A cookie banner is what the visitor sees on your CMP's website. It is a simple tool that informs website visitors about the use of cookies and asks them to accept them. Often it is a simple popup or banner that appears during the first website visit. The popup or banner often then states which cookies the website uses and their function. It also asks whether you want to accept or reject the cookies. All choices made in the banner, the scripts blocked by the cookie banner and the display of the cookie banner are all controlled by the CMP. So a cookie banner is actually the front end of your CMP.
A CMP is a lot more sophisticated. A CMP is the "invisible" system that records, processes and remembers a visitor's consent. Furthermore, it also helps Web sites comply with privacy laws. So your CMP is technically the backend of the cookie banner.
Cookie consent is the permission that website visitors give for cookies to be placed on their device. Under privacy laws (AVG/GDPR), websites must seek explicit consent before placing non-essential cookies that collect user data. This consent must be voluntary, specific, informed and unambiguous. Visitors must be able to choose which types of cookies they accept (e.g., analytical or marketing cookies) and this choice must be respected and recorded. Managing these consents is done through a cookie banner.
A Consent Management Platform (CMP) takes the heavy lifting out of managing cookieconsent. The biggest advantage is that you don't have to program it yourself. The CMP automatically handles banner display, permission storage and script blocking until consent is given. Without a CMP, you would have to code all this manually; a complex and time-consuming task. In addition, a CMP provides user-friendly dashboards for customizing banner text and design, and generates proof of compliance for possible audits. Finally, updates in privacy laws are often processed automatically, so you always stay up-to-date without technical modifications.
Legally? Absolutely! If you use non-emergency cookies, you must ask for permission. Privacy watchdogs are increasingly active cookie hunters, with fines that could pulverize your Web site budget. Sure, you can gamble and hope they skip your little corner of the Internet, but is that gamble worth the potential fine of 10% of your annual revenue?
When choosing a Consent Management Platform, you need to pay attention to several factors. First, look at your specific needs: a simple Web site has different requirements than a large e-commerce platform. Next, assess usability, both for you as an administrator and for your visitors. Check whether the CMP integrates with your existing tools such as Google Tag Manager. Pricing structure is also important: some platforms charge per visitor, while others charge a flat monthly rate. In addition, pay attention to compliance features: does the CMP offer automatic updates when laws change?
We at AdPage recommend Cookiebot and Cookiecode for their excellent integration capabilities and ease of use.