Privacy Policy

The Austin Pulse (theaustinpulse.com) is a local business news and intelligence publication serving the Austin, Texas area. It is operated by The Business Club USA. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect when you visit or interact with our site, how we use it, and what rights you have over it.

By using this site you agree to the practices described below. If you do not agree, please stop using the site.

Information We Collect

We collect information in two ways: what you give us directly, and what is collected automatically when you visit.

Information you provide:

• Name and email address when you submit a contact or inquiry form
• Any information you voluntarily share in a conversation with Marvin, our AI assistant
• Business name, phone number, or other details if you request information about The Business Club membership

Information collected automatically:

• IP address and general geographic location (city/region level)
• Browser type, device type, and operating system
• Pages visited, time on site, and referring URLs
• Cookies and similar tracking technologies (see Section 3)

We do not collect payment information. Any transactions are processed by third-party payment providers.

How We Use It

We use the information we collect to:

• Publish and deliver local Austin news, events, and business content
• Respond to inquiries and contact form submissions
• Operate Marvin and improve how it answers questions about Austin
• Understand how readers use the site so we can improve it
• Send you information about The Business Club if you requested it
• Comply with legal obligations

We do not sell your personal information. We do not use your data for automated profiling that produces legal or similarly significant effects.

Cookies & Tracking

This site uses cookies — small text files stored in your browser — to make the site function and to understand how it is used.

Types of cookies we use:

• Essential cookies — required for the site to load and function correctly
• Analytics cookies — help us understand traffic patterns and popular content (e.g. Google Analytics or similar)
• Functional cookies — remember preferences such as your region or consent choices

We do not use advertising cookies or sell cookie data to ad networks.

Marvin AI Chat

Marvin is our AI-powered assistant available on this site and at helpmemarvin.com. When you chat with Marvin:

• Your conversation may be stored in our CRM platform (GoHighLevel) to improve responses and follow up on business inquiries
• Conversations are not shared with third parties for advertising purposes
• Marvin is an AI system — it is not a human, and does not have access to your personal accounts or financial information
• Do not share sensitive personal data (passwords, Social Security numbers, financial account numbers) in the chat

Conversation data may be reviewed by our team to improve the quality of Marvin's responses to Austin-specific questions.

Third-Party Services

We use third-party tools to operate this site. Each has its own privacy policy:

• GoHighLevel — CRM, forms, and AI chat infrastructure (privacy policy)
• Google Fonts — typography delivery (privacy policy)
• Analytics provider — site traffic measurement
• RSS feed providers — content aggregation for news display

We do not control these third parties and are not responsible for their data practices. We choose providers carefully and limit the data shared with them to what is necessary.

This site may contain links to external websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites.

Data Retention

We retain personal information only as long as needed for the purposes described in this policy, or as required by law.

• Contact form submissions and inquiry records are retained for up to 24 months
• Marvin chat logs are retained for up to 12 months unless you request earlier deletion
• Analytics data is retained in aggregated, anonymized form

When data is no longer needed, it is deleted or anonymized.

Your Rights

Depending on where you are located, you may have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate information
• Request deletion of your personal information
• Opt out of marketing communications at any time
• Lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority

Texas residents may have additional rights under the Texas Data Privacy and Security Act (TDPSA), including the right to opt out of the sale of personal data. We do not sell personal data.

To exercise any of these rights, contact us using the information in Section 10. We will respond within 30 days.

Children's Privacy

This site is intended for adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under 13 years of age. If you believe a child has provided us with personal information, contact us and we will delete it promptly.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page. Continued use of the site after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Material changes will be noted prominently on the site for 30 days after they take effect.

Contact Us

Questions, requests, or concerns about this Privacy Policy can be directed to:

• Publication: The Austin Pulse
• Operator: The Business Club USA
• Website: theaustinpulse.com
• Contact: Talk to Marvin or use the contact form on the site