Privacy & Cookies Policy

This Policy applies to personal information collected through the Strategic Marketing Group website and related interactions with SMG, including when you:

• browse the Site;
• submit a contact or inquiry form;
• communicate with us by email, telephone, or text message;
• subscribe to marketing communications;
• purchase or pay for services through the Site;
• create or use an account, where available;
• interact with accessibility tools or website preferences;
• respond to surveys, promotions, or other communications; or
• otherwise provide information to Strategic Marketing Group.

SMG operates and develops multiple specialized brands, platforms, products, and ventures. Some SMG brands may maintain their own websites, systems, customer relationships, privacy policies, terms, or data practices.

When you interact directly with another SMG brand, that brand's privacy policy or other applicable notice may govern that interaction.

The information we collect depends on how you interact with us.

Information You Provide Directly

We may collect information that you voluntarily provide, including:

• full name;
• business or organization name;
• email address;
• telephone or mobile number;
• mailing or business address;
• website address;
• job title or professional information;
• information about your business;
• information contained in messages, inquiries, forms, or correspondence;
• preferred contact method;
• communication and marketing preferences;
• SMS or text-message consent;
• account information, if an account is created;
• authentication or login information;
• transaction information;
• billing information;
• information related to services you request or purchase; and
• any other information you choose to provide.

Information Collected Automatically

When you visit the Site, we or our service providers may automatically collect information such as:

• Internet Protocol (IP) address;
• browser type and version;
• device type;
• operating system;
• approximate geographic location derived from technical information;
• referring website or source;
• pages viewed;
• links clicked;
• date and time of visits;
• session information;
• interaction and navigation data;
• cookie identifiers;
• analytics identifiers;
• security and fraud-prevention information; and
• other technical information about how you interact with the Site.

Transaction and Payment Information

When payments are made through the Site, payment processing may be provided by third-party payment processors such as Stripe.

Depending on the payment method and checkout process, the payment processor may collect payment-card information, billing information, transaction details, device information, or other information needed to complete and secure the transaction.

SMG may receive information such as:

• customer name;
• billing address;
• email address;
• transaction amount;
• payment status;
• payment method type;
• transaction identifier; and
• related payment and account information.

We generally do not need to receive or store your complete payment-card number when payment information is collected directly by our payment processor.

Communications Information

If you contact us by email, telephone, website form, or text message, we may retain:

• the content of your communication;
• contact information;
• date and time of communication;
• communication preferences;
• records of customer-support interactions; and
• information needed to respond to or manage your request.

Accessibility Information

The Site may use accessibility technologies, including Elementor Web Accessibility tools and related usability features.

Depending on the features you use and our configuration, these technologies may:

• store interface or accessibility preferences;
• remember accessibility selections;
• collect information about use of accessibility features if analytics are enabled;
• identify technical accessibility issues; and
• help us evaluate and improve Site accessibility.

We use accessibility-related information to improve usability and accessibility of the Site.

Our general contact forms are not intended for highly sensitive or confidential information.

Please do not submit through the general Site contact form:

• Social Security numbers;
• tax identification numbers;
• passwords;
• bank-account credentials;
• complete credit-card information;
• tax returns;
• medical information;
• government identification documents;
• financial statements containing sensitive account information; or
• other highly sensitive records.

Directly From You

For example, when you:

• complete a form;
• make a purchase;
• contact us;
• subscribe to communications;
• create an account; or
• provide information during a business relationship.

Automatically From Your Device or Browser

For example, through:

• cookies;
• analytics technologies;
• server logs;
• security technologies;
• browser storage;
• tags; and
• similar technologies.

From Service Providers

We may receive information from companies that help us operate the Site or conduct business, such as:

• payment processors;
• analytics providers;
• email and communication providers;
• hosting and infrastructure providers;
• security providers; and
• other technology vendors.

From Our Brands, Affiliates, or Business Relationships

Where appropriate and permitted, information may also be received from an SMG brand, affiliate, referral source, business partner, or other source in connection with a request you have made or a business relationship.

We may use personal information for purposes including the following.

Responding to Inquiries

• respond to questions;
• understand your business needs;
• communicate about potential services;
• route inquiries to the appropriate SMG brand or capability; and
• follow up on requests.

Providing Services

• provide requested products or services;
• establish and manage customer relationships;
• administer accounts;
• deliver work;
• communicate about projects;
• maintain records; and
• fulfill contractual obligations.

