Privacy Policy
We are committed to protecting your personal information and your right to privacy. This policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your data.
01 Who We Are
Smart Web Design ("we", "us", "our") is a web design and digital services agency registered and operating in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. We provide website design, e-commerce development, web application development, SEO services, and related digital marketing services to clients in South Africa and internationally.
For the purposes of the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013 (POPIA), Smart Web Design acts as the Responsible Party in respect of personal information collected through this website and during the course of providing our services.
Contact details:
Email: info@smartwebdesign.co.za
Phone: +27 62 595 0646
Address: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
02 Information We Collect
We collect personal information only when it is necessary for a legitimate business purpose. The types of information we may collect include:
Information you provide to us directly
- Contact information: Your name, email address, phone number, and business name when you submit a contact or quote request form.
- Project information: Details about your business, industry, and website requirements that you provide during consultation or onboarding.
- Payment information: Billing name and address for invoicing purposes. We do not store credit card or banking details on our systems.
- Communications: The content of emails, WhatsApp messages, or other correspondence you send to us.
Information collected automatically
- Usage data: Pages visited, time on site, referral source, and browser/device type via Google Analytics.
- IP address: Your IP address may be collected by our hosting provider and analytics tools for security and statistical purposes.
- Cookies: Small text files stored in your browser to improve your experience and help us understand website usage. See Section 6 for full details.
03 How We Use Your Information
We use the personal information we collect for the following purposes:
- To respond to enquiries, quote requests, and general communications.
- To provide, manage, and deliver the services you have engaged us for.
- To send project updates, invoices, and other service-related communications.
- To improve our website, services, and client experience based on usage patterns.
- To comply with our legal and regulatory obligations under South African law.
- To send occasional marketing communications about our services — only where you have given explicit consent, and with an easy opt-out option in every message.
We will never sell, rent, or trade your personal information to any third party for their own marketing purposes.
04 Data Storage & Security
We take the security of your personal information seriously and implement appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect it against unauthorised access, loss, destruction, or alteration.
- Our website is served over HTTPS with a valid SSL/TLS certificate.
- Access to client information is restricted to team members who need it to perform their duties.
- Project files and communications are stored on secure, password-protected systems.
- We use reputable third-party platforms (such as Google Workspace) that maintain their own industry-standard security practices.
While we take all reasonable steps to protect your information, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee absolute security but we commit to notify you promptly in the event of any data breach that affects your personal information.
05 Sharing of Information
We do not share your personal information with third parties except in the following limited circumstances:
- Service providers: We may share information with trusted third-party providers (e.g. hosting companies, email platforms, payment processors) who assist us in delivering our services. These parties are contractually bound to keep your information confidential and use it only for the specified purpose.
- Legal requirements: We may disclose your information if required to do so by law, court order, or a regulatory authority in South Africa.
- Business transfers: If Smart Web Design is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you before your personal information is transferred and becomes subject to a different privacy policy.
- With your consent: We may share your information with any other party where you have given us explicit consent to do so.
06 Cookies & Tracking
Our website uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience and to collect anonymised analytics data. Cookies are small text files stored on your device by your browser.
Types of cookies we use
- Essential cookies: Necessary for the website to function correctly. These cannot be disabled.
- Analytics cookies: We use Google Analytics to understand how visitors interact with our website. This data is anonymised and aggregated. You can opt out of Google Analytics tracking by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
Most web browsers allow you to control cookies through their settings. Please note that disabling cookies may affect the functionality of this website. For more information on managing cookies, visit allaboutcookies.org.
07 Your Rights Under POPIA
The Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) grants you the following rights in respect of your personal information that we hold:
- Right of access: You have the right to request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.
- Right to correction: You have the right to request that we correct any inaccurate or incomplete personal information we hold about you.
- Right to deletion: You have the right to request that we delete your personal information in certain circumstances.
- Right to object: You have the right to object to the processing of your personal information for direct marketing purposes at any time.
- Right to withdraw consent: Where processing is based on your consent, you may withdraw that consent at any time without affecting the lawfulness of prior processing.
- Right to complain: You have the right to lodge a complaint with the Information Regulator of South Africa if you believe we have violated your rights under POPIA. Visit inforegulator.org.za for more information.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us at info@smartwebdesign.co.za. We will respond to all requests within 30 days.
08 Data Retention
We retain personal information for as long as is necessary to fulfil the purpose for which it was collected, to provide ongoing services, or as required by applicable law.
- Enquiry data: Contact form submissions from non-clients are retained for up to 12 months and then securely deleted.
- Client project data: Information related to completed projects is retained for a minimum of 5 years for accounting and legal purposes.
- Marketing communications: If you have opted in to marketing emails, your contact details are retained until you unsubscribe.
When personal information is no longer required, we securely delete or anonymise it.
09 Third-Party Websites
Our website may contain links to third-party websites, including social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn) and external resources. We are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those websites.
We encourage you to review the privacy policies of any third-party sites you visit. This Privacy Policy applies solely to information collected by Smart Web Design through our website and direct communications.
10 Changes to This Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes in our practices, legal requirements, or operational needs. When we make material changes, we will update the "Last updated" date at the top of this page.
We encourage you to review this policy periodically. Your continued use of our website after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.
11 Contact Us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, wish to exercise your rights under POPIA, or have a concern about how we handle your personal information, please contact us:
- Email: info@smartwebdesign.co.za
- Phone: +27 62 595 0646
- WhatsApp: +27 66 383 8041
- Address: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
We are committed to resolving any privacy concerns promptly and fairly.