Smithworks Privacy and Legal

Smithworks Privacy Policy

This privacy policy explains how Smithworks collects, uses, protects, and handles personal information in connection with our website. Personal information may include information that identifies, relates to, describes, or could reasonably be associated with an individual or household. This policy also explains our use of ordinary website technologies, including cookies, analytics tools, pixels, tags, server logs, IP address collection, and similar technologies used to operate, secure, measure, and improve our website.

What personal information do we collect?

When you order, register, contact us, or interact with our site, we may collect your name, email address, mailing address, phone number, company name, website address, or other details you choose to provide. We do not know who you are merely because you visit our website unless you voluntarily provide identifying information through a form, email, phone call, chat, or other direct interaction.

Like most websites, we may also collect technical and website activity information, such as your IP address, browser type, device information, referring pages, pages visited, timestamps, approximate location derived from IP address, form interactions, and other usage data collected through cookies, analytics tools, pixels, tags, server logs, and similar technologies. This technical data helps websites function, helps route internet communications, helps protect against abuse, and helps us understand whether our website and marketing are working.

A note about IP addresses and technical data

An IP address is a technical identifier used to route internet traffic between your device, our website, hosting providers, analytics providers, advertising platforms, security tools, and other internet services. We do not treat an IP address by itself as the same thing as your name, email address, phone number, mailing address, or other information you voluntarily provide to us. In most cases, an IP address tells us general technical or approximate location information, such as region, city, internet provider, device/browser context, or website activity, but it does not by itself tell us who you are.

We may associate website activity data with information you voluntarily submit if you fill out a form, subscribe to communications, contact us, or otherwise identify yourself. For example, if you submit a contact form, we may use website activity information to understand how you found us, what pages you viewed, or what services may be relevant to your request. If you do not voluntarily provide identifying information, our use of website activity data is generally limited to analytics, security, marketing measurement, performance improvement, and similar business purposes.

When do we collect information?

We collect information when you:

  • Subscribe to a newsletter
  • Respond to a survey
  • Fill out a form
  • Use live chat
  • Enter information on our site
  • Visit, load, view, or interact with pages on our website
  • Click links, open pages, or otherwise interact with website content, advertisements, forms, or embedded tools

How do we use your information?

We use your information to:

  • Personalize your experience and deliver relevant content or services
  • Improve our website, content, services, and user experience
  • Understand website activity, site performance, and marketing effectiveness
  • Measure traffic sources, advertising performance, campaign activity, and conversion activity
  • Respond to customer service requests
  • Administer contests, promotions, surveys, or other features
  • Follow up after correspondence, including live chat, email, form submissions, or phone calls
  • Detect, prevent, or respond to fraud, abuse, security issues, or technical problems

How do we protect your information?

  • We use regular malware scanning.
  • We do not use vulnerability scanning or PCI standards, as we only provide articles and information and do not collect credit card numbers.
  • We do use an SSL certificate.

Do we use cookies?

Yes, we use cookies, pixels, analytics tools, tags, server logs, and similar technologies to operate our website, understand how visitors use our website, improve website performance, measure marketing effectiveness, save preferences, support advertising and attribution, and provide a better user experience. These technologies are common features of modern websites and may begin operating when a page loads, depending on your browser settings, device settings, and the tools active on the website.

These technologies may collect information such as your IP address, browser type, device information, pages visited, referring pages, timestamps, approximate location, time spent on the site, form interactions, event data, screen or device settings, and other website activity. Some cookies and technical processes are necessary or useful for the website to function, while others help us understand site usage, evaluate marketing activity, improve content, measure advertising, or provide more relevant information.

You can disable cookies through your browser settings, but this may affect site functionality. Depending on your browser, you may be able to block cookies, delete existing cookies, restrict cross-site tracking, limit advertising identifiers, or receive notice before cookies are placed. Your browser, device, and third-party privacy controls are the primary tools available to limit or block many tracking technologies.

When you first visit our site, we display a cookie notice that informs you about these technologies. Because our banner operates in notification mode, cookies may load when the page loads, and the notice is informational rather than a place to accept or decline individual categories. You can re-open this notice at any time by selecting Cookie Settings below; to limit or block cookies, use your browser or device settings and the opt-out tools described in this policy.


