The email made my stomach drop.
“Your website appears to collect user data but has no privacy policy. This may violate GDPR and could result in fines up to €20 million or 4% of annual turnover.”
It was from a compliance service—likely just marketing—but it forced me to confront something I’d ignored for two years. My blog collected email addresses, used Google Analytics, and displayed ads. I had zero legal pages.
I spent a panicked weekend researching what I needed and scrambling to create compliant pages.
Don’t repeat my mistake. This guide covers exactly which legal pages your blog needs, what each should contain, and how to create them without hiring an expensive attorney.
Why Legal Pages Matter
Legal pages aren’t just bureaucratic requirements—they protect you and build trust.
Legal Protection
Without proper legal pages:
- Privacy violations can trigger fines (GDPR, CCPA)
- Missing FTC disclosures can result in penalties
- No terms of service leaves you liable for user actions
- Copyright issues lack recourse
Legal pages establish the rules of engagement and limit your exposure.
Credibility and Trust
Visitors notice missing legal pages:
- Advertisers often require them
- Affiliate networks check for disclosures
- Sophisticated visitors question legitimacy
- Professional appearance requires them
A blog without legal pages looks amateur—or worse, untrustworthy.
Ad Network Requirements
Google AdSense requires a privacy policy to approve your account. Most major ad networks and affiliate programs have similar requirements. Missing legal pages can block monetization opportunities before you realize why you’re being rejected.
Search Engine Expectations
Google’s Search Quality Guidelines mention E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Legal pages signal trustworthiness:
- About page establishes who runs the site
- Privacy policy shows data handling transparency
- Contact information proves accessibility
These pages may influence rankings, especially for YMYL topics.
The Essential Legal Pages
Every blog needs these core pages.
Privacy Policy
Purpose: Explains what data you collect and how you use it.
You need this if:
- You use analytics (Google Analytics, etc.)
- You collect emails
- You use advertising
- You use cookies
- You have contact forms
- You use any third-party tools
In practice, every blog needs a privacy policy.
Must include:
- What information you collect
- How you collect it (forms, cookies, analytics)
- Why you collect it (purpose)
- Who you share it with (third parties)
- How users can opt out or request deletion
- How you protect their data
- Your contact information
- When the policy was last updated
Legal requirements:
- GDPR (EU visitors): Extensive requirements for consent and data rights
- CCPA (California visitors): Specific disclosure and opt-out requirements
- Various other state/country regulations
“I assumed privacy policies were only for big companies. Then an affiliate program rejected my application specifically because I lacked a privacy policy. That $50 policy generator paid for itself immediately when I was approved the next day.”
Terms of Service (Terms and Conditions)
Purpose: Establishes rules for using your website and limits your liability.
Why you need this:
- Limits your liability for content
- Establishes your copyright
- Sets rules for comments/user content
- Provides legal basis for removing users
- Defines governing law for disputes
Key sections:
- Acceptance of terms
- Intellectual property rights
- User conduct expectations
- Limitation of liability
- Disclaimer of warranties
- Governing law and jurisdiction
- Modification rights
- Contact information
Common protections:
- You’re not liable for user-generated content
- Your content is copyrighted
- You can remove users who violate rules
- You can change the terms with notice
- Disputes follow specific jurisdiction
Affiliate Disclosure
Purpose: Transparently discloses that you earn money from recommendations.
Legally required by:
- FTC (Federal Trade Commission) in the US
- Similar bodies in UK, EU, Canada, Australia
You need this if:
- You include affiliate links
- You receive free products for review
- You have sponsored content
- You receive any compensation for recommendations
Key requirements:
- Clear and conspicuous (not hidden in footer)
- Before the affiliate link when possible
- Using plain language (not legal jargon)
- Specific about the relationship
Placement:
- Dedicated disclosure page (linked in footer)
- Statement at top of posts with affiliate links
- Statement near individual affiliate links
All three placements are recommended; at minimum, you need the first two.
Contact Page
Purpose: Provides visitors a way to reach you.
Why it matters:
- Required by many jurisdictions
- Signals legitimate business
- Enables corrections/takedown requests
- Builds trust
Include:
- Contact form or email address
- Response time expectations
- Physical address (or registered agent) if required
- Social media links (optional)
Some jurisdictions require a physical address. A PO Box or registered agent address satisfies this without exposing your home address.
Additional Recommended Pages
Beyond the essentials, these pages strengthen your legal position.
Cookie Policy
Purpose: Specifically details cookie usage.
Separate from privacy policy when:
- You use many cookies
- You target EU visitors (GDPR compliance)
- You want to provide detailed cookie control
Should include:
- What cookies you use
- What each cookie does
- How long cookies persist
- How to control/delete cookies
- Third-party cookies (analytics, ads)
Often combined with privacy policy for simpler sites.
Disclaimer
Purpose: Limits liability for your content’s accuracy and applicability.
Essential for niches:
- Health/medical information
- Financial advice
- Legal information
- Any advice that could cause harm
Key elements:
- Information is for general purposes only
- Not a substitute for professional advice
- No guarantee of accuracy
- No liability for actions taken based on content
- Consult appropriate professionals
YMYL Disclaimers
If your blog covers health, finance, or other “Your Money or Your Life” topics, strong disclaimers are critical. They protect you legally and signal to Google that you understand the responsibility of publishing in these areas. Don’t skip this step.
Accessibility Statement
Purpose: Communicates your commitment to accessibility.
