Adding Impressum Page to Your Website Using WP Legal Pages

Have you ever wondered what an Impressum is and why it’s crucial for your website?

If you operate a website in Germany or aim to engage with a German-speaking audience, you’ve likely encountered the term Impressum.

But what is an Impressum, and is it necessary by law? 

Let’s look at Impressum to discover how you can ensure your website meets legal standards.

Understanding Impressum

Before moving on to practical details, it is essential to understand what an Impressum is.

An Impressum is a declaration that indicates ownership and authorship. It was implemented to secure user data and prevent unlawful material and spam by requiring website owners to identify themselves and accept responsibility for the content on their platform.

When individuals talk about an Impressum, they usually indicate the German DACH version of mandatory information on a website.

(The DACH region refers to the three Central European countries of Germany (D), Austria (A), and Confœderatio Helvetica Switzerland (CH).

It is compulsory in Germany and some other European countries to have an Impressum on websites, e.g., personal websites, blogs, or business sites. 

Legal Obligations: Is an Impressum Legally Mandatory?

It’s important to know the legal implications of an Impressum before we get into the detailed matter. In Germany and other EU countries, an Impressum must be provided for websites that are either private or commercial.

It is a legal responsibility to offer clear and thorough information about the website’s owner, contact information, and more.

You may want to know if this has anything to do with your website. The short answer is that it depends on your intended audience. 

To meet regulatory requirements, whether you intentionally target EU visitors or your website is accessible to them, you must include an Impressum.

Combining Privacy Policy and Impressum: A Dual Approach

While an Impressum is concerned with presenting information about the website’s owner and responsible parties, your Privacy Policy concerns data protection and privacy issues. 

These two legal components perform distinct functions, which are both essential for your website’s legal compliance.

When developing the legal foundation for your website, consider both factors to ensure openness and integrity.

This dual strategy not only helps you comply with legal standards but also increases the trustworthiness of your website visitors.

Essential Impressum Components: What Information to Include

Now that you understand the importance of an Impressum, let’s break down the essential components that should be included:

• Full Name and Contact Details: Provide your full name, address, email address, and phone number.
• Legal Form: Specify the legal form of your business or website, such as sole proprietorship or limited liability company.
• Representatives: Include any authorized representatives’ names and contact details if applicable.
• Commercial Register Information: If your business is registered in a commercial register, mention the relevant details.
• VAT Identification Number: Include your VAT ID if your business is subjected to VAT.
• Supervisory Authority: Mention the competent supervisory authority if your website is subject to government regulation.
• Professional Regulations: For regulated professions, outline the professional regulations that apply.

Strategic Placement: Where to Position Your Impressum

Now that you know what to include, the next question is where to put your Impressum. It should be freely available and visible to website visitors. 

The standard placement for Impressum is your website’s footer or a dedicated Impressum page linked from the main navigation.

Introducing WP Legal Pages Plugin

Creating an Impressum page that meets all legal standards may be challenging, especially if you are not a legal expert. This is where the WP Legal Pages plugin comes in.

WP Legal Pages is a user-friendly WordPress plugin that simplifies generating legal pages, including Impressum, Privacy Policy, and more. 

It is designed to help website owners, bloggers, and businesses effortlessly achieve legal compliance. The Following WP Legal Pages are available in the free version. You can download the free version of the plugin from the WordPress.org website.

• Privacy Policy Generator
• California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) Privacy Notice
• Term of use General Generator
• DMCA Policy Generator

Benefits of Using WP Legal Pages

• Ease of Use: You don’t need a legal expert to create compliant pages. WP Legal Pages provides templates and a straightforward interface.
• Customization: Tailor your Impressum to your specific needs with easy-to-use customization options.
• Legal Compliance: The plugin ensures that your legal pages adhere to various legal regulations, saving you from potential legal hassles.

Step-by-Step Guide: Adding Impressum

Let’s dive into the practical side of installing the plugin’s free and premium version. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to add an Impressum page using WP Legal Pages.

Open the WordPress dashboard and navigate to Plugins > Add New.

Type WPLegalPages in the search bar.

To install the plugin, click the Install Now button.

After installing, activate it by clicking the Activate button.

Once activated, the WP Legal Pages plugin will appear in the WordPress Dashboard.

You can now access the plugin from your WordPress dashboard.

To access the plugin settings and to start building your legal pages, click the ACCEPT button.

Now, you can create the legal pages from the WP Legal Pages menu. 

Follow the steps to install the Pro version of the plugin 

In the WordPress dashboard area, navigate to Plugins>Add new.

Click on the Upload Plugin.

Now, upload the zip file that you’ve received after purchasing the WP Legal Pages product. Click on Install Now button.

To activate the plugin, click on the Activate Plugin button.

Next, click on Activate your License Key button.

Enter the API key and Product ID, then click the Save Changes button.

The plugin is now enabled and ready to use. Follow the instructions below to learn how to configure the plugin.

Creating Impressum using the WP Legal Pages Plugin

To create an Impressum Page, follow the steps below.

 Navigate to the WordPress dashboard. Hover over WP Legal Pages and choose Create Legal Page.

Now, choose the Impressum template from the list of available templates. 

Fill up your Business Information on the following screen, then click the NEXT button when finished.

Fill out the Owner’s Information and Business Information on the following page and click Next.

Now check the Impressum Template preview.

After reading the Impressum statement, click Create and Edit. It will redirect you to the newly constructed Impressum Page. If you need to make changes to the Impressum Page, you can modify the Impressum policy page. 

Once the page has been generated, click the Publish button to publish it on the website. 

By following the methods outlined above, you can construct the Impressum page.

Real-World Inspiration: Sample Impressum Examples

Here are some examples from well-known websites to give you a better idea of what a compliant Impressum looks like.

Audi

Allianz Global

Deutsche Bank

Siemens

Final Thoughts

Legal compliance and transparency are critical for building trust with your website visitors. By adding an Impressum page using the WP Legal Pages plugin, you fulfill legal obligations and demonstrate your commitment to transparency and professionalism. 

Take action today to enhance your website’s credibility and trustworthiness, and enjoy peace of mind knowing you’re legally covered. 

If you’ve liked reading this article, don’t forget to check our other engaging content:

• Legal Pages For Your eCommerce Store You Can’t Afford to Ignore
• Understanding Cookie Consent: A Guide For Website Owners
• What’s the ePrivacy Directive? Everything You Need to Know!
• A Step-by-Step Guide to Create A Cookie Consent Banner Design

Your website’s success begins with compliance, so why wait? Get started now!

Grab WP Legal Pages plugin to create the legal pages you need for your business.