privacy policy

This privacy policy informs you about the nature, scope and purpose of the processing of personal data within our online offer and the websites, functions and content associated with it (hereinafter referred to as "online offer" or "website"). The privacy policy applies regardless of the domains, systems, platforms and devices (e.g. desktop or mobile) on which the online offer is executed. The terms used, such as "personal data" or "processing" refer to the definitions in Article 4 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). The personal data of users processed within the framework of this online offer includes inventory data (e.g., names and addresses of customers), contract data (e.g., services used, names of employees, payment information), usage data (e.g., visited websites of our online offer, interest in our products) and content data (e.g., entries in contact forms). The term "user" includes all categories of persons affected by data processing. These include our business partners, customers, prospects and other visitors to our online offer. The terms used, such as "user," are to be understood in a gender-neutral sense. We process personal data of users only in compliance with the relevant data protection regulations. This means that user data is only processed if there is a legal permission. This means, in particular, that the data processing is necessary for the performance of our contractual services (e.g. processing of orders) as well as online services, or is legally required, or if the user has given his/her consent, or is based on our legitimate interests (e.g. interest in the analysis, optimization and economic operation and security of our online offer within the meaning of Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. GDPR, in particular in the case of reach measurement, creating profiles for advertising and marketing purposes and collecting access data and use of third-party services). We would like to point out that the legal basis for consents is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. a. and Art. 7 GDPR, the legal basis for processing to fulfill our services and contractual measures is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. b. GDPR, the legal basis for processing to fulfill our legal obligations is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. c. GDPR, and the legal basis for processing to safeguard our legitimate interests is Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. GDPR.

Security Measures

• We take organizational, contractual, and technical security measures in accordance with state-of-the-art technology to ensure that data protection laws are upheld and to protect the data processed by us against accidental or intentional manipulation, loss, destruction, or unauthorized access.

• Security measures include, in particular, the encrypted transmission of data between your browser and our server.

• Data sharing with third parties and third-party providers

• Data is only shared with third parties in accordance with legal requirements. We only share user data with third parties if it is necessary, for example, based on Article 6 (1) (b) of the GDPR for contractual purposes or based on legitimate interests in accordance with Article 6 (1) (f) of the GDPR for the economic and efficient operation of our business.

• If we use subcontractors to provide our services, we take appropriate legal precautions and appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect personal data in accordance with relevant legal regulations.

• If, as part of this privacy policy, content, tools or other means from other providers (hereinafter referred to collectively as "third-party providers") are used and their stated seat is located in a third country, it can be assumed that data transfer to the seat states of the third-party providers takes place. Third countries are understood to be countries in which the GDPR is not directly applicable, i.e. generally countries outside the EU or the European Economic Area. Data transmission to third countries takes place either if an appropriate level of data protection, the consent of the users or otherwise a legal permit is available.

• We process inventory data (such as names and addresses, as well as contact information of users), contract data (such as services used, names of contact persons, payment information) for the purpose of fulfilling our contractual obligations and services in accordance with Art. 6 (1) lit. b of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

• Users can optionally create a user account, which allows them to use the SEOPRO services in particular. During registration, the required mandatory information is provided to the users. User accounts are not public and cannot be indexed by search engines. If users have terminated their user account, their data will be deleted in relation to the user account, unless their retention is necessary for commercial or tax reasons in accordance with Art. 6 (1) lit. c of the GDPR. It is the responsibility of the users to secure their data before the end of the contract. We are entitled to irrevocably delete all data stored by the user during the contract period.

• In the course of registration and re-registration, as well as the use of our online services, we store the IP address and the time of the respective user action. The storage is based on our legitimate interests and the user's protection against abuse and other unauthorized use. A transfer of this data to third parties does not generally take place, unless it is necessary for the pursuit of our claims or there is a legal obligation in accordance with Art. 6 (1) lit. c GDPR.

• We process usage data (e.g. the websites visited in our online offerings, interest in our products) and content data (e.g. entries in the contact form or user profile) for advertising purposes in a user profile in order to display, for example, product information based on the services used by the user.

