have a button on my cookie banner, but this is the snippet you’d use)
.sqs-cookie-banner-v2 .button .sqs-cookie-banner-v2-accept
{color: #ffffff !important;
background: #000000;
border: 2px solid #000000 !important;}So, if you’ve been wondering “Do I need a cookie banner and a cookie policy on my website?” hopefully this clarifies the answer for you, and provides some helpful options for styling your cookie banner to match your website’s branding.
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