If I were you, the very first thing I'd do is replace any generic privacy policy you're using with one that's been professionally drafted. This is the non-negotiable foundation for both transparency and legal safety. I'd do this before I spent another dollar on marketing or product development, because getting this wrong can undermine everything else.
The reason I'd start here is that most of the free templates that platforms provide are, frankly, useless from a legal standpoint. As Donata Stroink-Skillrud explained on Honest Ecommerce, these templates are not actually based on specific privacy laws like GDPR or the various state-level acts in the U.S. They give you a false sense of security while leaving you exposed. Building a business on a template policy is like building a house on a sand dune.
In week one, I'd either hire an attorney who specializes in this or, for a more scalable option, sign up for a service like the one Donata's company provides. These services connect to your site, determine what's needed based on where you sell, and generate políticas that are legally sound. More importantly, they keep them updated as the laws change. Step two of week one is to actually read the policy you've just generated. You need to understand the promises you are making to your customers about their data.
In month one, I’d shift my focus from creation to communication. Transparency isn't just having a policy, it's making it easy to find and understand. Of course, I'd link it in the footer. But I'd also add links at every single point where a customer gives me data: email newsletter signups, account creation pages, and right near the