What this page is for, and the short version
Every site has a Website Privacy Policy, so here is mine. This page explains what happens to your information when you visit this website or join its email list. It is written for people who are deciding whether to trust a site that talks about earning money online, and who are right to want some answers first.
The short version: we collect your email address only if you give it to us, we use common tools to see how many people visit and which pages they read, and some links on the site are affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you buy through them. You can say no to most of this, and the sections below show you how.
What information we collect, and what we never ask for
There are two kinds of information. The first is what you choose to give us: your email address if you join the list, and whatever you write if you send us a message. The second is what your browser shares automatically when any website loads, such as the type of device you use, the pages you view, roughly where in the world you are, and how you arrived here.
This site does not ask for your Social Security number, bank account details, credit card number, or any password. If a message ever claims to come from us and asks for any of those, do not answer it, and please forward it to us.
Money for any tool or course you decide to buy goes through the seller’s own checkout, never through this site. Whatever you type there goes to the seller, and their privacy policy covers it.
Cookies and analytics: what they are and why they are here
A cookie is a small text file that a website stores in your browser. It lets the site remember something, such as that you have visited before or that you clicked a particular link. Cookies do not run programs and cannot read other files on your computer.
We use an analytics tool to learn which articles people read and where visitors come from. That tells us which topics are useful and which need work. Analytics tools generally record things like pages viewed, time on a page, and a rough location. They do not need your name.
Affiliate networks set their own cookies when you click one of our affiliate links. That is covered in the affiliate section below.
You can control cookies yourself. Every major browser has a settings page where you can block cookies, delete the ones already stored, or be asked each time. Blocking all cookies can make some websites work poorly, so you may want to try blocking only third-party cookies first.
If you join our email list
When you sign up, you give your email address (and your first name, if the form asks for it) to our email service provider, the company whose software stores the list and sends our messages. We use it to send you the articles, tips, and updates you signed up for.
Email services usually record whether a message was opened and which links in it were clicked. We can see that information in summary, and it helps us learn which messages are useful to readers.
Every email we send has an unsubscribe link at the bottom. One click removes you from the list. If the link does not work for any reason, write to us at the address at the end of this page, and we will remove you by hand.
Affiliate links: what they are and what the networks can see
Some of the tools and training we recommend are sold by companies that pay us a commission when someone buys after clicking our link. That is how this site pays for itself. We tell you this plainly because you should know it when you decide whether to follow a recommendation.
When you click an affiliate link, the affiliate network or the seller usually places a cookie in your browser. The cookie records that you came from our site, so the sale can be credited to us. The network can typically see the link you clicked, the time, your device and browser type, and your approximate location. If you then buy, the seller knows what you bought, because it is their sale.
We do not see your payment details, and we are not told your name or address when you buy. The network’s reports to us usually show that a sale or sign-up happened and the commission earned.
If you prefer not to be tracked this way, you can skip our link and go to the seller’s website by typing its address into your browser. Clearing your cookies after a visit also removes the tracking file. Prices are set by the seller, so check the price on their own page before you decide.
Who else touches your information
Besides you and us, a few outside services handle some information so that the site works:
- The analytics provider, which records visit data described above.
- The email service provider, which stores the addresses of people on our list and sends our messages.
- Affiliate networks and the sellers they represent, which see your click and any purchase you make through our links.
- Our website host, the company whose computers store and deliver this site, which keeps standard technical records of each visit.
Each of these companies has its own privacy policy, and those policies govern what they do with the information they receive. We choose them because they are established services, but we do not control their internal practices. If you want the full details on any one of them, search for its name and “privacy policy” and read the page directly.
Beyond this list, we share information if the law requires it.
Your choices: how to see it, change it or have it deleted
You can ask us what information we hold about you. In practice, that is usually your email address and the name you gave, if any. You can also ask us to correct it or delete it.
To do any of these, write to the email address at the bottom of this page from the address you want us to look up. That lets us confirm the request comes from you. If you ask for deletion, we will remove you from our list and delete what we hold. Information already held by the outside services above, such as an affiliate network’s click records, is held under their policies, so you would need to ask them directly.
Other choices you can make at any time:
- Unsubscribe from our emails with the link in any message.
- Block or delete cookies in your browser settings.
- Browse in a private window, which discards cookies when you close it.
- Visit seller websites directly instead of through our links.
A note for readers outside the United States
This site is written mainly for readers in the United States, but anyone can visit it. Some places, including the European Union, the United Kingdom, and certain US states, have privacy laws that give residents specific rights over their personal information, such as the right to access, correct or erase it. If you live somewhere with such a law, those rights apply to you, and you are welcome to use the contact address below to exercise them.
Our outside services may store information on computers in other countries, including the United States. Their policies explain where.
How to reach us with a question
If anything on this page is unclear, or you want to see, change, or delete your information, send us a note. Plain questions are welcome, and nobody will be hurried or talked down to. You do not need to quote any law or use special wording.
My email contact is michael@secondactincome.net
When this policy changes, and how you will hear about it
Tools change, and so does the way we run this site. When we update this page, we will change the text here so it always shows the current policy. If the change affects what we do with your information in a meaningful way, such as adding a new kind of outside service, we will also tell people on our email list by email.
Checking back here now and then is the surest way to see the latest version. If you read a change and disagree with it, you can unsubscribe, ask us to delete your information, or simply stop visiting.