As an organization, you are now able to reach out to your customers through a variety of media that benefit both the customer and you. But in this era of information gathering, consumer concerns have risen about the safety and security of personal information. What kind of information is out there? Who can access it? What might it be used for? Before individuals will share their personal information, they must be assured that you will use it accurately and responsibly. If you want a relationship with customers based on mutual trust and respect, you must proactively address these concerns.

The BBB has developed several tools and resources to help you in this effort. We suggest you start with Privacy Made Simple, a do-it-yourself guide for privacy management. Designed for the privacy manager, this guide will help you think through your organization's approach to privacy and show you the steps involved in managing privacy responsibly. There's something for everyone, regardless of knowledge level. We've also provided guidance in creating a privacy policy that's appropriate to your organization, and other information to help build a climate of trust with your customers.