Welcome to Bettersays. This page explains what information we collect when you visit our site, why we collect it, and what choices you have. We know privacy policies can feel like a chore to read, but we want you to actually understand what happens with your data here. Take a few minutes to go through it. If anything is unclear, reach out to us and we will explain it in plain terms.
By using Bettersays, you agree to the practices described in this policy. If you do not agree with something here, please stop using the site.
Information We Collect
We collect a few different types of information depending on how you interact with us.
Information You Give Us Directly
When you contact us, sign up for our newsletter, or leave a comment, you give us information on purpose. This might include your name, email address, and whatever message or comment you write. We only ask for what we actually need.
Information Collected Automatically
When you browse Bettersays, some information gets collected without you having to type anything in. This includes things like your device type, browser, general location based on your IP address, and how you move around the site.
Log Files
Like most websites, our servers keep log files. These record things like your IP address, browser type, internet service provider, date and time stamps, referring and exit pages, and sometimes the number of clicks. This data helps us understand traffic patterns and fix technical issues. It is not tied to anything that personally identifies you.
Cookies and Tracking Technologies
Cookies are small text files that get stored on your device when you visit a website. Bettersays uses a few different kinds.
Essential Cookies
These cookies keep the site running properly. Without them, basic features like page navigation and secure areas would not work the way they should.
Analytics Cookies
These help us understand how people use our site. We can see which pages get the most visits, how long people stay, and what content works well. This helps us make the site better.
Advertising Cookies
These cookies are used to show you ads that are more relevant to your interests, both on Bettersays and on other sites you visit later.
Do Not Track Signals
Some browsers send a Do Not Track signal to websites you visit. Right now, there is no industry standard for how sites should respond to this signal, so Bettersays does not currently change its behavior when it detects one. We will update this policy if that changes.
Google AdSense and Third-Party Advertising
Bettersays displays ads through Google AdSense and other advertising partners. These companies may use cookies, including the DoubleClick cookie, to serve ads based on your visits to Bettersays and other websites.
Google and its partners use cookies to serve ads based on your prior visits to our website or other websites on the internet. You can opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Google’s Ads Settings page. You can also opt out of some third-party vendor cookies by visiting the Digital Advertising Alliance’s opt-out page.
We do not control the cookies placed by these advertising companies. Their use of information is governed by their own privacy policies, not ours.
Affiliate Links Disclosure
Some posts on Bettersays contain affiliate links. This means if you click a link and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Amazon Associates and Other Networks
Bettersays is a participant in the Amazon Associates Program and possibly other affiliate networks. These programs are designed to let sites earn advertising fees by linking to products on partner websites.
Editorial Independence
Our opinions and recommendations are our own. Affiliate partnerships never influence what we write or which products we choose to talk about. We only recommend things we genuinely believe are worth your time or money.
Google Analytics
We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors use our site.
What It Collects
Google Analytics collects information such as how often people visit the site, what pages they visit, and what other sites they used before coming to Bettersays. This data is collected in a way that does not personally identify you.
Opting Out
If you would rather not have Google Analytics track your visits, you can install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on, which is available for free from Google.
Comments Section
We love hearing from readers, and we want you to know what happens when you leave a comment.
Data Collected on Comment Submission
When you leave a comment, we collect your name, email address, and the content of your comment. Your email address is never published or shared publicly.
Third-Party Comment Platforms
If we use a third-party comment platform like Disqus, that platform has its own privacy policy governing how it handles your data. We encourage you to review their terms if you choose to comment through such a system.
Comment Data Retention
Comments and their metadata are kept indefinitely so we can recognize and approve follow-up comments automatically, rather than holding every comment in a moderation queue.
Email Marketing and Newsletter
If you sign up for our newsletter, we collect your email address and sometimes your name.
Third-Party Platforms
We use third-party email service providers such as Mailchimp or ConvertKit to manage our mailing list and send newsletters. These providers have their own privacy policies covering how they store and handle your data.
How Email Data Is Used
We use your email address to send you updates, new posts, and occasional offers we think you will find useful. We do not sell or rent your email address to anyone.
Unsubscribing
Every email we send includes an unsubscribe link. You can opt out at any time, and we will remove you from the list promptly.
How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect to run and improve Bettersays, respond to your questions, send newsletters you signed up for, show relevant ads, and understand how people use our content so we can make it better.
Data Retention
We do not keep data longer than we need to.
Email Subscriber Data
We keep your email address as long as you are subscribed. Once you unsubscribe, your data is removed from our active mailing list.
Comment Data
Comments are kept indefinitely as part of the public record of the post, unless you ask us to remove them.
Analytics Data
Analytics data is retained according to the default settings of the tools we use, typically a period set by Google Analytics.
Server Log Data
Server logs are generally kept for a limited period for security and troubleshooting purposes before being deleted.
Third-Party Links
Bettersays may contain links to other websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those sites. We encourage you to read the privacy policy of any site you visit after leaving ours.
Children’s Privacy
Bettersays is not directed at children under the age of 13, and we do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, please contact us so we can remove it.
Data Security
We take reasonable steps to protect the information we collect. No method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is completely secure, so while we work hard to protect your data, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
GDPR Rights for European Visitors
If you are located in the European Economic Area, you have certain rights under the General Data Protection Regulation. These include the right to access the personal data we hold about you, the right to ask us to correct or delete it, the right to restrict or object to our processing of it, and the right to data portability. You can exercise any of these rights by contacting us directly.
CCPA Rights for California Residents
If you are a California resident, the California Consumer Privacy Act gives you the right to know what personal information we collect about you, the right to request that we delete that information, and the right to opt out of the sale of your personal information. Bettersays does not sell personal information to third parties. You can exercise your rights by contacting us.
Your Consent
By using Bettersays, you consent to this privacy policy and agree to its terms.
Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal reasons. Any changes will be posted on this page, so we encourage you to check back occasionally.
Contact Us
If you have any questions about this privacy policy or how we handle your information, please reach out through our contact page. We are happy to help.