If you’ve used the internet, there is nearly a 100% chance that at some point you have seen a “cookies” popup asking you to select yes or no to approve a website’s cookie policy. And, chances are, you clicked “yes” without thinking twice or reading the privacy or cookies policy of the website. But what exactly are cookies and why are they important?
The main function of cookies is to help websites and browsers create a more unique and personalized experience for users. This is done in different ways such as applying targeted ads based on your online shopping habits, as well as simply remembering your email address for a website login. The cookies themselves are not baked goods, but instead, text files that websites send to your browsing device containing pieces of data such as your past login information for that specific website. From here, these cookies can track and collect information about your internet browsing and usage patterns.
What Do Cookies Do For Me?
As stated above, cookies aim to streamline and personalize your browsing experience by collecting data that will improve your navigation, focused ads, and more. For example, if you have ever visited a website that asks for your zip code once, then you navigate back days later and your zip code is auto-filled, this is because of cookies.
First-Party vs Third-Party Cookies
Cookies themselves come in different forms, called first-party or third-party. The breakdown of the two depends on their function and source.
First-Party Cookies
First-party cookies collect data that is stored directly by the website you have visited. This includes safekeeping usernames and passwords so users are not automatically logged out at the end of every session, as well as language settings and more.
Third-Party Cookies
Contrary to first-party cookies, third-party cookies are external cookies added to a website from an outside source such as Google Analytics or an online advertising service. These cookies collect user data regarding pages they visited, their interactions, and more.
Cookies for SEO
To the untrained eye, cookies may seem useless. However, cookies are an important tool for SEO. The use of first-party and third-party cookies allows SEO specialists like Boston Web Marketing to develop keyword and content strategies, as well as ad campaigns that maximize return, and increase user engagement and conversions on your business’ website, all based on the interactions and data collected by cookies.
Are you interested in launching an SEO strategy for your business’ website? Contact Boston Web Marketing today to get started.