Privacy Policy

How We Collect and Use Information

We collect the following types of information about you:

Information you provide us directly:

Hometown Internet Marketing LLC (DBA HometownLocal) may ask for certain information such as your real name, address, phone number and e-mail address when you use our website HometownLocal.com, or if you correspond with us. We may also retain any messages you send through the website, and may collect information you provide in User Content you post to the website. We use this information to operate, maintain, and provide to you the features and functionality of the website.

Analytics information:

We may directly collect analytics data, or use third-party analytics tools and websites, to help us measure traffic and usage trends for the website. These tools collect information sent by your browser or mobile device, including the pages you visit and other information that assists us in improving the website. We collect and use this analytics information in aggregate form such that it cannot reasonably be manipulated to identify any particular individual user.

Cookies information:

When you visit the website, we may send one or more cookies — a small text file containing a string of alphanumeric characters — to your computer that uniquely identifies your browser and lets HometownLocal.com help you navigate through the site. A cookie may also convey information to us about how you use the website (e.g., the pages you view, the links you click and other actions you take on the website), and allow us to track your usage of the website over time. A persistent cookie may remain on your hard drive after you close your browser. Persistent cookies may be used by your browser on subsequent visits to the site. Persistent cookies can be removed by following your web browser’s directions. A session cookie is temporary and disappears after you close your browser. You can reset your web browser to refuse all cookies or to indicate when a cookie is being sent. However, some features of the website may not function properly if the ability to accept cookies is disabled.

Log file information:

 Log file information is automatically reported by your browser or mobile device each time you access the website. When you use our website, our servers automatically record certain log file information. These server logs may include anonymous information such as your web request, Internet Protocol (“IP”) address, browser type, referring / exit pages and URLs, number of clicks and how you interact with links on the website, domain names, landing pages, pages viewed, and other such information.

Clear gifs/web beacons information:

When you use the website, we may employ clear gifs (also known as web beacons) which are used to anonymously track the online usage patterns of our Users. In addition, we may also use clear gifs in HTML-based emails sent to our users to track which emails are opened and which links are clicked by recipients. The information is allows for more accurate reporting and improvement of the website.

Device identifiers:

When you access the website by or through a mobile device (including but not limited to smart-phones or tablets), we may access, collect, monitor and/or remotely store one or more “device identifiers,” such as a universally unique identifier (“UUID”). Device identifiers are small data files or similar data structures stored on or associated with your mobile device, which uniquely identify your mobile device. A device identifier may be data stored in connection with the device hardware, data stored in connection with the device’s operating system or other software, or data sent to the device by HometownLocal. A device identifier may convey information to us about how you browse and use the website. A device identifier may remain persistently on your device, to help you log in faster and enhance your navigation through the website. Some features of the website may not function properly if use or availability of device identifiers is impaired or disabled.

Location data:

When you access the website by or through a mobile device, we may access, collect, monitor and/or remotely store “location data,” which may include GPS coordinates (e.g. latitude and/or longitude) or similar information regarding the location of your mobile device. Location data may convey to us information about how you browse and use the website. Some features of the website, particularly location-based websites, may not function properly if use or availability of location data is impaired or disabled.

Commercial and marketing communications:

We use the information we collect or receive, such as your email address, to communicate directly with you. We may send you emails containing newsletters, promotions, and special offers. If you do not want to receive such email messages, you will be given the option to opt out or change your preferences. We also use your information to send you website-related emails (e.g., account verification, purchase and billing confirmations and reminders, changes/updates to features of the website, technical and security notices). You may not opt out of website-related emails. You may also be able to be “found” on the website based on information that you provide.

Use of certain website type information we collect about you:

We use or may use cookies, log file, device identifiers, location data and clear gifs information to: (a) remember information so that you will not have to re-enter it during your visit or the next time you visit the site; (b) provide custom, personalized content and information; (c) to provide and monitor the effectiveness of our website; (d) monitor aggregate metrics such as total number of visitors, traffic, and demographic patterns; (e) diagnose or fix technology problems; (f) help you efficiently access your information after you sign in; (g) to provide advertising to your browser or device, and (h) automatically update the website application on your mobile devices.

Sharing of Your Information

We will not rent or sell your information into third parties outside HometownLocal and its group companies (including any parent, subsidiaries and affiliates) without your consent, except as noted below:

• Who we may share your information with: We may share your information with third-party business partners and Trusted Users for the purpose of providing the website to you. Third party business partners will be given limited access to your information as is reasonably necessary to deliver the website, and we will require that such third parties comply with this Privacy Policy, or operate under a similar privacy policy.