• In case of contact with us (via contact form, email or chat), the user's information will be processed for the purpose of processing the contact request and handling it in accordance with Art. 6 (1) lit. b GDPR.

• The information provided by the users may be stored in our customer relationship management system (CRM system) or similar request organization.

• If users leave comments or other contributions, their IP addresses will be stored on the basis of our legitimate interests under Art. 6 (1) lit. f GDPR. This is for our security, in case someone leaves illegal content in comments and contributions (insults, prohibited political propaganda, etc.). In this case, we can be held liable for the comment or contribution and are therefore interested in the identity of the author.

• When users leave comments or other posts, their IP addresses are stored based on our legitimate interests in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. This is done for security reasons in case someone leaves illicit content in comments and posts (insults, prohibited political propaganda, etc.). In this case, we can be held responsible for the comment or post and are therefore interested in the identity of the author.

• Collection of access data and log files

• We collect data on every access to the server on which this service is located (so-called server log files) based on our legitimate interests in accordance with Article 6(1)(f) of the GDPR. Access data includes the name of the website accessed, file, date and time of access, data transferred, message about successful access, browser type and version, user's operating system, referrer URL (the previously visited page), IP address and the requesting provider. Log file information is stored for security reasons (e.g. to investigate abuse or fraud) for a maximum of 90 days and then deleted. Data that needs to be retained for proof purposes is exempt from deletion until the incident in question is finally resolved.

• Cookies & Audience Measurement

• Cookies are information that is transferred from our web server or third-party web servers to the web browsers of users and stored there for later retrieval. Cookies can be small files or other forms of information storage.

• We use "session cookies" that are only stored for the duration of the current visit to our online presence (e.g. to store your login status or the SEOPRO Toolbox and thus enable the use of our online offerings at all). A randomly generated unique identification number, a so-called session ID, is stored in a session cookie, as well as information about its origin and storage period. These cookies cannot store any other data. Session cookies are deleted when you end your use of our online offerings and, for example, log out or close the browser.

• Users are informed about the use of cookies for the purpose of pseudonymous audience measurement in this privacy policy.

• If users do not want cookies to be stored on their computer, they are asked to deactivate the corresponding option in the system settings of their browser. Stored cookies can be deleted in the browser settings. Excluding cookies can lead to functional limitations of this online offering.

• You can object to the use of cookies for the purpose of audience measurement and advertising by deactivating them on the deactivation page of the Network Advertising Initiative (http://optout.networkadvertising.org/) and in addition the US website (http://www.aboutads.info/choices) or the European website (...).

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"We use Google Analytics, a web analysis service provided by Google Inc. (“Google”) based on our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in analyzing, optimizing, and economically operating our online offering in accordance with Art. 6 (1) lit. f of the GDPR). Google uses cookies. The information generated by the cookie about the use of the online offering by users is usually transmitted to a Google server in the USA and stored there. Google is certified under the Privacy Shield Agreement and thus guarantees compliance with European data protection law (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt000000001L5AAI&status=Active). Google will use this information on our behalf to evaluate the use of our online offering by users, to compile reports on the activities within this online offering, and to provide us with other services related to the use of this online offering and internet usage. In doing so, pseudonymous usage profiles of users can be created from the processed data. We use Google Analytics to display ads to users who have shown an interest in our online offering or who have certain characteristics (e.g. interests in specific topics or products determined by the websites visited) that we transmit to Google (so-called “remarketing” or “Google Analytics audiences”). With the help of remarketing audiences, we also want to ensure that our ads meet the potential interest of users and do not become annoying. We only use Google Analytics with activated IP anonymization. This means that the IP address of users is shortened by Google within member states of the European Union or in other contracting states of the Agreement on the European Economic Area. Only in exceptional cases is the full IP address transmitted to a Google server in the USA and shortened there. The IP address transmitted by the user's browser is not merged with other data from Google. Users can prevent the storage of cookies by setting their browser software accordingly; users can also prevent the collection of data generated by the cookie and related to their use of the online offering to Google and the processing of this data by Google by downloading and installing the browser plugin available at the following link: http://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout?hl=de.

