Legal Pages Your Author Website Needs: Privacy Policy & Terms and Conditions

Feb 15

Written By Kate .

Alright, authors—let’s get real for a sec. You’ve spent months (or let’s be honest, years) pouring your heart into writing your book. You’ve got an author website set up, and you’re ready to connect with readers, grow your email list, and maybe even sell books directly from your site. But before you hit publish and send your site out into the world, there’s one not-so-glamorous but totally essential thing you need to take care of: legal pages.

Yep, we’re talking about that Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions page.

I know, I know—this stuff isn’t nearly as fun as designing a stunning homepage or writing your ‘About’ page. But these legal pages aren’t just some boring formality. They protect both you and your website visitors, and in some cases, they’re legally required. So let’s break it down in a way that actually makes sense.

If you’re looking for templates that you can purchase for your Privacy Policy & Terms and Conditions click here: Website Legal Document Templates

*I signed up for to be an affiliate for this template because it’s so awesome that I even used it myself. I will get a small affiliate bonus if you move forward with purchasing this template

ALSO ON THE BLOG: How to Get Your Followers to Actually Visit Your Author Website

What Is a Privacy Policy and Why Do You Need One?

A Privacy Policy is a document that tells your website visitors what personal data you collect, how you use it, and who you share it with.

If you have any kind of form on your site—whether it’s an email sign-up, a contact form, or a shop checkout—you’re collecting personal data. That means you need a Privacy Policy.

But wait, there’s more! Even if you don’t collect personal info yourself, your website might be using cookies, tracking tools (like Google Analytics), or embedded content (like YouTube videos). These can still gather visitor data, and privacy laws require you to disclose this information.

Laws That Require a Privacy Policy

Depending on where you and your website visitors live, different laws might apply to your site. Here are a few major ones:

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) – If you have website visitors from the EU, you must disclose what data you collect and how it’s used.
California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) – If you get visitors from California, you need to let them know what data you collect and give them an option to opt out.
Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) – If you're in Canada, this law applies to you.

Even if you think, “Well, I’m just an author, I don’t need to worry about this,” you probably do because your website is accessible to a global audience. Better safe than sorry, right?

What to Include in Your Privacy Policy

Your Privacy Policy should cover:

What personal data you collect (names, email addresses, payment details, etc.)
How you collect it (contact forms, email sign-ups, cookies, etc.)
Why you collect it (to send newsletters, process payments, analyze traffic, etc.)
Who you share it with (third-party services like email providers or payment processors)
How users can request to see or delete their data

Not sure how to write one? You can find free Privacy Policy generators online, but for full legal protection, consider using a professional template or hiring a lawyer.

ALSO ON THE BLOG: Before You Self-Publish: Expert Answers to your top questions

What Are Terms and Conditions (T&C), and Do You Need Them?

Terms and Conditions (sometimes called Terms of Service) outline the rules for using your website. While they’re not legally required, they can help protect your business by setting clear guidelines for visitors and customers.

Why Authors Need Terms and Conditions

If your website has any of the following, a Terms and Conditions page is a very good idea:

A blog (you’ll want to set copyright rules for your content)
A shop (you need to outline refund policies, payment terms, etc.)
Affiliate links (you should disclose your relationships with brands)
User-generated content (like blog comments or forums)

Your T&C page can help prevent misunderstandings, limit liability, and protect your intellectual property. In other words, it’s a legal safety net for your website.

What to Include in Your Terms and Conditions

Here’s what your T&C page should cover:

Ownership of Content – Let visitors know that your words, images, and branding belong to you (and shouldn’t be copied without permission).
User Responsibilities – Explain what visitors can and can’t do on your site.
Payment & Refund Policies – If you sell anything on your site, make sure your refund and payment policies are crystal clear.
Affiliate Disclosure – If you use affiliate links (like Amazon Associates), you’re legally required to disclose this.
Disclaimers & Liability Limitations – Protect yourself by stating that you’re not responsible for how people use your content.

If you’re not sure where to start, you can find T&C templates online, but again, a legally sound template from a lawyer is best.

Where to Put These Pages on Your Website

Once you’ve created your Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions, you need to make sure they’re easy to find. Best practice? Put links to them in your website footer. That way, they’re always accessible, but they don’t clutter your main navigation.

If you’re collecting email addresses, include a quick note in your sign-up form like “By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy.” This adds an extra layer of transparency and compliance.

Interested in Seeing examples of where I placedthe Privacy Policy & Terms & Conditions? Check out my author website templates

Final Thoughts: Make Your Author Website Legally Legit

I get it—this isn’t the most exciting part of building your author website. But having these legal pages in place gives you peace of mind, protects your business, and keeps you in compliance with global privacy laws.

So, do yourself (and your readers) a favor—add a Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions page to your site today. Your future self will thank you.

And if you’re feeling overwhelmed? Don’t stress. There are plenty of tools and templates out there to help you get this done quickly and easily.

Now, go forth and build that author empire—with legally legit foundations!

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