Lochlan Smith Web Design (“we,” “us,” or “our”) is committed to protecting the privacy of our website visitors and clients. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website, including the use of any contact forms.

1. Information We Collect

We collect two main types of information: Personal Data and Non-Personal Data.

A. Personal Data You Voluntarily Provide

We collect Personal Data that you voluntarily give to us when you use our contact form or communicate with us directly. This data is collected at the point of inquiry or engagement.

  • Contact Form Data: When you fill out our “Contact” or “Get a Quote” form, we collect:
    • Name
    • Email Address
    • Phone Number (If provided)
    • Project Details (The content of your message regarding your web design needs).
  • Client Data: If you engage our services, we may collect further information necessary for the project, such as business name, physical address, payment information (processed via a third-party gateway, not stored by us), and log-in credentials for your existing services (e.g., hosting, domain registrar).

B. Non-Personal Data (Automatically Collected)

We automatically collect certain information when you access our website using common analytical tools.

  • Usage Data: Information about how you use and navigate our website, such as your IP address, browser type, device type, operating system, access times, pages viewed, and the page you visited before navigating to ours.
  • Tracking Technologies (Cookies): We may use cookies and similar tracking technologies to track the activity on our website and hold certain information. This may be for website functionality, to analyze traffic, or for a better user experience.

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

  • To Respond to Inquiries: To respond to the requests and questions submitted through our contact form and other communication channels.
  • To Provide Services: To deliver the web design, development, and consulting services you have hired us for.
  • Client Management: To manage our relationship with you, process payments, and provide customer support.
  • Website Improvement: To understand how our website is used and to improve its functionality, performance, and user experience.
  • Marketing Communication: To send you updates, newsletters, or promotional material about our services, provided you have given explicit consent where required by law.

3. Disclosure of Your Information

We may share your information in the following situations:

  • Third-Party Service Providers: We may share your information with trusted third parties who perform services for us or on our behalf, such as:
    • Website hosting providers.
    • Analytics providers (e.g., Google Analytics).
    • Payment processors (We do not store credit card details).
  • Legal Compliance: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law or in response to a valid legal process (e.g., a subpoena or court order).
  • Business Transfers: If Lochlan Smith Web Design is involved in a merger, sale of assets, or acquisition, your Personal Data may be transferred as part of that transaction.

We do not sell, rent, or lease your Personal Data to third parties for their marketing purposes.

4. Security of Your Information

We use a variety of technical and organizational security measures designed to protect your Personal Data. These include secure website hosting (SSL/TLS encryption), regular security updates, and restricted access to data storage. However, please be aware that no security system is impenetrable, and we cannot guarantee 100% security for data transmitted over the Internet.

5. Your Data Rights

Depending on your location (e.g., EU/UK residents under GDPR, California residents under CCPA), you may have the following rights regarding your Personal Data:

  • Right to Access: You have the right to request a copy of the Personal Data we hold about you.
  • Right to Rectification: You have the right to request that we correct any information you believe is inaccurate or complete information you believe is incomplete.
  • Right to Erasure (‘Right to be Forgotten’): You have the right to request that we erase your Personal Data, under certain conditions.
  • Right to Restrict Processing: You have the right to request that we restrict the processing of your Personal Data, under certain conditions.
  • Right to Object to Processing: You have the right to object to our processing of your Personal Data, under certain conditions.
  • Right to Data Portability: You have the right to request that we transfer the data that we have collected to another organization, or directly to you, under certain conditions.

6. How Long We Keep Your Data

We will retain your Personal Data only for as long as is necessary for the purposes set out in this Privacy Policy, typically for the duration of our business relationship plus a reasonable period thereafter to comply with legal obligations or resolve disputes. Information collected via the contact form will be retained only as long as required to address your inquiry or engage your services.

7. Contact Us

If you have questions or comments about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise any of your data rights, or have a data privacy complaint, please contact us at: lochlansmithdesign@gmail.com