Growing importance:
- ADA lawsuits against websites increasing
- Shows good faith effort at compliance
- Provides contact for accessibility issues
Include:
- Accessibility standard you aim for (WCAG 2.1)
- Known limitations
- How to request accommodations
- Contact for accessibility issues
DMCA Policy
Purpose: Establishes process for copyright complaints.
Benefits:
- Qualifies for DMCA safe harbor protections
- Provides clear process for takedown requests
- Protects against liability for user-submitted content
Required elements:
- Agent for receiving complaints
- How to submit complaints
- What information to include
- Your process for handling claims
Creating Legal Pages
You have several options for creating compliant pages.
Policy Generators
Best for: Basic blogs with standard practices
Popular options:
- Termly (free and paid options)
- PrivacyPolicies.com
- FreePrivacyPolicy.com
- GetTerms.io
Pros:
- Quick and easy
- Tailored to your inputs
- Often free for basic needs
- Updated for current regulations
Cons:
- May not cover unusual practices
- Generic language
- Limited customization
- May miss jurisdiction-specific requirements
Cost: Free to $50/year for comprehensive generators
Legal Templates
Best for: Bloggers wanting more control
Where to find:
- Legal template marketplaces
- Blogging course resources
- Business formation services
Pros:
- More detailed than generators
- Customizable to your needs
- Often come with guidance
- One-time purchase
Cons:
- Require understanding to customize correctly
- May become outdated
- No ongoing updates
- Still not tailored legal advice
Cost: $25-$150 for template packages
Attorney Review
Best for: Serious businesses, high-risk niches, significant revenue
When to invest:
- Revenue exceeds $50K/year
- YMYL niche (health, finance, legal)
- Selling products or services
- Handling sensitive user data
- Enterprise clients or partnerships
Pros:
- Tailored to your specific situation
- Protection from current regulations
- Relationship for ongoing questions
- Professional liability coverage
Cons:
- Expensive ($500-$2,000+)
- Takes time
- Overkill for simple blogs
- May still need updates over time
My Recommended Approach
For most bloggers:
- Start with generators for basic pages when launching
- Upgrade to templates as you add monetization
- Get attorney review when revenue justifies the investment or complexity increases
Something is better than nothing. Don’t let perfect legal pages prevent you from launching.
Placement and Visibility
Where and how you display legal pages matters.
Footer Links
Standard placement includes:
- Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Contact
These should be on every page of your site via footer navigation.
Disclosure Placement
Affiliate disclosures need visibility:
- Link in footer (Privacy Policy + Disclosure)
- Statement at top of monetized posts
- Inline disclosure near affiliate links
Example post-level disclosure: “This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through these links, I may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure for details.”
Cookie Consent Banner
For GDPR compliance:
- Display banner to EU visitors
- Explain cookie usage
- Provide accept/reject options
- Link to full cookie policy
- Remember preferences
Many cookie consent plugins handle this automatically.
Keeping Pages Updated
Legal pages require maintenance.
Update Triggers
Review and update when:
- You add new monetization methods
- You add new tracking/analytics tools
- You start collecting new types of data
- Laws change (GDPR updates, new state laws)
- You expand to new jurisdictions
- You add user-generated content features
Annual Review
Minimum yearly:
- Read through all legal pages
- Verify accuracy of current practices
- Check for regulatory changes
- Update “last updated” date
- Document your review
Change Documentation
Keep records of:
- When pages were created
- When pages were updated
- What changes were made
- Why changes were made
This demonstrates good faith compliance if ever questioned.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Protect yourself by avoiding these errors.
Copying Other Sites’ Pages
Problem: Legal pages are copyrighted. They also may not reflect your practices.
Solution: Use generators or templates tailored to your site.
Hiding Legal Pages
Problem: Fine print buried in footers doesn’t meet “clear and conspicuous” requirements.
Solution: Prominent footer links, disclosure statements at post level, visible cookie banners.
Set and Forget
Problem: Outdated pages may not cover current practices or regulations.
Solution: Annual review, update when practices change.
Over-Engineering
Problem: A 10,000-word privacy policy for a simple blog is unnecessary and confusing.
Solution: Proportional complexity. Simple site = simpler pages.
Missing Disclosure
Problem: Affiliate link without disclosure = FTC violation risk.
Solution: Disclose every time. When in doubt, disclose.
Related Resources
For setting up your blog correctly from the start, see how to set up a free blog.
If you’re starting affiliate marketing and need proper disclosure, read affiliate marketing tips for beginners.
And for understanding what builds trust with readers and Google, check building E-E-A-T for your blog.
Action Checklist
Implement these legal pages this week:
Essential (create immediately):
- Privacy Policy (use generator if needed)
- Terms of Service
- Affiliate Disclosure (if you have affiliate links)
- Contact Page
Add footer links to all pages:
- Privacy Policy
- Terms of Service
- Contact
For monetized posts:
- Add disclosure statement at post top
- Consider inline disclosure near affiliate links
If targeting EU visitors:
- Cookie consent banner
- Cookie policy (or section in privacy policy)
Set reminders:
- Annual review date for all legal pages
- Review trigger when adding new tools/monetization
Final Thoughts
Legal pages aren’t exciting. They’re not why you started blogging.
But they’re non-negotiable for running a legitimate, sustainable blog. The investment—whether a few hours with a generator or a few hundred dollars with a lawyer—protects years of work.
My panicked weekend creating legal pages could have been one calm afternoon during initial setup. The stress wasn’t worth the procrastination.
Create your essential pages now. Update them when things change. Review them annually.
Then forget about them and focus on creating content. The legal foundation is built—you can build confidently on top of it.