• Who can see User Content: Any User Content that you voluntarily disclose for posting to the website (such as blog comments) becomes available to the public and cannot be removed, except by HometownLocal in its sole discretion. Once posted on the website, User Content may not be removable from public view, as copies may remain viewable in cached and archived pages of the website, on other sites that have republished us, or if other Users have copied or saved that information. If you do not wish your User Content to be available to the public, please don’t post it on HometownLocal. Your username and if you choose to disclose it, your real name, will be published publicly.

• Who can see your IP address: If you post User Content on the website while not logged in, your IP address will be published with your User Content in order to attribute your contribution to the website. A selection of Trusted Users with administrative powers on HometownLocal have the ability to review IP addresses of users to reduce abusive behavior. Any third party website embedded on HometownLocal such as a video provider, social network or other third party will also have access to your IP address.

• Who can see your email address: If you enter an email address, you will enable communication from HometownLocal (including any parent, subsidiaries and affiliates).

What happens in the event of a change of control:

We may buy or sell/divest/transfer the company (including any shares in the company), or any combination of its products, websites, assets and/or businesses. Your information such as customer names and email addresses, User Content and other user information related to the website may be among the items sold or otherwise transferred in these types of transactions. We may also sell, assign or otherwise transfer such information in the course of corporate divestitures, mergers, acquisitions, bankruptcies, dissolutions, reorganizations, liquidations, similar transactions or proceedings involving all or a portion of the company.

Instances where we are required to share your information:

HometownLocal will disclose your information where required to do so by law or subpoena or if we reasonably believe that such action is necessary to (a) comply with the law and the reasonable requests of law enforcement; (b) to enforce our Terms of Use or to protect the security, quality or integrity of our website; and/or (c) to exercise or protect the rights, property, or personal safety of HometownLocal, our Users, or others.

Sharing certain website type information we collect about you:

We may share certain website type information, including information obtained through tools such as cookies, log files, device identifiers, location data and clear gifs (such as anonymous usage data, referring/exit pages and URLs, platform types, number of clicks, etc.): (i) with our third-party business partners for the purposes described in the section above on “How We Collect and Use Information.” We may also aggregate or otherwise strip data of all personally identifying characteristics and may share that aggregated, anonymized data with third parties.

How We Store and Protect Your Information

Storage and Processing:

Your information collected through the website may be stored and processed in the United States or any other country in which HometownLocal or its subsidiaries, affiliates, or website providers maintain facilities. HometownLocal may transfer information that we collect about you, including personal information, to affiliated entities, or to other third parties across borders and from your country or jurisdiction to other countries or jurisdictions around the world. If you are located in the European Union or other regions with laws governing data collection and use that may differ from U.S. law, please note that we may transfer information, including personal information, to a country and jurisdiction that does not have the same data protection laws as your jurisdiction, and you consent to the transfer of information to the U.S. or any other country in which HometownLocal or its parent, subsidiaries, affiliates, or website providers maintain facilities and the use and disclosure of information about you as described in this Privacy Policy.

Keeping your information safe:

HometownLocal cares about the security of your information, and uses commercially reasonable safeguards to preserve the integrity and security of all information collected through the website. However, HometownLocal cannot ensure or warrant the security of any information you transmit to HometownLocal or guarantee that information on the website may not be accessed, disclosed, altered, or destroyed. Your privacy settings may also be affected by changes to the functionality of third party sites and websites that you add to the HometownLocal website, such as social networks. HometownLocal is not responsible for the functionality or security measures of any third party.

Compromise of information:

In the event that any information under our control is compromised as a result of a breach of security, HometownLocal will take reasonable steps to investigate the situation and where appropriate, notify those individuals whose information may have been compromised and take other steps, in accordance with any applicable laws and regulations.

How long we keep your private profile information:

Following termination of your use of the website, HometownLocal may retain your private profile information for a commercially reasonable time for backup, archival, or audit purposes. For the avoidance of doubt, any information that you choose to make public on the website may not be removable.

Children’s Privacy

HometownLocal does not knowingly collect or solicit any information from anyone under the age of 13 or knowingly allow such persons to register as Users. The website and its content are not directed at children under the age of 13. In the event that we learn that we have collected personal information from a child under age 13 without verification of parental consent, we will delete that information as quickly as possible. If you believe that we might have any information from or about a child under 13, please contact us at info@hometownlocal.com.

Links to Other Websites

We are not responsible for the practices employed by our website linked to or from the website, including the information or content contained therein. Please remember that when you use a link to go from the website to another website, our Privacy Policy does not apply to third-party websites or websites. Your browsing and interaction on any third-party website, including those that have a link or advertisement on our website, are subject to that third party’s own rules and policies. In addition, you agree that we are not responsible and we do not control over any third-parties that you authorize to access your User Content. This Privacy Policy does not apply to information we collect by other means (including offline) or from other sources other than through the website.