Many global data privacy laws require businesses to obtain user consent for data collection, with cookie banners serving as the primary tool for securing consent for cookies and other tracking technologies.
However, cookie banners, also known as cookie consent banners, cookie notices, or cookie popups, don’t have to just be about meeting legal requirements.
When designed thoughtfully — meaning they clearly inform users about cookie use, offer meaningful choices, and are easy to navigate — they are a key part of Privacy-Led Marketing strategy.
Instead of treating data collection as a transaction, Privacy-Led Marketing prioritizes users by providing transparency and respecting user preferences. This dynamic helps you foster trust and build stronger, more authentic relationships with your customers.
In this article, we’ll walk through the steps to set up a cookie banner on your HubSpot website and explore how it can support both regulatory compliance and your customer-first, privacy-led approach to marketing.
Steps to add a cookie banner to your HubSpot website
You can integrate your cookie banner with your HubSpot account in just a few steps. Cookiebot by Usercentrics easily integrates with HubSpot blogs, as well as landing pages and other website pages.
1. Sign up for your Cookiebot by Usercentrics account
Click on the Start Free button at the top right of the Usercentrics Cookiebot website. You can sign up for a 14-day free trial at the next step. Verify your email address and activate your account with the registration key that will be emailed to you.
If you already have an account, click on Log in to continue.
2. Customize your banner in Usercentrics Cookiebot
Once you are logged in, add the domain for which you want to collect cookie consent. Then, choose a template for the relevant data protection regulation.
The Usercentrics Cookiebot CMP scanner will automatically scan your website to see which cookies and other trackers are in use and then generate a scan report. You’ll find the report under the Cookies & Reports tab when it’s complete. If there are any unclassified cookies, add a classification and purpose description so that users’ consent preferences can be appropriately applied to these cookies.
The next step is to customize your HubSpot consent banner, which will be configured with the necessary settings based on the regulation template you selected. From your account you can customize the color scheme, layout, logo, button style, banner type, content, language, and consent expiration period.
The banner text is available in 48 languages. You can select multiple languages and enable automatic language detection to display the cookie consent banner to visitors based on their saved preference.
You can also configure the Privacy Trigger, which is a shortcut that enables users who have already communicated their consent preferences to update their consent.
3. Integrate your Cookiebot by Usercentrics consent banner in HubSpot
You’ll find the Cookiebot by Usercentrics app in the HubSpot App Marketplace. Click on the install button, login to your HubSpot account, and select the account you want to integrate your banner with. You’ll be redirected to an Integrations page, where you can find the Cookiebot by Usercentrics settings.
If you have more than one HubSpot website, you can choose which one to add your cookie banner to. Add your Cookiebot Domain Group ID value, which you’ll find under the Scripts section of your Usercentrics Cookiebot account settings. Click the + button to complete the integration.
4. Add your cookie policy to your HubSpot website
A cookie policy, or cookie declaration, is a legal document that provides detailed information about all the cookies and other trackers in use on your website. It’s a requirement of many data privacy laws, either separately or included in a larger privacy policy.
A cookie declaration tailored to your website’s cookie usage is available with your Usercentrics Cookiebot subscription, and it includes:
- a list of all the cookies and other trackers your website uses, automatically drawn from the latest scan report (so it’s kept updated for you)
- standard introduction text informing users about your website’s use of cookies, which you can edit to suit your brand’s voice
- information about the domains to which user consent applies
- the user’s current consent preferences
- the date when the Cookie Declaration was last updated
You can add the Cookie Declaration to your HubSpot website by navigating to the Implementation tab in your Usercentrics Cookiebot settings and copying the cookie declaration script.
Next, insert the script into the HTML code on the specific page and in the exact position where you’d like it to appear. This could be your dedicated cookie policy or as part of your larger privacy policy.
5. Regularly monitor your cookie usage
The Usercentrics Cookiebot CMP runs a monthly website scan and automatically sends the report to your inbox when it’s complete. We recommend checking your scan report each month to make sure you correctly classify and add a purpose description to any unclassified cookies as web technologies you may be using change.
This helps ensure that only those cookie categories that users have consented to are activated, and it updates your Cookie Declaration to accurately reflect your website’s cookie usage.
Why your HubSpot website needs a cookie banner
Having a HubSpot cookie consent banner on your website is crucial for managing user consent in line with global data protection regulations. A cookie banner helps you meet legal obligations, maintain ethical HubSpot data privacy practices, and provide transparency to your visitors.
Stand out as a business that embraces a privacy-first marketing approach
A cookie banner is one of the first things visitors encounter on your website, and it’s a way to demonstrate your commitment to respecting user preferences. It helps you provide clear, transparent information about your data practices and gives users control over their choices, letting them know that your business takes their data seriously and values their privacy.
Demonstrating these values is a key aspect of Privacy-Led Marketing. As concerns about privacy grow, businesses that prioritize these principles set themselves apart from those that view data (and the people it comes from) as simply a commodity. A well-designed cookie banner shows your commitment to HubSpot consent management and that you take user privacy seriously.
Achieve compliance with privacy regulations and avoid penalties
Many global data privacy laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union (EU), require businesses to obtain user consent for data collection. The ePrivacy Directive (also known as the “cookie law”), which works alongside the GDPR, specifically regulates cookie usage and mandates obtaining user consent before tracking begins.
These regulations have specific requirements for securing user consent that impact cookie banners, including requiring an affirmative action to give consent, such as clicking an “Accept” button, and enabling users to change or revoke consent as easily as they give it.
The penalties for failing to comply with the GDPR are significant, and fines can reach up to EUR 20 million or 4 percent of global annual revenue, whichever is higher. However, loss of brand reputation and user trust can also be damaging to a business.
Beyond the EU, the GDPR has influenced privacy laws worldwide, with countries like Brazil and South Africa adopting similar regulations that emphasize user consent and data protection.
While the United States does not have a federal data privacy law, many states have introduced their own regulations to protect the personal information and rights of their residents. These laws generally follow an opt-out consent model, which does not require you to obtain prior consent in most cases. However, there are certain exceptions, particularly for data belonging to children. Depending on the child’s age, prior consent may be required from a parent, legal guardian, or the minor themselves.
As more regions adopt privacy laws with specific consent requirements, it’s increasingly important for your cookie banner to meet global compliance requirements.
Foster trust with customers
Salesforce reports that 79 percent of users are becoming more cautious about protecting their personal data, and 71 percent are more likely to trust companies that explain how their data will be used. A clearly labeled, transparent cookie banner can help build users’ confidence in your business by giving them control over what data is collected and how it’s handled.
Providing transparency and control is essential for earning trust, especially when handling first-party data, such as that gathered from website analytics, mobile app usage, online purchases, and other functions that directly monitor user actions. When users feel confident about how their data is managed, they are more likely to interact with and remain loyal to your brand over time.
Achieve compliance for your HubSpot website with the Usercentrics Cookiebot CMP
Usercentrics Cookiebot makes it simple to keep your HubSpot website compliant with global data privacy laws. In just a few steps, you can create and integrate a cookie banner that meets regulatory requirements and shows users that you respect their data.
Usercentrics Cookiebot CMP automatically scans your website each month to help you keep your cookie banner and cookie policy up to date, saving you the hassle of continual manual checks. This streamlined process helps you achieve and maintain privacy compliance so you can focus on growing your business while maintaining user trust.