Banner optimisation

This guide details best practices for designing a consent banner that builds user trust while maximising your opt-in rates.

1. Business value: Turn constraints into opportunities

Consent management is no longer just a legal obligation (GDPR, ePrivacy), it is a strategic lever for your digital performance.

• Data quality: An optimised banner reduces consent decline, ensuring reliable data for conversion measurement and targeting.

• Trust and brand image: A transparent and reassuring experience promotes data protection as a competitive advantage.

• Reduced friction: Ergonomic design facilitates decision-making and improves the overall user experience.

2. Implementation methodology

Step A: Design and Ergonomics (Mobile Focus)

With over 60% of visits coming from smartphones, mobile display is critical.

• Compact format: Opt for a footer that takes up 20-25% of the screen height so as not to block navigation.

• Touch areas: Ensure that buttons are at least 44px in size to avoid clicking errors.

• Accessibility: Maintain a contrast ratio of 4.5:1 (RGAA/WCAG standards) for text and buttons.

Step B: Fairness and visual hierarchy

To be compliant (particularly with CNIL recommendations), choices must be fair.

• Equal visibility: The ‘Accept all’, ‘Reject all’ and “Customise” buttons must have the same level of visibility.

• Ban ‘dark patterns’: Do not make the ‘Accept’ button brightly coloured while making the ‘Reject’ button dull or discreet.

• Explicit wording: Use clear actions such as ‘Accept all’ instead of ambiguous terms such as “OK” or ‘Continue’.

Step C: Message and Transparency

Text content is crucial for user engagement.

• Simplicity: Avoid legal jargon (e.g., ‘third-party cookies,’ ‘legitimate purposes’) in favour of educational phrases.

• Reversibility: Clearly state that the user can change their choices at any time.

• Positive tone: Highlight benefits such as personalisation of the experience rather than using anxiety-inducing language.

Step D: Optimising the consent rate

Use Platform X's technical levers to refine your performance.

• A/B Testing: Test one variable at a time (wording, colour or location) to identify the best-performing variant.

• Reactivation: Configure follow-up scenarios for users who have not made a choice (‘no-choice’) after a certain period of time.

• Google Consent Mode: Enable this mode to continue measuring conversions via Google Ads/Analytics even if cookies are refused.

3. Measurement and Monitoring (KPIs)

Regularly analyse your performance via Commanders Act dashboards.

• Opt-in/refusal/no-choice rate: Track changes after each design or wording modification.

• Segmentation by device: Identify whether friction is higher on mobile than on desktop.

• Realtime Cookie Scanner: Use this tool to monitor in real time that cookies are not placed before consent is given, ensuring ongoing compliance.

Need help optimising your CMP?

Our experts will help you optimise your banners and configure accessibility settings to maximise your performance. Contact our support team: [email protected]