Please note that this post contains affiliate links. When you click these links and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. This helps us to continue providing free content for our readers.

If you run a website or a blog, chances are you’ve seen those little banners pop up asking you to “accept cookies.” But what do they actually mean? What is their purpose? And do you really need one for your website? Let’s break it down in plain English so you can stay compliant without losing sleep (or readers).

🍪 Firstly, What Are Cookies?

Not the edible kind.

Digital cookies are tiny text files stored on a user’s device when they visit a website. They can do a variety of things, such as:

  • Remembering login details and user preferences
  • Storing items in a shopping cart
  • Tracking visitor behaviour across different pages or even websites

While some cookies are essential for a site to function (e.g., keeping you logged in), others — especially those used for advertising, analytics, and social media integrations — can track users and build detailed profiles about their online activity.

💡 Example: If you embed a YouTube video in a blog post, YouTube may set cookies on your visitor’s device — even if you never directly collect any of their data.

📜 Why Is Cookie Consent Required?

This is where GDPR and similar privacy regulations come in.

Under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) (applicable across the EU and UK), websites must obtain explicit user consent before storing or tracking cookies on their device — except for cookies that are strictly necessary for the basic operation of the website.

In practice, this means:

  • You must inform users about the cookies your site uses.
  • You must give them the choice to accept, reject, or customise which cookies are stored.
  • Consent must be obtained before non-essential cookies are placed.

And don’t forget: GDPR isn’t about where your business is based — it’s about the location of your users. If someone in Europe visits your site, GDPR applies, regardless of your location. 🌎

Other regions have introduced similar rules too:

  • CCPA/CPRA (California): Gives users the right to opt out of data sales.
  • LGPD (Brazil): Requires transparency about data usage.
  • ePrivacy Directive (EU): Often referred to as the “Cookie Law.”

👉 Translation: if your website has international visitors, you need to take cookie compliance seriously.

⚖️ Do You Need a Cookie Consent Banner?

Here’s where it gets tricky — because it depends on what your site does.

Ask yourself:

  • Does my website collect or store personal data (names, emails, IP addresses, payment details)?
  • Do I use third-party plugins like Google Analytics, Facebook Pixel, or embedded YouTube/Vimeo videos?
  • Do I run ads or affiliate scripts that track users across the web?

If you answered yes to any of these, then you almost certainly need a cookie consent solution.

✅ Examples of websites that need consent banners:

  • Blogs with Google Analytics installed
  • eCommerce sites with customer logins
  • Sites with social sharing buttons or embedded feeds (Instagram, Twitter, YouTube)
  • Websites running display ads

❌ Examples of websites that may not need consent banners:

  • A simple brochure-style site with no analytics, ads, or plugins
  • A private, password-protected site (e.g. intranet)

That said, even “simple” sites often have hidden cookies through themes or plugins. Which brings us to the next step…

🔍 How to Check If Your Website Uses Cookies

Instead of guessing, you can scan your site for free to see exactly which cookies are being dropped.

👉 CookieBot Scanner is one of the most popular tools. Just enter your website address, and it will generate a report of every cookie in use, including whether it’s necessary, functional, or tracking.

This provides a clear starting point for deciding whether you need a banner — and helps you prove compliance if questioned.

🛠️ How to Add Cookie Consent to Your Website

If you discover that your site does use non-essential cookies, don’t panic. There are plenty of tools that make adding a cookie banner straightforward:

  • WordPress plugins: Complianz, CookieYes, Cookie Notice & Compliance
  • All-in-one platforms: CookieBot, OneTrust
  • Custom banners: If you prefer full control, you can add a custom consent solution with developer help

💡 Pro tip: Many of these tools let you customise the banner design so it matches your brand and doesn’t feel intrusive.

✅ Best Practices for Cookie Consent

  1. Be clear and simple: Use plain language, not legal jargon.
  2. Offer real choices: Let users accept, reject, or customise cookies.
  3. Respect their decision: Don’t load non-essential cookies until consent is given.
  4. Keep records: Document consent in case you need to demonstrate compliance.
  5. Review regularly: Audit your site’s cookies every 6–12 months — plugins and tools update all the time.

🚀 Wrapping It Up

Cookie consent might feel like another layer of red tape, but it’s ultimately about trust and transparency. If you’re handling user data responsibly, your visitors will appreciate it.

To recap:

  • If your site uses analytics, ads, or third-party plugins, you need a cookie consent banner.
  • If your site is extremely basic and doesn’t collect data, you may be exempt.
  • Always scan your site to be sure — and when in doubt, err on the side of compliance.

📖 Your next step: Download my FREE Cookie Compliance Checklist (PDF).
If you found this article helpful, share it with a friend or fellow business owner — because compliance is a lot easier when we’re all in the know.

Next Up: Making sure your cookie banner is 100% compliant. Avoid these common mistakes.