Privacy Policy

1. Who we are

South West SEO is a Cornwall-based SEO, content and web design business operated by Chris Hackman as a sole trader. For data protection purposes, Chris Hackman trading as South West SEO is the controller of the personal information described in this policy.

Our website address is www.southwestseo.co.uk and our contact email address is hello@southwestseo.co.uk.

2. What this policy covers

This policy applies when you:

• visit or interact with the South West SEO website;
• contact us by form, email, telephone or another communication method;
• request a free SEO review, quote, consultation or information about our services;
• become a client, supplier or business contact;
• actively subscribe to a newsletter or other email update; or
• otherwise provide personal information to South West SEO.

This policy does not govern how independently operated third-party websites process information. Their own privacy notices apply when you use those services.

3. Personal information we collect

Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect:

Identity and contact information

• your name, business name and job title;
• email address, telephone number and business address; and
• your preferred method of communication.

Enquiry and service information

• information included in contact forms, emails, calls and messages;
• your website address, services, locations, target customers and business goals;
• information needed to prepare an SEO review, recommendation, proposal or quote;
• project instructions, feedback, approvals, reports and other client communications; and
• website, analytics or business account information that a client chooses to provide so we can deliver agreed services.

Business, contract and financial records

• service agreements, proposals, project records and correspondence;
• invoices, payment status and transaction records; and
• information required for accounting, tax, fraud prevention or legal compliance.

Website and technical information

• IP address, browser, device type, operating system and approximate location;
• pages viewed, referring pages, links used and website interactions;
• cookie identifiers, analytics information and campaign or referral information; and
• security, diagnostic and anti-spam information.

Marketing preferences

If you actively subscribe, we may collect your name, email address, subscription date, consent record and unsubscribe preference.

We do not intentionally request special category information, such as health, biometric, religious or political information. Please do not provide this type of information unless it is genuinely necessary and we have agreed an appropriate way to handle it.

4. Where personal information comes from

Most information is provided directly by you. We may also receive or review information from:

• your employer, colleague, representative or referral contact;
• your public business website and Google Business Profile;
• search engines, public directories, social media and Companies House;
• website analytics, cookies and technical logs; and
• service providers used to operate our website and communications.

When we review publicly available business information for an SEO review or potential business enquiry, we use only information relevant to the business purpose and still apply data protection requirements where an identifiable person is involved.

5. How we use personal information and our lawful bases

UK data protection law requires us to have a lawful basis for using personal information. The basis depends on why the information is needed.

We do not use personal information to make decisions based solely on automated processing that produce legal or similarly significant effects.

6. Newsletter and marketing communications

South West SEO may provide a newsletter or occasional email updates. These will be sent only to people who have actively chosen to subscribe or where another lawful basis clearly permits the communication.

You can unsubscribe at any time by using the unsubscribe option in the email or contacting hello@southwestseo.co.uk. Withdrawing consent does not affect the lawfulness of anything done before consent was withdrawn.

Contacting us about SEO or becoming a client does not automatically add you to a general marketing list. We may still send service messages needed to respond to your enquiry or manage active work.

7. Who we share personal information with

We share information only where reasonably necessary. Recipients may include:

• Duda, which provides the website platform, hosting and form-processing infrastructure;
• Google services, including Google Analytics and anti-spam or reCAPTCHA services used on the website;
• email, cloud storage, communications and document-management providers;
• accounting, payment, bookkeeping, insurance and professional-advice providers;
• trusted contractors or service partners where access is needed for agreed client work and appropriate confidentiality arrangements apply;
• HMRC, regulators, courts, law enforcement or other authorities where disclosure is legally required; and
• a purchaser, successor or professional adviser if the business or its assets are reorganised, transferred or sold.

Service providers may act as processors on our instructions or as separate controllers for particular services. Their own privacy information may also apply. You can read the Duda Privacy Policy and Google Privacy Policy for more information.

We do not sell or rent personal information.

8. International data transfers

Some technology providers used by South West SEO operate internationally or may process information outside the United Kingdom. Where a restricted transfer takes place, we take reasonable steps to ensure an appropriate safeguard is available. This may include UK adequacy regulations, the UK International Data Transfer Agreement, the UK Addendum to approved contractual clauses, or another legally recognised safeguard.

You can contact us if you would like more information about the safeguards relevant to a particular service provider.

9. How long we keep personal information

We keep personal information only for as long as it is reasonably needed for the purpose collected, including:

• Enquiries that do not become client work: normally up to 24 months after the last meaningful contact.
• Client and project records: for the duration of the working relationship and normally up to six years afterwards where needed for business records, contractual matters or legal claims.
• Invoices, transaction and tax records: for the period required by applicable UK tax and accounting rules.
• Newsletter subscriptions: until you unsubscribe, withdraw consent or the list is discontinued, subject to periodic review and removal of invalid or inactive details.
• Website security and analytics information: according to the relevant service configuration and only for as long as necessary for security, measurement or improvement.

Information may be retained longer where required by law, a regulatory request, an active dispute or the need to establish, exercise or defend legal claims. Anonymous or aggregated information that no longer identifies an individual may be retained for longer.

10. How we protect personal information

We use reasonable organisational and technical measures designed to protect personal information from accidental loss, misuse, unauthorised access, alteration or disclosure. These measures may include access controls, secure accounts, reputable service providers, password protection, software updates, backups and limiting access to people who genuinely need the information.

No internet transmission or storage system can be guaranteed completely secure. If a personal data breach occurs, we will assess it and notify affected people and the Information Commissioner’s Office where legally required.

11. Your data protection rights

Depending on the circumstances, UK data protection law may give you the right to:

These rights are not absolute and exemptions may apply. We may need to confirm your identity before acting on a request. We do not normally charge a fee, but the law permits a reasonable fee or refusal in limited circumstances involving requests that are manifestly unfounded or excessive.

To exercise a right, email hello@southwestseo.co.uk with enough information for us to understand and respond to your request.

12. Cookies and analytics

Our website uses cookies and similar technologies for functions such as website operation, security, analytics and remembering relevant preferences. Google Analytics and platform-related technologies may collect device and website-use information.

Where consent is required, non-essential technologies should not be used until the appropriate choice has been made. Where a lawful statistical or similar exception applies, we will provide the information and objection method required by law.

More detail about the technologies used, their purposes, duration and available controls will be provided in our Cookie Policy.

13. Links to other websites

Our website may link to other websites, platforms or resources. South West SEO is not responsible for the privacy practices, security or content of independently operated services. Please review the relevant privacy notice before submitting personal information to another organisation.

14. Children’s information

South West SEO provides business services and the website is not directed at children. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children through the website. If you believe a child has provided information to us, please contact us so we can review and, where appropriate, delete it.

15. Changes to this policy

We may update this Privacy Policy when our services, suppliers, website features or legal obligations change. The latest version will be published on this page and the “last updated” date will be revised. Material changes may also be brought to your attention through another appropriate method.

16. Contact us or make a complaint

Please contact South West SEO first if you have a question, want to exercise a data protection right or are concerned about how personal information has been handled. We will take the concern seriously and try to resolve it.

You also have the right to complain to the UK supervisory authority, the Information Commissioner’s Office. Visit ico.org.uk/make-a-complaint, call 0303 123 1113, or write to the Information Commissioner’s Office, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire, SK9 5AF.