GDPR. It might just be my least favorite thing to deal with as a solopreneur. (Tops accounting by… A LOT.)
The rules are confusing, and let’s be honest—you never really know if you’re doing it right. And to make matters worse, it’s one of those things that irritates the heck out of your visitors, too.
I live and breathe for good user experiences, and –whether you like it or not– cookie banner are part of the web experience. They’re here to stay, no matter how much I’d like to ignore them.
So, when I sat down to write my cookie banner, I knew I didn’t want to slap together another dull, “We’re tracking you!” message that just pops up to bug people. Because let’s be real, that’s exactly the vibe most cookie banners give, right?
I asked myself: What can I do to make a cookie banner a GOOD experience?
Ditching the boring lawyer language seemed like a pretty good start. But how do you cut the jargon without breaking the law? Honestly, I wasn’t sure—but I was ready to give it a go.
And then I thought: Why not make this radically different? Why not make it… fun?
So, I wrote a poem.
Yep, a poem. About cookies. ‘Cause I’m cheesy like that.
Have you ever read one of those before? (I hadn’t either—until I wrote mine.)
Curious about what I wrote? Here’s the result:
🍪 Mmm... Smells nice. Must be the cookies!
Why cookies? You wonder. Well, here’s the scoop:
"Is she gonna spy?!!!!" 😱 Nope—I’m out of that loop!
Come in, sneak around; I won't know it’s YOU,
"Anonymous llama was here!"—Can't see who. 🦙
Cookies save time—make scrolling a breeze,
They save your settings, so you surf with ease.
I use them to tweak, adjust, and improve,
To make sure my content is speaking to you.
And yes, I use cookies to target🎯 (with flair)
To find folks like you—who love what I share.
Why on earth write a poem about cookies?
I mean, why NOT a poem?!
Studies show rhymes build trust. And if there’s ever a time to build trust, it’s when you’re talking about privacy.
Here’s what else I considered when writing my cookie notice:
As a copywriter, the first thing that came to mind was: I need to address the objections. Because, let’s be honest, there are quite a few.
People are skeptical about cookies
Cookies have this sketchy reputation—like they’re secretly spying on you. So, I knew I had to address that head-on. The psychology behind trust told me that if I ignore it, people will just feel more suspicious. So instead, I embraced the concern, made fun of it, and reassured my visitors in one swoop. I didn’t want to pretend it wasn’t there. Instead, I leaned into it with humor. Because, let’s face it, no one wants to be spied on, and I’m definitely not doing that.
People worry about being snooped on
Then there’s the whole “am I being watched?” factor. No one wants to feel like someone’s peeking over their shoulder while they browse. I knew I needed to calm that fear without being dry or, worse, overly serious. That’s where the “Anonymous llama” came in. I work in Google Docs a lot—so for me, the reference just made sense. Google uses fun animal names for anonymous visitors, and I thought, what better way to make people feel anonymous on a copywriter’s site? It’s like saying, “Hey, I know someone’s here, but you’re just an anonymous llama to me.” And let’s be real—llamas are fun! 🦙
People are often unaware of the benefits of cookies
Cookies are often painted as the villain. But honestly? They make our lives online a lot easier. My partner’s a software developer, so I’ve had the inside scoop for a while. But the average internet user doesn’t realize how helpful cookies can be. So, I wanted to highlight benefits that people actually care about, like saving time when scrolling. Rather than throwing around vague phrases like “enhancing your experience” (which no one really connects with), I focused on flipping the narrative: cookies are here to help, not just creep around in the background.
Why marketing cookies can actually be useful
Finally, I had to be upfront about the marketing side. Cookies aren’t just some abstract tech thing—they’re the tools I use to make sure the content (and yes, the ads) are actually relevant to the people who visit. It’s all about personalization. It’s not just random tracking for tracking’s sake. And yes, I plainly admit I use cookies for targeting ads, but here’s the key: I tell them why. Why it benefits them. If you’re going to see ads anyway, wouldn’t you rather see ones that are actually relevant to what you care about? That’s my angle.
Joining the conversation already going on in their head
Writing this cookie notice wasn’t just about ticking a legal box. It was about having a real conversation with my visitors. I wanted them to understand what’s happening on my site, and why. No secrets. No unnecessary legalese. Just a fun, human experience that also happens to tick the GDPR boxes.
Time to update your banner? Here’s a cookie consent banner checklist
Now, if you’re wondering whether it’s time to give your own cookie banner a facelift, I’ve got you covered. Let’s make this easy. Here’s a straightforward checklist to keep your cookie consent banner GDPR-compliant:
- Use clear, understandable language. Ditch the legalese. No one has time for that. Make it simple.
- Explain what types of cookies are used. Visitors should know if you’re using essential, analytics, or marketing cookies—and why.
- Mention third-party cookies. If third-party cookies are collecting data, be upfront about it.
- Include ‘Accept’ and ‘Reject’ buttons. Give users a real choice. No one likes feeling forced into something.
- Add a close button. Let visitors dismiss the banner without being tracked—easy and respectful.
- Include a ‘Customize’ button. Let them pick and choose what they’re comfortable with. It’s all about giving control back to them.
- Show a cookie list on the second layer of the banner. Transparency matters. Let users see exactly what cookies you’re using.
- Include a link to your Cookie Policy or Privacy Policy. Make it easy for people to learn more if they want to.
- Make the banner easy to access at any time. Allow users to change their preferences or withdraw consent whenever they like.
Recommended cookie software
Need a hand setting up a cookie consent banner? Here are three budget-friendly, compliant options:
- CookieYes
- Usercentrics/Cookiebot
- CookieInformation
Compliance can be fun!
Look, GDPR compliance doesn’t have to be a buzzkill. Your cookie notice doesn’t have to be boring or feel like an annoying popup. When done right, it can build trust, improve the user experience, and even reflect your brand’s personality.
So, whether you’re inspired to write your own cookie poem (seriously, go for it) or just make your banner a little more user-friendly, remember: legal stuff doesn’t have to ruin the experience. Make it clear, make it fun, and make it yours.