More information on the use of data by Google, as well as settings and opt-out options, can be found on Google's websites: https://www.google.com/intl/de/policies/privacy/partners (“Data use by Google when you use websites or apps of our partners”), http://www.google.com/policies/technologies/ads (“Data use for advertising purposes”), http://www.google.de/settings/ads (“Manage information that Google uses to show you ads”).

In addition, we use Google's Remarketing services to display ads to users who have already shown an interest in our online offering. Google uses cookies for this purpose. If users visit certain pages of our website or other websites on the internet, they may be shown ads related to the content they viewed on our website. This allows us to show users ads that are tailored to their interests. Users can prevent the use of cookies by Google by visiting the page for deactivating Google's advertising cookies: http://www.google.com/settings/ads. Users can also prevent the use of third-party cookies by visiting the deactivation page of the Network Advertising Initiative: http://www.networkadvertising.org/choices/."

We use Facebook Social Plugins on the basis of our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in analyzing, optimizing and economically operating our online offer in accordance with Art. 6 (1) (f) GDPR) of the social network facebook.com, which is operated by Facebook Ireland Ltd., 4 Grand Canal Square, Grand Canal Harbour, Dublin 2, Ireland (“Facebook”). The plugins can display interaction elements or content (e.g. videos, graphics or text contributions) and are recognizable by one of the Facebook logos (white “f” on blue tile, the terms “Like”, “I like” or a “thumbs up” symbol) or are marked with the addition “Facebook Social Plugin”. The list and appearance of Facebook Social Plugins can be viewed here: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/plugins/.

Facebook is certified under the Privacy Shield Agreement, which guarantees compliance with European data protection legislation (https://www.privacyshield.gov/participant?id=a2zt0000000GnywAAC&status=Active).

If a user calls up a function of this online service that contains such a plugin, their device establishes a direct connection to the servers of Facebook. The content of the plugin is transmitted directly from Facebook to the user's device and integrated into the online service. This may allow Facebook to create user profiles from the processed data. Therefore, we have no influence on the extent of the data that Facebook collects with the help of this plugin, and we inform users accordingly based on our knowledge.

By integrating the plugins, Facebook receives the information that a user has called up the corresponding page of the online service. If the user is logged in to Facebook, Facebook can assign the visit to their Facebook account. If users interact with the plugins, for example by clicking the Like button or leaving a comment, the corresponding information is transmitted from their device directly to Facebook and stored there. If a user is not a member of Facebook, there is still a possibility that Facebook will find out and store their IP address. According to Facebook, only an anonymized IP address is stored in Germany.

The purpose and scope of the data collection and the further processing and use of the data by Facebook, as well as the rights and settings options for protecting the privacy of users, can be found in the Facebook data protection notices: https://www.facebook.com/about/privacy/.

If a user is a Facebook member and does not want Facebook to collect data about them via this online service and link it to their member data stored on Facebook, they must log out of Facebook and delete their cookies before using our online service. Additional settings and objections to the use of data for advertising purposes are possible within the Facebook profile settings: https://www.facebook.com/settings?tab=ads or through the US site http://www.aboutads.info/choices/ or the EU site http://www.youronlinechoices.com/. The settings are platform-independent, i.e. they are applied to all devices such as desktop computers or mobile devices.

The following information explains the contents of our newsletter, as well as the registration, mailing and statistical evaluation process, and your rights of opposition. By subscribing to our newsletter, you agree to receive it and the described procedures.

Content of the newsletter: We only send newsletters, emails and other electronic notifications (such as via messenger services like WhatsApp) with advertising information (hereinafter referred to as "newsletter") with the consent of the recipients or a legal permission. If the contents of the newsletter are specifically described during registration, they are decisive for the user's consent. Otherwise, our newsletters contain information about our products, offers, actions and our company.

