Privacy Policy

1. Introduction

AEO Engine ("Company," "we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy and personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website at https://aeoengine.ai. Using our services or interacting with us in any way means you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to this policy.

We provide Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) and AI SEO services to clients worldwide. As a global service provider, we are committed to complying with applicable data protection laws, including the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for European users and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) for California residents.

By using our services or providing us with your information, you consent to the practices described in this Privacy Policy.

2. Information We Collect

2.1 Information You Provide

We collect information that you voluntarily provide to us, including:

• Contact Information: Name, email address, phone number, company name, job title
• Account Information: Username, password, and account preferences
• Business Information: Website URL, industry, business goals, marketing data
• Payment Information: Billing address and payment method details (processed securely by our payment processors)
• Communications: Content of emails, messages, and other communications with us
• Form Submissions: Information submitted through our lead forms, consultation requests, and contact forms at https://aeoengine.ai

2.2 Automatically Collected Information

When you visit our website, we automatically collect certain information:

• Device Information: IP address, browser type, operating system, device identifiers
• Usage Data: Pages visited, time spent on pages, click patterns, referring URLs
• Location Data: General geographic location based on IP address
• Cookies and Tracking: Information collected through cookies, pixels, and similar technologies

2.3 Information from Third Parties

We may receive information about you from third-party sources, including:

• Business partners and referral sources
• Social media platforms (when you interact with our social presence)
• Analytics providers
• Marketing platforms

3. How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes:

• Service Delivery: To provide, maintain, and improve our AEO and AI SEO services
• Communication: To respond to inquiries, send appointment reminders, follow-ups, and service-related communications
• Account Management: To create and manage your account, process payments, and provide customer support
• Marketing: To send promotional communications (with your consent where required)
• Analytics: To understand how our services are used and improve user experience
• Legal Compliance: To comply with applicable laws, regulations, and legal processes
• Security: To detect, prevent, and address fraud, security issues, and technical problems
• Business Operations: For internal operations, including data analysis and audits

4. Legal Basis for Processing (GDPR)

For users in the European Economic Area (EEA), United Kingdom, and Switzerland, we process personal data based on the following legal grounds:

• Contract Performance: Processing necessary to fulfill our contractual obligations to you
• Legitimate Interests: Processing for our legitimate business interests, such as improving our services, marketing, and fraud prevention
• Consent: Where you have given explicit consent for specific processing activities
• Legal Obligation: Processing necessary to comply with legal requirements

5. Information Sharing & Third Parties

We do not sell your personal information. We may share your information with:

5.1 Service Providers

We work with trusted third-party service providers who assist us in operating our business:

• Twilio: For SMS and voice communications - used to send appointment reminders and follow-up messages
• GoHighLevel: For CRM and marketing automation - manages client relationships and communications
• Payment Processors: For secure payment handling
• Analytics Providers: For website analytics and performance tracking
• Cloud Hosting: For secure data storage and website hosting

5.2 Other Disclosures

We may also disclose your information:

• To comply with legal obligations or respond to lawful requests
• To protect our rights, privacy, safety, or property
• In connection with a merger, acquisition, or sale of business assets
• With your consent or at your direction

6. SMS Communications

6.1 How We Use SMS

We use SMS messaging (powered by Twilio) strictly for business communication with contacts who request information from us. This includes:

• Appointment reminders
• Follow-up messages related to your inquiry
• Basic business updates and service-related communications

We do not send promotional blasts or unsolicited messages. All SMS outreach is tied to direct inquiries, follow-up scheduling, or service-related communication.

6.2 Consent for SMS

You provide explicit consent for SMS communications when you enter your phone number in our forms and agree to be contacted. Our forms include a clear notice that by submitting your information, you give permission for us to reach out by call or SMS regarding your inquiry.

6.3 Where Phone Numbers Are Collected

Phone numbers are collected through our online lead forms at https://aeoengine.ai and our main opt-in form, where users request information, book a call, or ask for follow-up.

6.4 Opting Out of SMS

You can opt out of SMS communications at any time by:

• Replying STOP to any SMS message
• Contacting us at team@aeoengine.ai
• Calling or messaging us directly with your opt-out request

When STOP is received, messaging is automatically disabled for your number. We also manually honor any opt-out request received through other channels. Message and data rates may apply depending on your carrier and plan.

6.5 Mobile Information Sharing

If you provide your mobile phone number and opt in to receive text messages, we use your number only to send messages you requested and to support your account.

• We do not sell your mobile phone number.
• We do not share your mobile phone number, SMS opt, in information, or text messaging data with third parties for their marketing or promotional purposes.
• We may share your mobile phone number with service providers who help us deliver text messages or operate our services, but only for that purpose and only under appropriate confidentiality and security obligations.

7. Cookies & Tracking Technologies

We use cookies and similar tracking technologies to collect information and improve our services:

• Essential Cookies: Required for website functionality
• Analytics Cookies: Help us understand how visitors use the website
• Marketing Cookies: Used to track visitors across websites for advertising purposes
• Preference Cookies: Remember your settings and preferences

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may affect website functionality.

8. Data Retention

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes outlined in this Privacy Policy, unless a longer retention period is required or permitted by law. Factors we consider include:

• Duration of our relationship with you
• Legal obligations requiring data retention
• Statute of limitations for potential claims
• Business needs for data analysis and record-keeping

When data is no longer needed, we securely delete or anonymize it.

9. Your Rights

9.1 Rights for All Users

Regardless of your location, you have the right to:

• Access the personal information we hold about you
• Request correction of inaccurate information
• Opt out of marketing communications
• Opt out of SMS communications by replying STOP

9.2 GDPR Rights (EEA, UK, Switzerland)

If you are in the European Economic Area, UK, or Switzerland, you have additional rights:

• Right to Erasure: Request deletion of your personal data
• Right to Restrict Processing: Request limitation of how we use your data
• Right to Data Portability: Receive your data in a structured, machine-readable format
• Right to Object: Object to processing based on legitimate interests
• Right to Withdraw Consent: Withdraw consent at any time where processing is based on consent
• Right to Lodge a Complaint: File a complaint with your local data protection authority

9.3 CCPA Rights (California Residents)

California residents have specific rights under the CCPA:

• Right to Know: Request disclosure of personal information collected, used, and shared
• Right to Delete: Request deletion of personal information
• Right to Opt-Out: Opt out of the sale of personal information (we do not sell personal information)
• Right to Non-Discrimination: Not be discriminated against for exercising your rights

To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at team@aeoengine.ai.

10. International Data Transfers

AEO Engine is based in the United States. If you are accessing our services from outside the United States, please be aware that your information may be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States and other countries where our service providers operate.

For transfers from the EEA, UK, or Switzerland, we implement appropriate safeguards such as Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the European Commission to ensure your data is protected.

11. Security Measures

We implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your personal information against unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:

• Encryption of data in transit and at rest
• Secure access controls and authentication
• Regular security assessments and updates
• Employee training on data protection
• Vendor security requirements

While we strive to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security.

12. Children's Privacy

Our services are not directed to individuals under 18 years of age. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If we become aware that we have collected personal information from a child without parental consent, we will take steps to delete that information. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.

13. Updates to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices or for legal, operational, or regulatory reasons. We will notify you of material changes by posting the updated policy on our website and updating the "Effective Date" at the top of this page.

We encourage you to review this Privacy Policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

14. Contact Information

If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:

For GDPR-related inquiries, you may also contact your local data protection authority.