Payments and Billing

• process transactions;
• issue invoices;
• receive payments;
• manage subscriptions;
• send billing reminders;
• process refunds;
• prevent fraudulent transactions; and
• maintain financial and transaction records.

Customer Support

• provide assistance;
• respond to support requests;
• confirm appointments or requests;
• provide status updates;
• troubleshoot problems; and
• maintain service records.

Marketing and Communications

Where permitted, we may use information to:

• send newsletters;
• communicate about SMG services or brands;
• provide updates;
• announce new products or services;
• send promotional offers;
• measure communication effectiveness; and
• manage marketing preferences.

You may unsubscribe from email marketing using the unsubscribe mechanism included in marketing emails.

Analytics and Site Improvement

• understand Site traffic;
• measure page usage;
• identify popular content;
• analyze visitor behavior;
• troubleshoot technical issues;
• improve navigation;
• improve performance;
• evaluate marketing effectiveness; and
• develop better website experiences.

Security and Fraud Prevention

• detect spam;
• prevent automated abuse;
• protect accounts;
• prevent fraud;
• investigate suspicious activity;
• enforce our policies; and
• protect SMG, our customers, and Site visitors.

Legal and Compliance Purposes

• comply with applicable law;
• respond to lawful requests;
• establish, exercise, or defend legal claims;
• protect rights or property;
• comply with tax and accounting requirements;
• maintain legally required records; and
• enforce agreements.

The Site uses cookies and similar technologies. A cookie is a small data file that a website stores on or accesses from a user's browser or device.

Similar technologies may include:

• browser storage;
• tags;
• pixels;
• scripts;
• device identifiers; and
• related technologies.

We use these technologies for purposes that may include:

• operating the Site;
• remembering consent selections;
• maintaining security;
• preventing spam;
• processing transactions;
• understanding Site usage; and
• measuring website performance.

Necessary Cookies

Necessary cookies and similar technologies are required for the Site to function securely and properly.

They may support:

• security;
• fraud and spam prevention;
• session management;
• form functionality;
• payment functionality;
• cookie-consent preferences;
• accessibility-related functionality where necessary; and
• other core website operations.

Necessary cookies are always enabled through our cookie-consent system and cannot be disabled using the cookie-preference interface.

Analytics Cookies

Analytics cookies help us understand how visitors use the Site, including:

• pages viewed;
• Site navigation;
• traffic patterns;
• device and browser information;
• referral information;
• interactions; and
• Site performance.

We currently use Google Analytics for analytics purposes.

Analytics cookies are optional and are configured to remain disabled unless you choose to enable them through our cookie-consent system where consent is required.

We do not currently activate a separate marketing-cookie category through our Site cookie-preference interface.

We may introduce additional advertising, conversion-measurement, social-media, embedded-content, or marketing technologies in the future.

If we introduce technologies that materially change our cookie or tracking practices, we may update:

• our cookie-consent configuration;
• this Privacy & Cookies Policy; and
• other applicable notices.

Where required by applicable law, non-essential technologies will be subject to appropriate consent or opt-out mechanisms.

We use GDPR Cookie Compliance by Moove Agency to provide visitors with information and choices regarding cookies and similar technologies.

Depending on your location, available settings, and applicable law, you may be able to:

• accept optional analytics cookies;
• reject optional cookies;
• review cookie information;
• save your preferences; and
• change your preferences later.

The Site provides a cookie-settings control that allows you to revisit your choices.

Necessary technologies may remain active because they are required to operate, secure, or provide requested Site functionality.

Your consent preference may itself be stored on your device so the Site can remember your selection.

We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors interact with the Site.

Google Analytics may process information such as:

• device and browser information;
• Site interactions;
• usage events;
• referral information;
• approximate location information; and
• pseudonymous identifiers.

We may also use Google Tag Manager to manage approved analytics and website tags.

Google Tag Manager is a tag-management system. The specific information processed depends on the technologies configured through it.

We intend to configure non-essential analytics technologies consistently with applicable cookie-consent choices.

The Site uses Google reCAPTCHA, including reCAPTCHA v3, to help protect forms and other Site features from:

• spam;
• bots;
• automated submissions;
• abuse; and
• fraudulent activity.

reCAPTCHA may process technical and interaction information to assess whether Site activity appears legitimate.

Its operation may involve cookies or similar technologies used for security and risk analysis.

SMG currently uses Mailchimp for some email-marketing and communication functions.

SMG is developing and expects to transition some or all of those functions to MailCred, an SMG brand.

During a transition period, we may use Mailchimp, MailCred, or both depending on the communication or system involved.

