🔐 Key Points Summary
- We collect minimal data necessary for site operation
- We never sell your personal information
- You control your data and can request deletion
- We use industry-standard security measures
- We comply with GDPR, CCPA, and other privacy regulations
1 Introduction & Scope
This Privacy Policy describes how SmartGuideHubs ("we", "us", or "our") collects, uses, and shares your personal information when you use our website smartguidehubs.com and related services.
Our Commitment
We are committed to protecting your privacy and being transparent about our data practices. This policy applies to all information collected through our website and any related services, sales, marketing, or events.
Who This Policy Covers
This policy applies to:
- Visitors to our website
- Users who submit contact forms
- Newsletter subscribers
- Anyone whose data we process
2 Information We Collect
Information You Provide Directly
We collect information that you voluntarily provide to us:
| Data Type | Purpose | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Contact Information | Respond to inquiries, send updates | Name, email address |
| Form Submissions | Provide requested resources | Free guide requests, contact forms |
| Communication Data | Customer support | Emails, messages |
Automatically Collected Information
When you visit our website, we may automatically collect certain information:
- Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system
- Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent, click patterns
- Location Data: General location (country/region level)
- Cookies & Tracking: See our Cookie Policy
Information from Third Parties
We may receive information about you from:
- Affiliate networks (for commission tracking)
- Analytics providers (Google Analytics)
- Social media platforms (if you interact with us)
3 How We Use Your Information
| Purpose | Legal Basis | Data Used |
|---|---|---|
| Website Operation | Legitimate interest | Device info, cookies |
| Content Delivery | Contractual necessity | Form submissions |
| Analytics & Improvement | Legitimate interest | Usage data, analytics |
| Marketing Communications | Consent | Email address, preferences |
| Affiliate Tracking | Legitimate interest | Click data, referral info |
| Legal Compliance | Legal obligation | As required by law |
Legitimate Interests
Where we rely on legitimate interests, our interests include:
- Providing and improving our services
- Understanding how users interact with our website
- Marketing our services to interested users
- Preventing fraud and ensuring security
4 Data Sharing & Disclosure
Service Providers
We may share your information with trusted service providers who assist us in operating our website:
- Hosting Providers: GitHub Pages, Netlify
- Analytics: Google Analytics (anonymized data)
- Email Services: For newsletter delivery
- Form Processors: Formspree, Google Forms
Legal Requirements
We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to valid requests by public authorities.
Business Transfers
In the event of a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction.
What We DO NOT Do
- ❌ We do not sell your personal information
- ❌ We do not share your data with advertisers for targeted ads
- ❌ We do not use your data for purposes unrelated to our services
5 Cookies & Tracking Technologies
We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to collect and use personal information about you. For detailed information about the cookies we use and your choices regarding cookies, please visit our Cookie Policy.
Types of Cookies We Use
- Essential Cookies: Necessary for website functionality
- Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use our site
- Marketing Cookies: Track affiliate clicks and conversions
Your Cookie Choices
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies or delete existing cookies.
6 Data Security
Our Security Measures
We implement appropriate technical and organizational security measures designed to protect your personal information, including:
- HTTPS encryption for all data transmissions
- Regular security assessments
- Limited access to personal data
- Secure hosting infrastructure
Data Retention
We retain your personal information only for as long as necessary:
- Contact information: Until you unsubscribe or request deletion
- Analytics data: 26 months (Google Analytics default)
- Server logs: 30 days
- Legal requirements: As required by applicable law
7 Your Privacy Rights
Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:
👁️ Right to Access
Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
✏️ Right to Correction
Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information.
🗑️ Right to Deletion
Request deletion of your personal information.
⏸️ Right to Restriction
Request restriction of processing your information.
📤 Right to Portability
Request transfer of your data to another organization.
❌ Right to Object
Object to processing of your personal information.
How to Exercise Your Rights
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us using the information in the "Contact Us" section below. We will respond to your request within 30 days.
Complaints
If you believe we have violated your privacy rights, you have the right to lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority.
8 International Data Transfers
Our website is hosted in the United States. If you are located outside the United States, please be aware that information we collect may be transferred to and processed in the United States.
GDPR Compliance
For users in the European Economic Area (EEA), we comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by:
- Obtaining clear consent where required
- Implementing appropriate safeguards for data transfers
- Respecting all GDPR rights as outlined above
CCPA Compliance
For California residents, we comply with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) by providing:
- Right to know what personal information is collected
- Right to delete personal information
- Right to opt-out of sale of personal information (though we do not sell data)
- Non-discrimination for exercising CCPA rights
9 Children's Privacy
Our website is not intended for children under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 16. If you are a parent or guardian and believe your child has provided us with personal information, please contact us immediately.
If we learn we have collected personal information from a child under 16, we will delete that information as quickly as possible.
10 Third-Party Links & Affiliates
Our website contains links to third-party websites, including affiliate links to software vendors. When you click on these links, you will leave our site and be subject to the privacy policies of those third-party sites.
Affiliate Relationships
We participate in affiliate marketing programs. When you click on affiliate links, those vendors may place cookies on your device and collect information in accordance with their own privacy policies. We have no control over, and assume no responsibility for, the content, privacy policies, or practices of any third-party sites.
For more information about our affiliate relationships, please see our Affiliate Disclosure.
11 Contact Us
📧 Contact Information
If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:
Email: contact@smartguidehubs.com
Contact Form: smartguidehubs.com/contact.html
Response Time: We typically respond to privacy inquiries within 5-7 business days.
For data deletion requests, please include "Data Deletion Request" in your subject line.
12 Policy Updates
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons.
📝 Update History
Current Version: 2.0
Last Updated: January 13, 2026
Previous Version: 1.0 (Initial publication)
Next Scheduled Review: July 13, 2024
We will notify you of any material changes by posting the new Privacy Policy on this page and updating the "Last Updated" date.