GDPR Compliance for Canadian Blogs and Small Businesses

GDPR compliance is 100% essential for Canadian websites. 

Did I ever tell you about the time I used a mobile coupon to save on some delicious fast food restaurant ice cream and then turned around and tried to print the same coupon from my laptop... all so I could enjoy MORE discount ice cream?

Of course not. Because I'm a dignified sort of person who would never double dip my coupons for a chocolate dipped cone.

But let's say that I had - only to receive a message on my screen which said the limit was one per person. Outrageous! How did they know it was ME?

If you can relate to this kind of ninja coupon tracking fiasco, than you are already on your way to understanding GDPR, a serious piece of European Union legislation that's neither delicious nor refreshing - but 100% essential to the future of your business. 

Photo by Emma Goldsmith on Unsplash

GDPR - that's General Data Protection Regulation - has been hanging around since 2016 but it's getting more buzz than salted caramel soft serve because the deadline for compliance is NOW. May 25, 2018, in fact. This piece of legislation is all about protecting the online personal information and privacy data of European Union citizens. And if you're a kindhearted person like me, you probably think is this a dandy idea. "OF COURSE the fine people of Europe should have outstanding privacy laws! Jolly good!" 

But here's the waxy chunk of sub-par chocolate in an otherwise delicious scoop of fudge brownie delight. This legislation doesn't just apply to European businesses and organizations. It extends around the world, to every single website that receives or potentially receives European viewers.  That's because your website is considered open for business in the EU (and it really is, isn't it? Because your blog posts and such can be read and commented on by anyone from any country) And if you're serving European Union citizens, you have to respect the laws that protect them.  

And that's what GDPR is all about. It's guidelines and regulations and practices that ensure that personal data and private information is afforded the highest levels of respect. For some businesses, the impact will be very technical in nature - like shutting off Google Analytics' User ID Functionality (that's the devilish tool that got me busted on my ice cream coupon quest - it tracks individual users across multiple devices for purposes like limiting offers to one per person - but it can also be abused for privacy violations.) For others it will be more of a theoretical exercise, making sure you understand what's required of you as you move forward with your business. 

For many, this all sounds like a giant headache (maybe even an ICE CREAM headache.... see what I did there?) And we didn't even touch on the non-compliance fines of 20 million Euros!  But there's definitely a cherry on top. With a strategic approach, GDPR compliance will change your business for the better.  It's a challenge, there's no doubt about that, but you've got this. YOU'VE GOT THIS. And if you think that you don't, rest assured. We're here to walk you through the process.

We're proud to announce that we're offering a GDPR business compliance guide, complete with a jaunty 20 page information package that contains 11 key steps for compliance (complete with Canadian and international sources, examples, and references), and a 45 minute consultation to answer any questions you might have for $89.00. Prefer to go it on your own? Our GDPR compliance guide is available through Amazon for $9.99.

This isn't a legal guide. I'm not a lawyer. I don't even play one on TV.

This isn't a tech guide. I'm not going to be fiddling around with your website code.

This DEFINITELY isn't a romance guide. We might be talking Europe and ice cream but that's where the fun ends.

But it IS a fantastic business guide, designed to alleviate your fears, build your confidence, and bolster your knowledge so you can tackle the process of GDPR compliance with enthusiasm and ease.

So what's the next step? Send me an email - vanessa@sculptsocial.com. I'll answer any preliminary questions you might have, book your time slot, and start you on your way to GDPR compliance.  Or pick up the book on Amazon and start today!

Easy-peasy, lickity-split!