Email-related information may include:

• email address;
• name;
• subscription status;
• communication preferences;
• campaign engagement;
• delivery information;
• unsubscribe information; and
• related communication records.

You may unsubscribe from marketing communications at any time using the unsubscribe option included in the communication.

Unsubscribing from marketing messages does not necessarily stop transactional, service, security, billing, or account-related communications.

If you provide a mobile telephone number and separately consent to receive text messages from Strategic Marketing Group, we may send messages related to:

• account notifications;
• customer support;
• appointments;
• service updates;
• delivery confirmations;
• billing or renewal matters;
• security notifications; and
• promotional offers.

SMS Consent and Mobile Information

We do not sell SMS opt-in consent.

We do not share SMS opt-in consent or mobile information with third parties or affiliates for their own marketing or promotional purposes.

We may use service providers that process mobile information on our behalf when necessary to transmit messages, provide customer support, manage messaging systems, maintain records, prevent fraud or abuse, or support other operational functions.

We use Stripe for certain payment-processing functions.

When you make a payment, Stripe may process:

• payment information;
• billing information;
• transaction information;
• device information;
• fraud-prevention information; and
• other information needed to complete the transaction.

Stripe processes information according to its own privacy practices as well as its contractual relationship with SMG.

The Site is built using WordPress and Elementor technologies, including Elementor Pro.

Information entered into Site forms may be:

• transmitted to SMG;
• stored within website systems;
• sent by email;
• processed through security or spam-prevention technologies; and
• transferred to systems we use to respond to or manage the inquiry.

We use Elementor Web Accessibility and related accessibility tools to help identify and reduce barriers to Site use.

These tools may:

• provide visitor-facing accessibility controls;
• store accessibility-related settings or preferences where supported;
• scan Site content for accessibility issues; and
• help us identify and remediate accessibility barriers.

If accessibility usage analytics are enabled, information regarding interaction with accessibility features may also be processed to help us understand and improve accessibility.

Service Providers

Companies may help us:

• host and operate the Site;
• process payments;
• deliver email;
• send communications;
• provide analytics;
• prevent spam;
• provide cybersecurity;
• maintain infrastructure;
• manage forms;
• provide accessibility technology;
• provide customer support; or
• perform other operational functions.

SMG Brands and Affiliates

Where relevant to your request, we may provide information to an SMG brand or affiliated business when:

• you request a service offered by that brand;
• the brand is the appropriate place to respond to your inquiry;
• the disclosure is necessary to provide a requested service; or
• another legitimate business purpose permits the disclosure.

SMS marketing consent is treated separately as described in the SMS section above.

Professional Advisors

We may provide information where reasonably necessary to:

• attorneys;
• accountants;
• tax professionals;
• auditors;
• insurance providers; or
• other professional advisors.

Government Authorities and Legal Process

We may disclose information if we reasonably believe disclosure is necessary to comply with law, legal process, regulatory requests, protect rights or safety, prevent fraud or abuse, or enforce agreements.

Business Transactions

Information may be transferred as part of a merger, acquisition, sale, financing, reorganization, restructuring, bankruptcy, transfer of assets, or similar corporate transaction.

SMG does not sell personal information for money as part of its ordinary business model.

If SMG later engages in processing that constitutes a “sale,” “sharing,” targeted advertising, or similar regulated activity under applicable privacy law, individuals entitled to an opt-out will be provided with an appropriate method to exercise that right.

We may use service providers that process limited information on our behalf for analytics, communications, payments, security, hosting, or other legitimate business functions.

We may use automation, analytics, security technologies, or AI-assisted tools to support business operations.

We do not intend to use Site visitor information to make solely automated decisions producing legal or similarly significant effects unless appropriate safeguards are implemented and any rights required by applicable law are provided.

We retain personal information for only as long as reasonably necessary for the purpose for which it was collected or for another permitted business or legal purpose.

Retention periods may depend on:

• the nature of the information;
• the purpose for which it was collected;
• the duration of a customer relationship;
• contractual obligations;
• tax and accounting requirements;
• dispute-resolution needs;
• security requirements;
• fraud prevention;
• legal requirements; and
• applicable statutes of limitation.

When information is no longer reasonably necessary, we may delete it, anonymize it, or securely retain it where deletion is not immediately feasible, subject to appropriate restrictions.

We use reasonable administrative, technical, and organizational measures designed to protect personal information against:

• unauthorized access;
• unauthorized disclosure;
• loss;
• misuse;
• alteration; and
• destruction.

