My Local Business Online

Jan Kearney - Your Local Business Online Marketing Consultant - call me 07847 554418

Jan Kearney – My Local Business Online

Helping you get your business found online by LOCAL people

  • Home
  • Problems I Solve
    • I need a website that works
    • I need more online visibility for my local business
    • I want to start video marketing
    • My WordPress site baffles me
  • Why I Do It
    • Privacy
  • Toolbox
  • Contact Me
You are here: Home / local business internet marketing / Cookie Solutions For WordPress – UK Cookie Law Deadline 26th May

Cookie Solutions For WordPress – UK Cookie Law Deadline 26th May

May 4, 2012 by Jan Kearney

cookie solutions for wordpress - deadline 26th May

Are you ready for the new law?

The new EU Cookie law comes into force on 26th May 2012.  I have been having much fun looking for cookie solutions for WordPress.

I’ll be honest, I think this new EU Directive is absolutely ridiculous.  Protecting privacy?  No, just making life difficult for small business owners who have enough red tape to jump through without worrying about anonymous cookies that don’t collect any form of personal data too.

Anyway, we’re stuck with the new cookie law, whether we like it or not. 

Contents

  • Are there any easy cookie solutions for WordPress?
  • What does the Law say about cookies?
  • The WordPress Cookie Problem
  • Cookie Solutions – WordPress Plugins
  • Using other cookie solutions
  • Related Posts

Are there any easy cookie solutions for WordPress?

The conclusion I have come to is there are no easy cookie solutions for WordPress.  The problem isn’t just WordPress cookies, but everything else too.

  • Comments – cookies
  • Social share buttons – cookies
  • Email optin forms – cookies
  • Analytics – cookies
  • Ads – cookies
  • Embed videos – more cookies

The list goes on.

What does the Law say about cookies?

Quite simply, website operators must:

  • tell people that the cookies are there,
  • explain what the cookies are doing, and
  • obtain their consent to store a cookie on their device.

 There is an exception to the requirement to provide information about cookies and obtain consent where the use of the cookie is:

(a) for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network; or

(b) where such storage or access is strictly necessary for the provision of an information society service requested by the subscriber or user.

So, an ecommerce shopping basket cookie is “strictly necessary”, your anonymous analytics data is not.  Obviously, these people have no understanding about running any form of business online…

Read the ICO’s recommendations – here (PDF)

The WordPress Cookie Problem

Looking for cookie solutions for WordPress has been like searching for a needle in a haystack.  There are several solutions out there – but very few designed specifically for the platform.  Rather surprising given how popular it is, but shows what a mammoth task it must be.

I started by opening my multitude of browsers (Opera, Firefox, Chrome and (urrgghh) IE), clearing out all the temp files and cookies then opening my website.  Then I looked at what cookies had been dropped to get a baseline reading.

Google analytics sets several cookies, there was also a tracking cookie from Tynt.  Several YouTube cookies,  3 from Get Response (email optin), Shareaholic (sharing), Stumbleupon, Twitter and Facebook (sharing)

Two ad cookies turned up also, I’m not sure where these are from since I don’t run ads on my website – there’s one banner ad with no cookie set.  These cookies are tracking cookies from AdNexus and M6D.  I’ll need to do some checking on where they have come from.

Cookie Solutions – WordPress Plugins

I’ve looked at three free cookie “solutions” in the plugin repository.  One didn’t work for me and the other two would not be adequate to meet the new law.

  • CookieCert EU Cookie Directive
    This cookie solution looks impressive on first visiting their site.  However, I installed this and my website simply would not load at all.  It’s possible that there are conflicts with the multitude of plugins I have and/or the theme.
  • Cookie Control by CivicUK
    Once again, this solution looks good to go.  The banner is customisable to match your site colour scheme.  However, while it does request permission to drop cookies, when you look at it closer, cookies are already set.   It does stop the WordPress cookies – just not the multitude of others from share buttons, analytics, email optins etc.
  • EU Cookie Directive by Richard Telford and Chris Thompson
    Not as customisable as cookie control, but you can set the cookies to block before permission is set.  I used it straight out the box and several WordPress and Google Analytics cookies were already defined.  On closer look though, WordPress and GA cookies were still dropped even without consent.

So it would appear there is no easy cookie solution for WordPress – if you know of one, please do let me know!

Using other cookie solutions

Plan B was to see if any of the other solutions were easy to implement and work.  I have been watching what Wolf Software have been up to.  Unfortunately, they do not have a WordPress specific solution.

