Our services include support with implementing the Cookiebot consent management platform. Why is a consent management platform worth using, and why this particular solution?
Managing consents for the use of cookies and other similar technologies is getting more and more complicated.
Why do you have to replace the “cookie bar”?
The “cookie bars” used since 2009 actually serve no function. They display a notice about cookie usage along with a link to the privacy policy. You can close the window by clicking “OK” or “x” — and even if you don’t, the cookies get installed anyway.
A user who doesn’t want to be tracked is supposed to “change their browser settings”, block the site’s cookies and clear the ones already installed. Simple? For the site owner — yes, since such a banner is a few lines of code. Not for the user.
But that has changed.
It started with decisions by European authorities requiring prior (opt-in) consent before a site runs its tracking codes. Moreover, the user should be able to refuse tracking just as easily as consenting to it. There must also be an easy way to withdraw consent once given.
To deliver these functions, we need technology integrated with the systems that manage tracking codes — technology that actually carries out the user’s preferences.
The old “cookie bar” won’t do. Especially since, beyond cookies, new technologies are being developed to replace them, and changes to European e-privacy regulations are on the horizon.
Why do you need a consent management platform?
The functions of managing tracking codes and cookies can be delivered by writing your own software, maintaining it and updating it as regulations evolve. Or you can use ready-made SaaS solutions — consent management platforms.
Why is the latter usually better? It’s simply cheaper. In a fast-changing environment of technology and regulation, building your own consent management software is not the optimal path. The subscription cost of a SaaS platform is incomparably lower, and small sites can use free versions.
On top of that — fewer headaches. By implementing a consent management platform, we gain more confidence that user consents will be handled in line with current regulations and will work with newly emerging technologies.
Consent management is also required to configure Consent mode, which Google requires of Google Ads advertisers.
Which consent management platform is best?
There are at least a dozen consent management platforms on the market. They differ in functionality, available language versions, billing models and prices. Naturally, no single one can be declared the best in every respect (you know — “it depends”).
When choosing the platform we’d most often recommend to our Clients, we limited ourselves to those recommended by Google, for which Google Tag Manager provided integration templates, which makes configuring Consent Mode in Google Analytics easier.
We considered:
- whether the system identifies the cookies created by the site on its own (cookie scanner)
- the UX of the configuration panel
- available language versions
- the billing model and price
We chose Cookiebot by the Danish company Cybot, which has all the necessary features, an easy-to-use panel and a friendly flat monthly billing model independent of the number of page views.
Cookiebot’s drawback is that it treats every subdomain as a separate service, potentially billed separately. For sites using many subdomains, we recommend other, equally good solutions. Get in touch with us to learn more.
Small sites (up to 100 subpages) can use the free version. Paid versions, besides a higher page limit, give access to premium features such as banner customization, consent statistics and reports, or data export.
Cookiebot lets you correctly configure opt-in consent for the individual types of identifiers as well as for specific cookies, and it supports withdrawing consents and documenting them.
The consent management widget is responsive and can be adapted to the site’s color scheme:
Implementing the CMP platform
To configure consent management correctly, placing the platform’s script on the site is not enough. Integration with all tracking systems — analytics programs, ad networks, marketing automation software — is also required. The privacy policy needs to be adapted too, and users must be able to withdraw previously given consents.
Otherwise, the consent widget will be a mere dummy that doesn’t fulfil its functions, including those required by law. We come across faulty configurations very often: sites track users without consent or despite an expressed objection, data gets distorted, or is lost unnecessarily.
Anyone can implement the Cookiebot platform on their own. Documentation is available on the platform’s website, and email support is also available. If you need support configuring the Cookiebot platform, ask us for an implementation quote.
