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.

---

The Fastest Delete Finger in the Midwest!

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

Protecting Your Business From Spam

Even being as careful as possible with my email address,... Read More

Stop Spam! New Spam Blockers

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

What Exactly is Spam?

Spam, as defined in the context of computers, the Internet... Read More

Internet Tip of the Week: Outsourcing

It's no secret that the US economy has slowed down,... Read More

Managing Spam in 2005

In 1998, nearly 10% of all email traffic on the... Read More

Eight Quick Tips For Stopping SPAM

If you are buried in SPAM then you're not alone.... Read More

How Spammers Fool Spam Blacklists - And How to Stop Them

Effectively stopping spam over the long-term requires much more than... Read More

The Cybermagic of Whitelists

Before we start getting deep into the meat of this... Read More

Stop Intrusive Pop-up Ads and Regain Control of Your Online Experience!

Stop intrusive pop-up ads and regain control of your online... Read More

Beware of the Newest Activity Online: Phishing

No. I'm not talking here about the outdoor activity enjoyed... Read More

Spam Filters Explained

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

Block Spam with An Easy Behavioral Change

E-mails now have a connection back to their servers. I... Read More

I Must Be The Luckiest Person Alive! Spam

I must be the luckiest person alive! My inbox is... Read More

Block Ads, Defeat Pop-Ups, and STOP Page Hijacking

You're not alone!Who hasn't surfed the web looking for information... Read More

What Is Spam?

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

Having a Bad e MALE Day? Email, Spam, Spam and More Spam

You just sat at your desk, opened your email account... Read More

Are You A Spam Zombie?

Over the past few years you've all become familiar with... Read More

Your Dolphin E-mail Caught In Spam Tuna Net?

Let me ask a couple of questions:If (potential) customers sends... Read More

Ignoring These Tips Could Result in an Inbox Full of Spam

Although there still seem to be some differences among the... Read More

Corporate Email Policies Lower Unnecessary Legal and Security Risks

What comes to your mind when you think about your... Read More

5 Zero-Cost Spam Prevention Tools For All Situations!

Anyone who uses email knows what Spam is!It's annoying and... Read More

How Spammers Fool Whitelists - And How to Stop Them

Effectively stopping spam over the long-term requires much more than... Read More

FTC Botches Fight on SPAM, Microsoft Takes Over the Battle

While the Federal Trade Commission is busy fighting over definitions... Read More

How You Can Avoid The New Dangers Of Spam

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

Six Tips to Get Rid of Spam Email

1. Ignore Spam EmailDo not open an unsolicited email. Spammers... Read More

Bayesian Spam Filters Explained

In a word Bayesian spam filters are "intelligent". Bayesian spam... 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

Internet Tip of the Week: Cease and Desist

While we all admit that unsolicited commercial email is a... Read More

The War on Spam: Google Fights Back

Google is engaged in a war. It is a war... Read More

Im Guilty Until Proven Innocent

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

Internet Tip of the Week: Information Overload

We receive so much information on the Internet, especially via... Read More

How to Write a Privacy Policy

A Privacy Policy can be defined as the policy under... Read More