Formative Digital is a search and AI-visibility firm in Brantford, Ontario, run by Matt Griffin. This policy explains what personal information we collect through formativedigital.com and our client work, why we collect it, and what you can ask us to do with it. We follow Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA).
Who is responsible
Matt Griffin is accountable for personal information at Formative Digital. Questions, access requests and complaints go to him at support@formativedigital.com or 226-450-2065.
What we collect
- Audit and contact requests. When you use the form on our contact page, we receive your name and email address, plus anything else you choose to fill in (phone number, business name, website and your message). The form also records your IP address and the page you sent it from, which we use to filter spam. Submissions are delivered to us by email.
- Calls and email. If you phone or email us, we keep your number or address and what you tell us so we can reply.
- Site analytics. We use Google Analytics 4 to see which pages people read and how they found us. It records things like pages viewed, approximate location (city level), device and browser type, and the site that referred you. We do not use it to identify you by name.
- Client work. When you hire us, you may give us access to tools such as Google Search Console, Google Analytics, Google Business Profile, your website or your store admin. We use that access only to do the work you hired us for.
We do not collect payment card numbers on this website, and we do not knowingly collect information from anyone under 18.
Why we use it
- To prepare the audit you asked for and reply to your enquiry.
- To deliver, report on and bill for client work.
- To understand which pages are useful so we can improve the site.
- To meet our legal, tax and accounting obligations.
We will only email you marketing messages if you have agreed to receive them, as Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) requires, and every such message has an unsubscribe link.
Who we share it with
We do not sell or rent personal information. We share it only with service providers that help us run the business, and only as much as each one needs:
- Web hosting for this site and our contact form (Cloudways).
- Email delivery (Brevo) and our business email provider.
- Site analytics (Google Analytics).
- Software we use to deliver client work, which can include AI tools that analyze search data and help draft content under our review.
Some of these providers store data outside Canada, including in the United States, where it may be accessible to authorities under local law. We may also disclose information when the law requires it.
Cookies
Google Analytics sets cookies in your browser to tell one visit from another. You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings, or install Google’s Analytics opt-out add-on. The site works the same with cookies turned off.
How long we keep it
We keep enquiries that do not turn into client work for up to 24 months, then delete them. Client records are kept for the length of the engagement and for 6 years after the end of the tax year they relate to, which is what the Canada Revenue Agency requires. When a client engagement ends, we hand back or remove our access to your accounts.
How we protect it
The site runs over HTTPS. Account access is limited to the people doing your work, and we use the access levels your platforms provide (for example, a user role in Search Console instead of your password) whenever we can. No method of storage or transmission is perfectly secure. If a breach creates a real risk of significant harm to you, we will tell you and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada, as PIPEDA requires.
Your rights
You can ask to see the personal information we hold about you, ask us to correct it, or withdraw your consent and ask us to delete it, subject to the records we must keep by law. Email support@formativedigital.com and we will reply within 30 days. If you are not satisfied with our answer, you can contact the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
Changes
If we change this policy, we will update the date at the top of this page. Our website terms of use cover the rest of how the site may be used.