For consumers, the seal programs provide a trusted, independent third party that reviews and hopefully holds websites to a higher standard. They also provide a method of recourse for consumers who have a privacy complaint.

For businesses, the privacy seal programs are a way to advertise your privacy best practices and to gain instant credibility among consumers. The trust conveyed by these programs is particularly important for reaching the large segment of web surfers who are wary of e-commerce because they have lingering privacy and security concerns.

These programs are relatively inexpensive, but compliance requires a fair amount of work, particularly if your business operates multiple websites. Take a look:


Sample Privacy Seals:

Direct Marketing Association Privacy Promise