Double-Opt-In and Logging: Subscription to our newsletter takes place in a so-called Double-Opt-In procedure. That means, after registering, you will receive an email asking you to confirm your registration. This confirmation is necessary so that no one can register with someone else's email address. The newsletter registrations are logged in order to be able to prove the registration process according to legal requirements. This includes storing the registration and confirmation time, as well as the IP address. Changes to your data stored with the mailing service provider are also logged.

Mailing Service Provider: The mailing of the email newsletter is done through MailChimp, The Rocket Science Group, LLC, 512 Means Street, Ste 404 Atlanta, GA 30318. , hereinafter referred to as "mailing service provider". You can view the privacy policy of the mailing service provider here: https://mailchimp.com/legal/privacy/

Furthermore, according to the mailing service provider's own information, this data may be used by them in pseudonymized form, i.e. without being assigned to a user, for the optimization or improvement of their own services, e.g. for technical optimization of mailing and presentation of the newsletter or for statistical purposes, to determine from which countries the recipients come from. However, the mailing service provider does not use the data of our newsletter recipients to contact them themselves or to pass it on to third parties.

Registration Data: To register for the newsletter, it is sufficient to provide your email address. We also ask you to provide a name for personal address in the newsletter.

Statistical Surveys and Analyses - The newsletters contain a so-called "web-beacon", i.e. a pixel-sized file that is retrieved from the server of the mailing service provider when the newsletter is opened. As part of this retrieval, technical information such as information about the browser and your system, as well as your IP address and the time of retrieval are first obtained. This information is used to improve the services technically by using the technical data or the target groups and their reading behavior based on their retrieval locations (which can be determined using the IP address) or access times. The statistical surveys also include information about whether the newsletter was opened, when it was opened and which links were clicked. This information can be assigned to the individual newsletter recipients for technical reasons. However, it is neither our nor the mailing service provider's intention to observe individual users. The evaluations serve us much more to recognize the reading habits of our users and to adapt our contents to them or to send different contents according to the interests of our users.

Integration of services and content from third parties

• Within our online offering, we use content or service offerings from third-party providers, such as videos or fonts, based on our legitimate interests (i.e. interest in analyzing, optimizing and economically operating our online offering in accordance with Art. 6 para. 1 lit. f. GDPR), in order to integrate their content and services (hereinafter referred to collectively as "content"). This always requires that third-party providers of this content can perceive the IP address of the users, as they could not send the content to the browser without the IP address. The IP address is therefore necessary for the presentation of this content. We only use content whose respective providers use the IP address solely for the delivery of the content. Third-party providers may also use so-called pixel tags (invisible graphics, also referred to as "web beacons") for statistical or marketing purposes. Through the "pixel tags," information such as visitor traffic on the pages of this website can be evaluated. The pseudonymous information can also be stored in cookies on the users' device and can include, among other things, technical information about the browser and operating system, referring websites, visit time, and other information about the use of our online offering, and can also be linked with information from other sources.

• The following representation provides an overview of third-party providers and their content, together with links to their privacy policies, which contain further information on data processing and, in some cases already mentioned, opt-out options (so-called "opt-out"):

• External fonts from Google, Inc., https://www.google.com/fonts („Google Fonts“). The integration of Google Fonts takes place through a server call to Google (usually in the USA). Privacy policy: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/, Opt-out: https://www.google.com/settings/ads/.

• Videos from the platform "YouTube" of the third-party provider Google Inc., 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, USA. Privacy policy: https://www.google.com/policies/privacy/, Opt-out: https://www.google.com/settings/ads/.

• Rights of users

• Users have the right to request free information about the personal data that we have stored about them.

• In addition, users have the right to correct incorrect data, restrict the processing and delete their personal data, if applicable, to assert their rights to data portability, and in the event of acceptance of an illegal data processing, to file a complaint with the responsible supervisory authority.

• Users can also withdraw their consent, generally with effect for the future.

• Deletion of data

• The data stored with us will be deleted as soon as they are no longer necessary for their intended purpose and no statutory retention obligations apply. If the users' data is not...

• Users are asked to regularly inform themselves about the content of the privacy policy.

As of January 2023