Privacy Policy
How we collect, use and protect your personal data — and the rights you have over it.
Last updated: 10 August 2026
Who we are
Trade Search Marketing is a digital marketing agency based in Earl Shilton, Leicestershire, providing local SEO, website design and Google Ads management to trade businesses. We are the data controller for the personal data described in this policy.
You can reach us on 07424 676122 or through our contact page. If you are contacting us about your personal data, please say so in your message and we will treat it as a data protection request.
What we collect, and why
When you fill in our contact form
Our enquiry form asks for your name, email address, phone number, business name and your message. Phone number and business name are optional; the rest are needed so we can reply.
We use this only to respond to your enquiry and, if you become a client, to deliver and administer our services. Lawful basis: steps taken at your request prior to entering into a contract, and our legitimate interest in responding to people who contact us. We do not sell your data, and we do not add you to a marketing list without asking.
When you browse the site
We use Google Analytics 4 to understand how people find and use the site — pages viewed, approximate location (country or region level), device type and how you arrived. This is statistical; we do not use it to identify you personally.
Lawful basis: consent for the cookies used, and our legitimate interest in understanding and improving how the site performs.
Server logs
Our hosting provider records standard technical information such as IP address, browser type and time of request, for security and reliability. Lawful basis: our legitimate interest in keeping the site secure and available.
Cookies
Cookies are small files stored by your browser. The only non-essential cookies this site sets are Google Analytics cookies, used for the statistical purposes described above. You can block or delete cookies in your browser settings, and you can opt out of Google Analytics entirely using Google's opt-out browser add-on. Blocking them will not stop the site working.
Who we share data with
We do not sell your personal data. We share it only with the providers that run this site:
- Web3Forms — processes contact form submissions and delivers them to us by email.
- Google (Analytics) — website analytics.
- Cloudflare — hosting, content delivery and security.
- Our email provider — receiving and storing your enquiry.
Some of these providers process data outside the UK. Where that happens, transfers are covered by appropriate safeguards such as the UK International Data Transfer Agreement or the UK extension to the EU–US Data Privacy Framework.
We may also disclose information where we are legally required to, or to establish, exercise or defend legal claims.
How long we keep it
- Enquiries that do not become clients — up to 2 years, then deleted.
- Client records — for the duration of the engagement and 6 years afterwards, to meet accounting and legal obligations.
- Analytics data — retained according to our Google Analytics settings, then deleted automatically.
Your rights
Under UK GDPR you have the right to:
- Access. Ask for a copy of the personal data we hold about you.
- Rectification. Ask us to correct anything inaccurate or incomplete.
- Erasure. Ask us to delete your data where we have no continuing reason to keep it.
- Restriction. Ask us to limit how we use your data while a query is resolved.
- Object. Object to processing we carry out on the basis of legitimate interests.
- Portability. Ask for your data in a portable format, or sent to another provider.
You can also withdraw consent at any time where we rely on it. To exercise any of these, contact us using the details above. We will respond within one month.
If you are unhappy with how we have handled your data, you can complain to the Information Commissioner's Office at ico.org.uk, or on 0303 123 1113. We would appreciate the chance to put things right first.
Keeping your data secure
The site is served over HTTPS, and access to enquiry data is limited to those who need it to do their job. No system is completely secure, but we take reasonable steps to protect the information you give us.
Children
Our services are aimed at businesses. We do not knowingly collect personal data from anyone under 18.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy from time to time. Any changes will appear on this page with a revised "last updated" date.