Website analytics, advertising, and tracking technologies

We may use third-party tools such as Google Analytics, Google advertising products, HubSpot, Hotjar, or similar platforms to help us analyze website traffic, understand visitor behavior, measure marketing performance, manage advertising activity, evaluate conversions, and follow up with people who submit forms or otherwise engage with our website. These tools may use cookies, pixels, tags, scripts, session identifiers, or similar technologies to collect and process website activity data.

These providers may receive technical information from your browser or device when you load or interact with our website. This information may include IP address, device and browser information, pages visited, referring pages, page titles, timestamps, event data, session information, screen or device settings, approximate location, and other interaction data. These third parties process this information according to their own privacy policies, terms, and platform settings.

We use these tools for ordinary business purposes, including analytics, attribution, advertising measurement, audience understanding, website improvement, security, and follow-up with people who voluntarily contact us. We do not use these tools to read the contents of your private communications, access files on your device, or identify you by name unless you voluntarily provide identifying information or a third-party platform independently associates activity with information it already has under its own terms and policies.

Our approach to notice and opt-out

We provide this Privacy Policy to give notice of our use of cookies, analytics, advertising, and similar technologies. We do not represent that every non-essential cookie, pixel, tag, script, or third-party request is blocked before it loads. Instead, we provide notice of these practices — including through our on-site cookie notice, which you can re-open at any time using the Cookie Settings button in the “Do we use cookies?” section above — and give visitors ways to limit, block, or opt out of certain data collection through browser settings, device settings, third-party opt-out tools, advertising controls, unsubscribe links, and direct contact with us.

If you do not want cookies or similar technologies used when you visit our website, you should adjust your browser or device settings before using the site. You may also use the opt-out tools listed in this policy where available. If you contact us and request that we stop using information you voluntarily provided, we will review and respond to your request as appropriate.

Third-party disclosure

We do not sell your personal information for money. We may share limited personal information or website activity data with trusted service providers, analytics providers, advertising partners, marketing platforms, hosting providers, security providers, and other third parties who help us operate our website, understand site performance, deliver services, measure advertising, or communicate with visitors and clients.

These third parties are expected to use the information only for the services they provide to us or as otherwise described in their own privacy policies and terms. We may also disclose information when required by law, to protect our rights, to operate our business, to respond to legal requests, or to prevent fraud, abuse, or security issues.

Third-party links

Our website may include third-party products, services, links, embedded content, or tools with separate privacy policies. We are not responsible for the content, privacy practices, tracking technologies, or activities of these third-party sites or services, but we welcome feedback to maintain site integrity.

Google

We may use Google advertising products and Google Analytics. These services may use cookies, pixels, tags, or similar technologies to serve ads, measure ad performance, understand visitor behavior, analyze website activity, measure conversions, and support marketing attribution.

You can learn more or opt out through:

We may implement features such as Demographics and Interests Reporting, remarketing, conversion tracking, and advertising measurement. These features may use first-party cookies, such as Google Analytics cookies, and third-party cookies, such as advertising cookies, to analyze website activity and ad interactions.

HubSpot, Hotjar, and similar tools

We may use HubSpot, Hotjar, or similar platforms to understand website activity, manage forms, measure engagement, improve user experience, support marketing operations, and follow up with people who voluntarily submit information. These tools may collect technical data and website activity data such as IP address, device/browser information, pages visited, referring pages, timestamps, form interactions, and session or event data.

These tools help us understand aggregate behavior and improve our website and marketing. They do not, by themselves, tell us your name, email address, phone number, or company unless you voluntarily provide that information or the platform otherwise has a lawful basis to associate your activity with information already available to it.

California Online Privacy Protection Act (CalOPPA)

Per CalOPPA:

  • You can visit our site anonymously, meaning you can browse our site without directly providing your name, email address, phone number, or other contact information.
  • Our Privacy Policy link, including the word “Privacy,” is accessible on our homepage or the first significant page after entering our site.
  • We notify you of policy changes on this page.
  • You can update personal information you voluntarily provided by contacting us through our contact page.

Do Not Track signals

Some browsers offer a Do Not Track (DNT) setting. Because there is not a uniform industry standard for recognizing or responding to DNT signals, our website may not respond to all DNT signals. You can still control cookies and certain tracking technologies through your browser settings, device settings, privacy extensions, ad settings, and available third-party opt-out tools.

Third-party behavioral tracking

We may use third-party services such as HubSpot, Hotjar, Google Analytics, Google advertising products, or similar platforms for website analytics, marketing measurement, visitor behavior analysis, advertising measurement, conversion tracking, remarketing, and follow-up after website interactions. These tools may use cookies, pixels, tags, session identifiers, or similar technologies to collect website activity data, including IP address and device/browser information.

