How to be Google Cookie Compliant in 3 Easy Steps

In today’s modern digital era, ensuring your website is compliant with regulations like GDPR, ePrivacy Directive, the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and CCPA is not just a legal necessity, but it can also be a means to build trust with your users.

One essential aspect of compliance is managing cookies effectively – and no, we’re not talking about the edible types that are good to dunk in your tea. GA4 cookies are cookies, set by Google Analytics 4 that help GA4 recognise unique users and sessions, trace interactions, and collect data such as page views, session duration, and engagement.

In Europe, new cookie changes came into force in March 2024 and are regulated by big companies such as Google who have been nominated as gatekeepers. However, most website owners and managers don’t know about them, nor have they done anything to change their websites.

Failure to be Google cookie compliant could be detrimental to your website with Google saying they won’t rank you in their search results, but you could also get hit by BIG financial fines, like these seven companies for non-compliance.

To adhere to these strict privacy regulations, Google introduced Consent Mode v2 and GA4 which use GA4 cookies, which are like their predecessors, but with an increased emphasis on user privacy and consent management.

To be compliant with these new privacy laws, your visitors must freely give their consent — it can’t be ambiguous in any way. Also, the visitor must be able to withdraw consent at any time. As the website owner, you have a legal requirement to be able to show proof of user consent should people use your website.

These can sound like all complicated stuff I know, but to help our clients, we’ve made this super quick and easy guide to help you become Google Cookie Compliant, step by step.

Step 1 – Install a Plugin:

The first step towards Google compliance is to install a reliable plugin that manages cookies effectively. Head to your WordPress dashboard and navigate to the Plugins page. 

Click on ‘Add New’ and search for the plugin titled ‘Cookie Notice & Compliance for GDPR / CCPA’. Once you find it, install the plugin, and remember to activate it.

Step 2 – Create a Free Account:

With the plugin installed and activated, the next step is to create a free account associated with it. This account will enable you to configure the plugin according to your website’s needs. 

Within your WordPress admin menu, locate the new ‘Cookies’ tab. Click on it and select ‘Login and Configure’. Follow the prompts to create a free account seamlessly.

Step 3 – Configure the Plugin:

After creating your account, it’s time to configure the plugin to align with the relevant laws, depending on your area and what legal practices you need to follow. 

If the configuration window doesn’t open automatically, you can access it here.

Log in with the account details you just created. Once logged in, you’ll find yourself on the ‘Configuration’ tab. 

For your final step, you’ll need to follow the setup process to tailor the settings according to your website’s requirements. By default, the plugin allows you to enable or disable specific settings based on the laws you select at the top, ensuring compliance with both GDPR and CCPA if needed.

And that’s it.

By following these simple instructions, you can swiftly make your website Google cookie compliant (woo hoo). But, remember, compliance isn’t just about adhering to regulations; it’s also about fostering trust and transparency with your audience. With the right tools and practices in place, you can navigate the complexities of online regulations while maintaining a user-friendly experience for all your visitors! 

Give it a go yourself and become Google cookie compliant, but remember, the Freya Helps Me team ARE around if you have any questions or would like to simply outsource the whole process to us. We aim to free up your time and let you get back to what you do best– running your business or marketing department. Just get in touch and we can go from there.

PS, Sorry if the picture has made anyone hungry! We’re partial to a cookie or two ourselves too.