Privacy Policy

    Last updated: April 24, 2026

    Overview

    Smart Money Media ("we," "us," or "our") respects your privacy and is committed to protecting the personal information you share with us. This Privacy Policy describes how we collect, use, store, and disclose information when you visit our website (smartmoneymedia.org), use our tools, or engage with our services.

    Information We Collect

    We collect information in the following ways:

    Information You Provide

    • Contact Form: Name, email, phone (optional), subject, and message.
    • PR Inquiry Form: Name, email, phone (optional), organization, and message.
    • Newsletter: Email address.
    • AI Authority Score™ / Zero-Click Audit: Name, email, phone (optional), company name, website URL, and owner name (optional). Our tool also analyzes publicly available online data about your brand.
    • Reputation Risk Assessment: Name, email, phone (optional), business name (optional), and quiz responses.
    • Authority Buildout Inquiry: Name, email, phone (optional), company name, website URL, and message.
    • Partial Form Data: If you enter an email address into a form field on our site but do not submit the form, we may store that email address along with the form name and page URL to follow up. These partial records are automatically deleted after 90 days.

    Information Collected Automatically

    • Usage Data: Pages visited, time on site, referral source, and interactions with our tools (e.g., audit submissions, quiz completions).
    • Device Information: Browser type, operating system, screen resolution, and IP address.
    • Cookies: We use essential cookies for site functionality and analytics cookies to understand usage patterns. See "Cookies & Tracking" below.

    How We Use Your Information

    • To respond to your inquiries and provide requested services.
    • To deliver AI Authority Score™ audit results and diagnostic reports.
    • To send newsletter content you've subscribed to.
    • To improve our website, tools, and services.
    • To analyze site traffic and usage patterns (in aggregate).
    • To comply with legal obligations and prevent fraud or abuse.
    • With your consent, to follow up with relevant service information related to your inquiry.

    Cookies & Tracking

    We use the following types of cookies and tracking technologies:

    • Essential Cookies: Required for core site functionality (e.g., form submissions, navigation).
    • Analytics: We use privacy-focused analytics to understand traffic patterns and improve user experience. Data is aggregated and not used for individual profiling.
    • Third-Party Embeds: Some pages may include embedded content (e.g., social share buttons) that may set their own cookies. These are governed by the respective third party's privacy policy.

    You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling cookies may limit certain site functionality.

    Information Sharing & Third-Party Services

    We do not sell your personal information. We may share information with the following categories of service providers who assist in operating our website and services:

    • Hosting & Infrastructure: Cloud hosting and database services for secure data storage.
    • Email Services: To deliver transactional emails (form confirmations, newsletter) and internal notifications.
    • Analytics: Privacy-focused analytics tools for aggregated usage insights.
    • Search Engine Optimization: Tools used to monitor our site's search visibility (e.g., Google Search Console).

    All third-party providers are bound by contractual obligations to protect your data and use it only for the purposes we specify.

    Data Retention

    We retain your personal information only as long as necessary for the purposes described in this policy:

    • Contact & inquiry submissions: Retained for up to 2 years for follow-up and record-keeping.
    • Newsletter subscriptions: Until you unsubscribe.
    • Audit/tool data: Retained for up to 1 year to support ongoing analysis and service improvements.
    • Partial form captures: Automatically deleted after 90 days.
    • Analytics data: Aggregated and anonymized; retained indefinitely.

    Your Rights

    Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:

    • Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
    • Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.
    • Deletion: Request deletion of your personal data, subject to legal retention requirements.
    • Opt-Out: Unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time via the link in any email.
    • Do Not Sell (CCPA): We do not sell personal information. California residents may contact us to confirm this.

    To exercise any of these rights, email us at contact@smartmoneymedia.org. We will respond within 30 days.

    Data Security

    We implement industry-standard security measures to protect your information, including encrypted data transmission (HTTPS/TLS), secure cloud infrastructure, and access controls. However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure, and we cannot guarantee absolute security.

    Children's Privacy

    Our services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have collected data from a child, we will take steps to delete it promptly.

    Changes to This Policy

    We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated "Last updated" date. We encourage you to review this page periodically.

    Contact Us

    If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or wish to exercise your data rights, please contact us at contact@smartmoneymedia.org

    You can also reach us through our Contact page.