We keep this short and in plain English, because that is how we write everything. This page explains what we collect when we build and run your website, why we collect it, and the choices you have.
Who we are
Gnarlywhal builds and maintains websites for local businesses. Gnarlywhal is a brand operated by Digital Star Marketing LLC ("Gnarlywhal," "we," "us"). When this page says "you," we mean a business owner who asks us to build a site, becomes a customer, or visits this website.
What we collect
Information you give us
- Your name, business name, and the web address you send us.
- Contact details: your email and mobile phone number.
- Payment details, if you become a paying customer (handled by our payment processor, not stored by us).
- For the Done-for-you tier or the Engine, the access you grant us to your Google Business Profile, social accounts, and similar tools so we can do the work for you.
- Anything you send us by text or email, including photos, voice notes, and the answers to our questions.
Information already public about your business
Before you ever pay us, we research your business the way a customer would. We gather information that is already public: your existing website, your Google Business Profile, your reviews, and your public listings. We use this to build your free preview. We are not pulling private data, we are surfacing what is already out there about you.
Information collected automatically
Like most websites, ours uses basic analytics and cookies to understand traffic and keep the site working. This is standard, non-identifying usage data.
How we use it
- To build your website and show it to you before you pay.
- To run the Engine: once a week we text you, report your results from Google, and turn your reply into posts, pages, and review responses.
- To keep your website, Google profile, and reviews current.
- To take payment and send you receipts.
- To send the 10% donation to the cause you choose.
- To answer you when you reach out.
Text messages
The Engine works by text, so consent matters. When you sign up for the Engine, you agree to receive recurring automated text messages from us at the number you provide. Message frequency is roughly one per week. Message and data rates may apply.
You can stop at any time by replying STOP, and get help by replying HELP. We will never sell your phone number, and we only text you about your own business and your account. Your consent to texts is not a condition of buying a website from us.
Who we share it with
We do not sell your information. We share it only with the service providers that help us run Gnarlywhal, and only as much as they need to do their job:
- Hosting and infrastructure (for example, Cloudflare) to serve your website.
- Text messaging (for example, Twilio) to send and receive the Engine's texts.
- Google to read your business results and publish updates to your profile, with your permission.
- AI providers (for example, Anthropic, OpenAI, and Google) to help research, write, and design.
- Our payment processor to handle billing securely.
We may also share information if the law requires it, or to protect our rights, safety, or property.
How long we keep it
We keep your information for as long as you are a customer and for a reasonable period after, so we can meet legal, tax, and record-keeping obligations. If you ask us to delete your information, we will, unless we are required to keep some of it.
Your choices
- Ask us what information we hold about you, and ask us to correct or delete it.
- Reply STOP to end the Engine's texts.
- Withdraw the access you granted to your Google or social accounts at any time.
- Close your account.
To do any of these, just contact us at the address below.
Security
We take reasonable steps to protect your information. No method of storing or sending data online is perfectly secure, so we cannot promise absolute security, but we work with reputable providers and limit who can access your data.
Children
Gnarlywhal is for businesses and is not intended for anyone under 18. We do not knowingly collect information from children.
Changes to this policy
If we change this policy, we will update the date at the top of this page. If the change is significant, we will do our best to let you know directly.
Contact us
Questions about your privacy? Email us at [email protected]. Gnarlywhal is operated by Digital Star Marketing LLC.