How to Create GDPR-Compliant Popups: Tips for Privacy and Trust

Do the popups on your website follow the law? Ensuring your website complies with GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) can feel overwhelming, especially when using popups to encourage email list signups. But don’t worry: making GDPR-compliant popups doesn’t have to be complicated. In this guide, I’ll show you how to create popups that follow GDPR rules while building trust with your visitors.

• What Is GDPR and Why Does It Matter?
• What Makes a Popup GDPR-Compliant?
• Actionable Steps to Create GDPR-Compliant Popups
• How to Use OptinMonster for GDPR-Compliant Popups (With Examples)
• FAQ: Common Questions About GDPR Popups

What Is GDPR and Why Does It Matter?

GDPR is a privacy law from the European Union (EU) that governs how businesses collect, use, and store personal data. If you have visitors from the EU, this law applies to you, even if your business isn’t based there.

Violating GDPR can lead to hefty fines and damage your brand’s reputation. Popups, often used for lead generation or cookie consent, are one of the main tools where GDPR compliance is essential.

What Makes a Popup GDPR-Compliant?

A GDPR-compliant popup follows 2 fundamental principles:

1. Respects User Consent

Consent is at the heart of GDPR compliance. Visitors must actively agree before their data is collected. This means:

• No pre-checked boxes: Users must tick a box themselves or click an “Accept” button.
• Active, clear action: Consent cannot be assumed. Visitors need to willingly engage with the popup.

For example, instead of auto-subscribing visitors to a newsletter, include a checkbox that says:
“I agree to receive marketing emails from [Your Brand].”

2. Provides Transparency

Be upfront about what you’re collecting and why. Explain in plain language how you’ll use the data, such as for marketing emails, improving the site experience, or tracking behavior with cookies.

Transparency also means:

• Detailing data usage: For example, state, “We’ll use your email to send monthly updates and special offers.”
• Linking to your privacy policy: Include a link to a page where visitors can read the full details of how their data is handled.

By respecting these 2 principles, you ensure visitors feel informed and in control, and you’ll build trust while staying compliant.

Actionable Steps to Create GDPR-Compliant Popups

Creating GDPR-compliant popups involves taking straightforward steps to respect user privacy and build trust. Let’s break it down:

1. Use Clear and Simple Language

Avoid confusing legal terms or complex wording in your popups. Instead, use conversational language that’s easy for anyone to understand.

Example:

• Instead of: “We require your affirmative action to process your personal data,”
• Use: “We’d like to use your email to send you occasional updates. Is that okay?”

This approach makes it clear what you’re asking for without overwhelming your audience.

2. Get Explicit Consent

Consent must be actively given. This means:

• No pre-checked boxes: Users must manually tick a box or click a button to agree.
• Action-based consent: Include clear statements like:
  “I agree to receive marketing emails from [Your Brand] and understand I can unsubscribe at any time.”

This ensures users fully understand what they’re agreeing to, making the process transparent and compliant.

3. Offer an Easy Way to Opt Out

GDPR emphasizes giving users control. Include a straightforward way to withdraw consent or adjust preferences at any time. Add links to:

• Manage preferences: Let users choose what they agree to.
• Unsubscribe easily: Make it simple to opt out of emails or other communications.

For example, every email sent as part of your marketing should include an “Unsubscribe” link.

4. Include a Link to Your Privacy Policy

aProvide a clear link in your popup to your privacy policy, so users can understand exactly how their data will be stored, used, or shared. Transparency is key to earning trust and maintaining compliance.

Example Popup Text:
“We value your privacy. Read our Privacy Policy to learn more.”

5. Avoid Cookie Walls

Cookie walls are popups that force users to accept cookies before accessing your site. They don’t offer a genuine choice, but rather insist that users allow cookies if they want to view your site. GDPR discourages this approach, as it violates the principle of freely given consent.

Instead, give users options to:

• Accept all cookies.
• Reject all cookies.
• Customize cookie preferences (e.g., essential cookies only).

Providing these options ensures compliance while fostering trust with your visitors.

By following these steps, you’ll create popups that not only comply with GDPR but also demonstrate your commitment to user privacy.

How to Use OptinMonster for GDPR-Compliant Popups (With Examples)

OptinMonster offers several features to help you create email signup popups that comply with GDPR regulations. It’s just one of the many reasons why OptinMonster is the best popup tool available.

Here are just a few of the ways that OptinMonster can help you keep every popup GDPR compliant.

1. Geolocation Targeting

With OptinMonster’s Geolocation Targeting, you can display specific campaigns to visitors based on their physical location. This means you can show GDPR-compliant popups only to users in the EU, ensuring that your other visitors aren’t affected. This targeted approach helps you meet GDPR requirements without disrupting the experience for users outside the EU.

OptinMonster has specific settings for “is in the European Union” and “is not in the European Union.” Because of these options,tt only takes a few clicks to set your GDPR popups to only display in the EU:

2. Easy-to-Add Checkboxes

OptinMonster’s intuitive drag-and-drop builder makes it easy to add consent checkboxes to your email signup forms. Here’s an example of a newsletter popup from OptinMonster. I added a checkbox to consent to receiving marketing emails:

By including a checkbox that users must select to agree to your terms, you ensure explicit consent, a key GDPR requirement. This user-friendly interface allows you to customize your popups without any coding knowledge.

3. Double Opt-Ins

Integrating OptinMonster with your email marketing service enables double opt-ins, adding an extra layer of consent. After users sign up, they receive a confirmation email to verify their subscription. If you use a double opt-in, you should always use the Success View of your popup to instruct your visitor to check their email to confirm. The Success View is the popup view the visitor sees after submitting their email address.

Essentially, users have to opt in twice: once on your website and once through a link in their email. This process ensures that only users who genuinely want to receive your communications are added to your list, aligning with GDPR’s emphasis on explicit consent.

4. Button Redirecting

You can easily configure buttons in your popups to link directly to your privacy policy, subscription preferences, or other important information. This transparency allows users to understand how their data will be used, fostering trust and compliance with GDPR’s requirements for clear communication.

By using these OptinMonster features, you can create engaging popups that respect user privacy and adhere to GDPR standards.

FAQ: Common Questions About GDPR Popups

1. Do I need GDPR-compliant popups if I’m outside the EU?
Yes, if your website receives traffic from the EU.

2. Can I use pre-checked boxes for consent?
No, consent must be freely given and explicit.

3. Do GDPR rules apply to cookies?
Yes. If your website uses cookies to track users, you must inform visitors and get their consent

Keep Every Popup GDPR-Compliant

By creating GDPR-compliant popups, you’re not only following the law but also building trust with your audience. Tools like OptinMonster make it easy to implement these changes without any coding. Start making your email signup popups privacy-friendly today!

Learn More About Website Popups:

• 11 Types of Popups You Should Be Using (With Examples)
• Email Popups That Convert: Creative Ideas to Grow Your Email List Fast
• 40 Exit-Intent Popup Strategies to Keep Visitors Engaged and Boost Sales
• Mobile Popups Demystified: Best Practices for a Better User Experience
• eCommerce Popups That Work: How to Increase Sales and Recover Abandoned Carts