This Privacy Policy describes how LocalizeHER ("we," "us," "our") collects, uses, and shares information when you use localizeher.com, the LocalizeHER member platform, and related services.
1. Information We Collect
- Account information. Name, email, password (hashed), and — if you sign in with Google — your Google profile information (name, email, picture).
- Business information. Business name, category, city, description, logos, photos, website, social handles, and any details you choose to add to your HER Guide listing.
- Payment information. When LocalizeHER begins processing paid memberships, we will use a third-party payment processor that handles your card and billing details on our behalf. We will receive a token, the last four digits of your card, and the transaction status — we never store your full card number. Until paid memberships launch, we do not collect any payment information.
- Usage information. Pages viewed, clicks, device and browser type, approximate location (derived from IP), and timestamps. We use this to improve the platform and prevent abuse.
- Cookies. See Section 6 below.
2. How We Use Your Information
- To operate your account, the HER Guide directory, events, and community features;
- To process payments and send transactional emails (receipts, renewal notices);
- To send marketing emails about LocalizeHER (you can unsubscribe at any time);
- To improve the platform, our content, and our member experience;
- To prevent fraud, enforce our Terms, and comply with the law.
3. How We Share Your Information
We do not sell your personal information. We share it only with:
- Service providers who help us run the platform — Google (OAuth sign-in), MongoDB Atlas (hosting), email providers, and analytics tools. These vendors are bound by data-protection agreements.
- The public, when you choose to be public. Your HER Guide listing is designed to be publicly discoverable. Anything you add to a public profile may be indexed by search engines.
- Legal requirements. If we're required by law, subpoena, or court order to disclose your information, we will.
- Business transfers. If LocalizeHER is acquired or merged, your data may transfer to the new owner subject to this Policy.
4. Your Rights
Depending on where you live (California, Virginia, Colorado, EU, UK, etc.), you may have the right to:
- Access the personal information we hold about you;
- Correct or delete that information;
- Export your data in a portable format;
- Opt out of marketing emails (every email has an unsubscribe link);
- Opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of personal data (we don't sell or share for cross-context behavioural advertising, but the option is here for the record).
Email hello@localizeher.com to exercise any of these rights. We'll respond within the timeframe required by your applicable law.
5. Data Retention & Security
We keep your information for as long as your account is active and for a reasonable period afterward to satisfy legal, accounting, or fraud-prevention obligations. We protect your data with industry-standard measures: passwords are hashed with bcrypt, sessions are delivered over HTTPS in httpOnly cookies, sensitive endpoints are rate-limited, and our databases sit behind a private network. No system is 100% secure — but we work hard to treat your data the way we'd want ours treated.
6. Cookies & Tracking
We use a small set of cookies:
- Strictly necessary — your authentication session (
session_token) and cookie-consent preference. These cannot be disabled. - Analytics — anonymous page-view tracking. You can opt out via our cookie banner.
You can also manage cookies via your browser settings. Disabling strictly-necessary cookies will break sign-in.
7. Children's Privacy
LocalizeHER is intended for adults running businesses. We don't knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 18. If you believe we have, contact us and we'll delete it.
8. International Transfers
Our service providers may store data in countries other than yours. By using LocalizeHER you consent to those transfers, which are protected by standard contractual safeguards.
9. Changes to This Policy
We'll post any material change here and notify active members by email. The "Last updated" date at the top reflects the most recent revision.
10. Contact
Privacy questions? hello@localizeher.com — we'll route you to the right person.
This Privacy Policy is a starting template and should be reviewed by privacy counsel before being held out as final.