However, Interhacktives do have instructions on how to make Wolf Software scripts work on WordPress cookie law scripts.  I am not a coder and jiggling with scripts is not my forte! Far too complicated for me…

I came across CookieQ, they have a semi-solution…

The “simple features” solution for smaller sites is free to use, and it almost works!  I copied the code between (and including) the <script></script> tags and pasted those into my header section.  Then put the iframe into a widget in the footer of my site.  I used the footer as some pages do not have sidebar widgets.

And tada… MOST cookies blocked.  Getting through were YouTube – which can be solved by using the privacy option when picking up the embed codes, 1 of the 3 Getresponse cookies and 1 Shareaholic.

It would appear there are no easy cookie solutions for WordPress, simply down to the huge range plugins and themes.  

Do you know of any cookie solutions that work well with WordPress?  Share your thoughts below.

Cookie Solutions For WordPress - UK Cookie Law Deadline 26th May by Jan Kearney
Your Local Search Road Map
Download your FREE report and worksheet now

local search roadmapGrab your guide to local search and learn:

  • What elements are important on your website
  • How to set up your Google My Business Local Page
  • How Google Plus can help you zoom past your competitors
  • Two things you should not neglect if you want to rank in the local search pack
  • How to power past your competitors and dominate your area

Simply add your name and best email address in the box below and I'll whizz your report and worksheet straight over to you.

Don't worry, I hate spam too (probably more than you!)  I'll never trade, share, sell, exchange your email address or any other jiggery pokery.

Related Posts

  • What Have You Done To Promote Your Business Online This Week?

    Now there’s an interesting question… What have you done to promote your business online? I…

  • small business website
    Your Small Business Website – Is it REALLY Yours?

    It is important that your small business website is actually yours. Sounds an obvious statement…

  • Is your marketing budget going straight into the recycling bin?

    Is your small business using outdated advertising and marketing methods that essentially throw your hard…

Filed Under: local business internet marketing Tagged With: cookies, plugins, uk cookie law, WordPress

About Jan Kearney

I believe that every business, no matter how small or how local can use the power of the web to gain more customers. I offer no bull coaching and mentoring so small business owners can strategically put the web to work for their business. I've been called a "compass" and a "navigator" and probably a few more names that aren't suitable for a profile!
Connect with me on Google+, Facebook, Pinterest

Comments

  1. Wolf Software says

    May 8, 2012 at 3:36 pm

    We now have http://alpha.dev.wolf-software.com this will work on wordpress, joomla and any other type of website you could mention.

  2. Wolf Software says

    May 20, 2012 at 2:27 pm

    We have created a complete suite of solutions both free and commercial for people who want to gain compliance via an active consent mechanism.

    http://demos.dev.wolf-software.com

    • Jan Kearney says

      May 21, 2012 at 11:35 am

      Thanks for sharing those solutions 🙂

  3. @minabird says

    June 2, 2012 at 5:06 pm

    Hi Jan,

    Its good to see CookieQ on your site!

    Our 3rd party intercept feature works for 3rd party trackers like those you mention. Contact us and we will help you with that if you “Like”. 🙂

Meet Jan Kearney

I believe that every business, no matter how small or how local can use the power of the web to gain more customers. I offer no bull coaching and mentoring so small business owners can strategically put the web to work for their business. I've been called a "compass" and a "navigator" and probably a few more names that aren't suitable for a profile!
Connect with me on Google+, Facebook, Pinterest or Discover More About My Local Business Online…

Also On The Blog…

7 Useful image optimisation tips for search and social media

7 Useful Image Optimisation Tips For Search And Social Media

A web page without an image is almost naked, missing something, a finishing touch. Basic image optimisation can transform your web pages, product … [Read More...]

50 Fabulously free stock photo sites to bling up your blog

50 Fabulously Free Stock Photo Sites To Bling Your Blog

Not all of us have photographic talent. Creating your own photo images for your website, social updates, blog or presentations is HARD.  When the … [Read More...]

Is your business website Google-worthy in 2016?

Is Your Business Website Google-Worthy In 2016?

Creating your own local business website is never an easy task, especially when the guidelines change regularly. As always online, the only thing you … [Read More...]

Jan Kearney
and My Local Business Online
Helps small business owners get to grips with the web and get found online.
2 Stanley Villas, Greenway Road, Runcorn, Cheshire
Phone: 07847 554418

You need to know

This website uses cookies. By continuing using the site, you are agreeing to the use of cookies. Info on the cookies used can be found in my privacy policy.

Jan Kearney is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk.

More Info

  • Contact Me
  • About
  • Privacy

Copyright © 2022 · My Local Business Online · WordPress · Log in