By continuing to use our site, and depending on your browser or cookie settings, you acknowledge that these technologies may be used as described in this Privacy Policy. If you do not want these technologies used, you should adjust your browser or device settings, use available opt-out tools, or contact us through our contact page.

Your choices and opt-out options

You can limit certain data collection by disabling cookies in your browser, blocking third-party cookies, using private browsing modes, installing privacy extensions, adjusting device advertising settings, using available third-party opt-out tools, unsubscribing from marketing emails, or contacting us through our contact page. You can also re-open our cookie notice at any time using the Cookie Settings button in the “Do we use cookies?” section above. If you disable cookies or block certain technologies, some features of the website may not function properly.

To request that we stop using information you voluntarily provided, visit our contact page and include your request. You may ask us to stop sending marketing emails, remove you from our mailing list, update information you provided, or review other privacy-related requests. We may need to verify your request before acting on it.

For browser-based tracking, you can also use the opt-out tools provided by third-party platforms, including Google Ad Settings, the Network Advertising Initiative Opt-Out, and the Google Analytics Opt-Out Browser Add-On. These tools are controlled by third parties, and their effectiveness may depend on your browser, device, settings, and whether cookies are deleted or blocked.

COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act)

We do not market to children under 13 and comply with COPPA, which ensures parental control over children’s online privacy.

Fair Information Practices

In case of a data breach, we will notify you via:

  • Email within 7 business days
  • In-site notification within 7 business days

We adhere to the Individual Redress Principle, allowing you to pursue legal rights against non-compliant data collectors.

CAN-SPAM Act

We collect email addresses to:

  • Respond to inquiries or requests
  • Send marketing emails to our mailing list

To comply with CAN-SPAM, we:

  • Avoid false or misleading email subjects
  • Identify advertisements clearly
  • Include our physical address
  • Monitor third-party email marketing services
  • Honor opt-out requests promptly
  • Provide an unsubscribe link in emails

To unsubscribe, visit our contact page and request removal.

Contacting Us

For questions about this privacy policy or to make an opt-out or privacy-related request, visit our contact page.

Last Edited: July 8, 2026

Smithworks Copyright Assignment

At Smithworks, we believe that if you pay for our work, you own it. Unlike many agencies where you only license the work while doing business with them, we take a different approach. When we write, design, or create something for you, it’s yours to use as you see fit—whether it’s a logo, artwork, or other original content.

The Details

There are a few conditions to this policy:

  1. Payment in Full: Your account must be paid in full for ownership to transfer. If you owe us money, we retain ownership of the work.
  2. Third-Party Licensing: Some assets, like stock photography or content management systems (e.g., Drupal, HubSpot, WordPress), come with their own licensing restrictions. We strive to use sources that allow full access, but:
    • Stock photos from our library or purchased on your behalf are licensed for specific uses (e.g., on your website). Using them elsewhere may require additional licenses from providers like Shutterstock or Adobe Stock.
    • Our $25 per-image fee covers the time to source the image and the cost of assigning its license for use on your website. This fee is waived for standard stock photos used in our recurring marketing contracts. If you provide your own images, no additional fees apply unless Photoshop work is needed.
    • For client-provided images you already own, there are no extra charges.
  3. Licensing Compliance: While we ensure proper licensing, you agree to take responsibility for any non-compliance with licensing laws if you use images or materials outside their intended scope. Smithworks is not liable for such usage.
  4. Unique Circumstances: We’ll notify you in writing if any special conditions apply.

Licensing for Platforms and Modules

Some platforms and tools we use have their own licenses:

Common modules and features (all GNU 3.0 unless noted):

  • MaterializeCSS (MIT License)
  • MaterializeCSS Drupal 7 Theme
  • Better Megamenu
  • Google Knowledge Graph
  • Tech Center Boise User Management (Client)
  • Google Store Locator Multimap
  • URL Scraper
  • Article Import
  • Better Directory
  • Product Catalog
  • Filtered Web Form Results
  • SM Assessment
  • Careers
  • Events
  • Testimonials
  • Photo Gallery
  • Video Gallery
  • Generic Catalog
  • Related Content
  • Calendar
  • Logo Carousel
  • Marketing Landing Page
  • New Product Notification
  • OPN Feed