Measures may include, as appropriate:

• encryption;
• access controls;
• authentication;
• secure hosting;
• network and application security;
• monitoring;
• backups;
• restricted administrative access; and
• service-provider safeguards.

Depending on where you live and which privacy laws apply to your relationship with SMG, you may have rights including the right to:

• confirm whether we process your personal information;
• access personal information we maintain about you;
• correct inaccurate personal information;
• request deletion of personal information;
• obtain a portable copy of certain personal information;
• opt out of certain sales of personal information;
• opt out of targeted advertising;
• opt out of certain qualifying profiling;
• withdraw consent where processing is based on consent;
• opt out of marketing communications; and
• appeal certain decisions regarding a privacy request.

These rights are subject to applicable law, exceptions, verification requirements, and limitations.

We will not unlawfully discriminate against you for exercising an applicable privacy right.

Residents of Maryland may have rights under Maryland privacy law where that law applies to the particular processing activity and organization.

Those rights may include:

• confirming whether personal data is being processed;
• accessing personal data;
• correcting inaccuracies;
• deleting qualifying personal data;
• obtaining a copy of certain personal data;
• obtaining information regarding certain third-party disclosures;
• opting out of qualifying targeted advertising;
• opting out of qualifying sales of personal data;
• opting out of qualifying profiling; and
• using an authorized agent for certain opt-out requests.

The availability and scope of these rights depend on whether the applicable statutory requirements are satisfied.

You may submit a privacy request by contacting:

Please clearly identify the nature of your request.

We may request information reasonably necessary to verify your identity, the information to which the request relates, and where applicable, an authorized agent's authority to act on your behalf.

We will respond within the period required by applicable law.

Where applicable law provides a right to appeal our decision regarding a privacy request, you may submit an appeal by emailing:

legal@strategicmktgroup.com

Please include:

• “Privacy Request Appeal” in the subject line;
• your original request;
• our decision, if available; and
• any information you believe should be reconsidered.

Where permitted by applicable law, you may authorize another person to submit certain privacy requests on your behalf.

We may take reasonable steps to:

• verify your identity;
• verify the agent's authority; and
• confirm the authenticity of the request.

Where applicable law requires recognition of qualifying browser-based or device-based opt-out preference signals, we will endeavor to process supported signals in accordance with applicable requirements and the technical capabilities of our systems.

A browser's general “Do Not Track” setting may not have the same legal or technical meaning as a recognized privacy opt-out preference mechanism.

The Site is intended for business and general adult audiences and is not directed to children under 13.

We do not knowingly collect personal information online from children under 13 through the Site.

If we learn that information has been collected from a child under 13 in circumstances requiring parental consent, we will take reasonable steps to delete it or otherwise address the information as required.

The Site may contain links to websites or services operated by:

• SMG brands;
• clients;
• vendors;
• payment providers;
• social platforms;
• business partners; or
• other third parties.

We are not responsible for the privacy or security practices of websites and services that we do not operate.

You should review the privacy policy of the applicable third party before providing personal information.

From time to time, the Site may include or integrate additional third-party functionality such as:

• videos;
• maps;
• scheduling systems;
• chat tools;
• customer-support systems;
• social-media content;
• analytics technologies;
• advertising technologies; or
• other embedded services.

These services may process information according to their own privacy policies.

When we materially add technologies that change our privacy practices, we may update this Policy and our consent settings as appropriate.

Strategic Marketing Group is based in the United States.

If you access the Site from outside the United States, information may be transferred to, processed in, or stored in the United States or other countries where our service providers operate.

Privacy protections and government-access rules may differ from those in your country of residence.

Where required, we will use appropriate measures for international transfers of personal information.

You may opt out of promotional email communications by:

• using the unsubscribe link included in the email; or
• contacting us at legal@strategicmktgroup.com .

After an unsubscribe request, we may retain limited information necessary to honor the opt-out and maintain suppression records.

You may continue to receive non-promotional communications concerning:

• transactions;
• services;
• billing;
• accounts;
• security;
• support; or
• an ongoing business relationship.

We may update this Policy periodically to reflect changes in:

• our services;
• our technology;
• our brands;
• our service providers;
• our data practices;
• applicable law; or
• other operational needs.

When we update the Policy, we will revise the Last Updated date at the top of this page.

If a change materially affects how we handle personal information, we may provide additional notice where appropriate or required.

If you have questions about this Privacy & Cookies Policy, our privacy practices, cookies, or a privacy request, please contact: