1. Introduction
Hippo Agency ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit our website hippo.agency (the "Site") or use our services (the "Services").
Please read this Privacy Policy carefully. By accessing or using our Services, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy. If you do not agree with our policies and practices, please do not use our Services.
2. Information We Collect
2.1 Personal Information You Provide
We collect information you provide directly to us, including:
- Name, email address, phone number
- Practice name and business information
- Payment and billing information
- Professional credentials and medical board certifications
- Marketing preferences and goals
- Communications with us (emails, phone calls, chat messages)
- Account login credentials
2.2 Information Collected Automatically
When you access our Site, we automatically collect certain information:
- Device information (IP address, browser type, operating system)
- Usage data (pages visited, time spent, click patterns)
- Referring website or source
- Location data (general geographic location based on IP address)
- Cookies and similar tracking technologies
2.3 Information from Third Parties
We may receive information from third-party services such as:
- Social media platforms (when you connect your accounts)
- Analytics providers (Google Analytics)
- Advertising platforms (Google Ads, Facebook Ads)
- Payment processors
3. How We Use Your Information
We use the information we collect for the following purposes:
- Provide Services: To deliver, maintain, and improve our marketing services
- Communications: To respond to inquiries, send updates, and provide customer support
- Account Management: To create and manage your account and subscriptions
- Payments: To process payments and send billing statements
- Marketing: To send promotional materials, newsletters, and service updates (with your consent)
- Analytics: To analyze usage patterns and improve our Site and Services
- Security: To detect, prevent, and address fraud, security issues, and technical problems
- Legal Compliance: To comply with legal obligations and enforce our Terms and Conditions
4. How We Share Your Information
We may share your information in the following circumstances:
- Service Providers: With third-party vendors who perform services on our behalf (hosting, analytics, payment processing, email services)
- Marketing Platforms: With platforms like Google, Facebook, and Instagram to deliver marketing services
- Business Transfers: In connection with any merger, sale, or acquisition of all or part of our business
- Legal Requirements: When required by law or to protect our rights, property, or safety
- With Your Consent: When you explicitly consent to sharing your information
We do not sell your personal information to third parties for their marketing purposes.
5. HIPAA and Healthcare Information
Important Notice: Hippo Agency is NOT a Business Associate under HIPAA. We do not handle, store, or process Protected Health Information (PHI) or individually identifiable health information.
Our clients (medical practices) are solely responsible for:
- Ensuring HIPAA compliance in all marketing materials
- Obtaining proper patient consent for testimonials, photos, and case studies
- De-identifying any patient information before sharing with us
- Maintaining separate systems for handling PHI
6. Data Security
We implement reasonable security measures to protect your information from unauthorized access, alteration, disclosure, or destruction. These measures include:
- SSL/TLS encryption for data transmission
- Secure servers and databases
- Regular security updates and patches
- Access controls and authentication
- Employee training on data protection
However, no method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we strive to protect your information, we cannot guarantee absolute security.
7. Data Retention
We retain your information for as long as necessary to:
- Provide our Services to you
- Comply with legal obligations
- Resolve disputes and enforce our agreements
- For backup and archival purposes
Upon service termination, we retain data for 30 days as a courtesy, after which it may be permanently deleted unless required for legal or business purposes.
8. Your Privacy Rights
Depending on your location, you may have the following rights regarding your personal information:
- Access: Request access to the personal information we hold about you
- Correction: Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
- Deletion: Request deletion of your personal information
- Opt-Out: Opt out of marketing communications
- Data Portability: Request a copy of your data in a structured format
- Objection: Object to certain processing of your information
To exercise these rights, please contact us at info@hippo.agency.
9. Third-Party Links and Services
Our Site may contain links to third-party websites and services. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of these third parties. We encourage you to read their privacy policies.
10. Children's Privacy
Our Services are not directed to individuals under the age of 18. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have collected information from a child, please contact us immediately.
11. California Privacy Rights (CCPA)
If you are a California resident, you have specific rights under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA):
- Right to know what personal information is collected
- Right to know whether personal information is sold or disclosed
- Right to opt-out of the sale of personal information
- Right to deletion of personal information
- Right to non-discrimination for exercising your rights
Note: We do not sell personal information.
12. International Users
Our Services are based in the United States. If you access our Services from outside the United States, your information will be transferred to, stored, and processed in the United States, which may have different data protection laws than your country.
13. Changes to This Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. We will notify you of any material changes by:
- Posting the updated policy on this page with a new "Last Updated" date
- Sending an email notification to registered users
- Displaying a prominent notice on our Site
Your continued use of our Services after changes are made constitutes acceptance of the updated Privacy Policy.
14. Contact Us
If you have any questions, concerns, or requests regarding this Privacy Policy or our data practices, please contact us:
By using our Services, you acknowledge that you have read and understood this Privacy Policy and consent to the collection, use, and sharing of your information as described herein.