1. Information We Collect

We collect information in the following ways:

1.1 Information You Provide Directly

• Name and email address when you register, submit a listing, or contact us

• Business name, address, phone number, website, and category when submitting a directory listing

• Messages, inquiries, or feedback you submit through contact forms or email

• Account credentials (username and password) if you create an account

• Payment information when purchasing a premium listing or service (processed securely by a third-party payment processor; we do not store full card numbers)

1.2 Information Collected Automatically

• IP address and approximate geographic location

• Browser type, version, and operating system

• Device type (desktop, mobile, tablet)

• Pages visited, time spent on pages, and referring URLs

• Search terms used within the Site

• Clickstream data and interaction patterns

1.3 Information from Third Parties

• If you connect a social media account, we may receive basic profile information from that platform

• Analytics providers may share aggregated demographic or behavioral data

• Business listing data submitted by third parties on behalf of a business

2. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

2.1 Providing and Improving the Site

• Creating and managing your account or directory listing

• Processing transactions and sending related confirmations

• Responding to your inquiries, support requests, and feedback

• Personalizing your experience on the Site

• Diagnosing technical issues and improving Site functionality

2.2 Communications

• Sending transactional emails (e.g., listing confirmations, password resets)

• Sending promotional emails, newsletters, or special offers — only if you have opted in

• Notifying you of changes to our policies, features, or services

You may opt out of non-transactional communications at any time by clicking “Unsubscribe” in any email or contacting us at support@ourtownguide.com.

2.3 Legal and Safety Purposes

• Complying with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes

• Enforcing our Terms of Use and other agreements

• Protecting the rights, safety, and property of the Site, its users, and the public

• Detecting and preventing fraud or other harmful activity

3. Cookies and Tracking Technologies

We use cookies, web beacons, pixels, and similar tracking technologies to operate the Site and understand how visitors interact with it.

3.1 Types of Cookies We Use

• Essential Cookies: Required for the Site to function (e.g., session management, login).

• Performance Cookies: Collect anonymous data about how visitors use the Site to help us improve it.

• Functionality Cookies: Remember your preferences (e.g., location, display settings).

• Marketing Cookies: Used to deliver relevant advertisements and track ad campaign effectiveness (only where applicable).

3.2 Managing Cookies

You can control or disable cookies through your browser settings. Please note that disabling certain cookies may limit the functionality of the Site. For more information, refer to your browser’s help documentation or visit www.allaboutcookies.org.

By continuing to use the Site without changing your cookie settings, you consent to our use of cookies as described in this policy.

4. Data Sharing and Disclosure

We do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes. We may share your information only in the following limited circumstances:

4.1 Service Providers

We work with trusted third-party service providers to help us operate the Site. These may include web hosting companies, email delivery services, payment processors, analytics providers, and customer support tools. These partners are contractually obligated to use your data only as directed by us and in compliance with applicable law.

4.2 Business Directory Listings

When you submit a business listing to OurTownGuide.com, certain information (such as business name, address, phone number, website, and description) will be displayed publicly on the Site. Please only include information you consent to being publicly visible.

4.3 Legal Requirements

We may disclose your information if required to do so by law, regulation, court order, or government authority, or if we believe disclosure is necessary to protect our rights, your safety, or the safety of others.

4.4 Business Transfers

If OurTownGuide.com is involved in a merger, acquisition, sale of assets, or similar transaction, your personal information may be transferred to the successor entity. We will notify you via the Site or email before your data is transferred and becomes subject to a different privacy policy.

4.5 With Your Consent

We may share your data for any other purpose with your explicit consent.

5. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Specifically:

• Account information is retained for as long as your account is active, plus a reasonable period after closure.

• Business listing information is retained until you request its removal or your listing expires.

• Technical and analytics data may be retained in aggregated or anonymized form indefinitely.

• Communications and support records may be retained for up to 3 years for quality and legal purposes.

To request deletion of your data, see Section 7 below.

6. Data Security

We take the security of your personal information seriously and implement a variety of technical and organizational measures to protect it, including:

• Encrypted data transmission using SSL/TLS

• Secure server infrastructure with access controls

• Regular security reviews and vulnerability assessments

• Limited access to personal data on a need-to-know basis

However, no method of electronic transmission or storage is 100% secure. While we strive to use commercially acceptable means to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security. In the event of a data breach that affects your rights or freedoms, we will notify affected users as required by applicable law.

If you believe your account or data has been compromised, please contact us immediately at support@ourtownguide.com.

7. Your Rights and Choices

Depending on your location and applicable law, you may have the following rights regarding your personal data:

• Access: Request a copy of the personal data we hold about you.

• Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete data.

• Deletion: Request that we delete your personal data (subject to certain legal exceptions).

• Portability: Request a copy of your data in a structured, machine-readable format.

• Objection / Restriction: Object to or request that we limit certain processing of your data.

• Withdraw Consent: If processing is based on consent, you may withdraw it at any time without affecting the lawfulness of prior processing.

• Opt-Out of Marketing: Unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time.

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at support@ourtownguide.com. We will respond to verifiable requests within 30 days. We may need to verify your identity before fulfilling a request.

We will not discriminate against you for exercising any of your privacy rights.

8. Children’s Privacy

OurTownGuide.com is not directed to children under the age of 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under 13. If you believe we have inadvertently collected information from a child under 13, please contact us at support@ourtownguide.com and we will promptly delete such information.

9. Third-Party Links and Services

The Site may contain links to third-party websites, including business listings that direct users to external sites. This Privacy Policy does not apply to those third-party sites. We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any websites you visit. We are not responsible for the content, privacy practices, or data handling of any third-party sites.

10. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)

If you are a California resident, you have additional rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), including the right to know what personal information we collect and how it is used, the right to request deletion of your personal information, and the right to opt out of the sale of your personal information. We do not sell personal information. To submit a California-specific privacy request, please contact us at support@ourtownguide.com.

11. Changes to This Privacy Policy

We reserve the right to update or modify this Privacy Policy at any time. When we make material changes, we will update the Effective Date at the top of this page and, where appropriate, notify you via email or a prominent notice on the Site. We encourage you to review this policy periodically to stay informed about how we are protecting your information.

Your continued use of the Site after any changes to this policy constitutes your acceptance of the revised terms.

12. Contact Us

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests related to this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please do not hesitate to contact us:

OurTownGuide.com

Email: support@ourtownguide.com

Website: www.ourtownguide.com

We are committed to resolving any privacy concerns promptly and fairly.