Privacy Policy – AllCupcake.com
Effective Date: January 1, 2025
Last Updated: January 1, 2025
Look, we get it – nobody loves reading privacy policies. But we actually care about your privacy, so we’ve written this in plain English. Here’s exactly what we collect, why we need it, and how we protect it.
Information We Collect
Information You Give Us Directly
When you sign up for our newsletter, leave comments, or contact us, here’s what we collect:
- Email address (so we can send you those cupcake recipes you asked for)
- Name (first name is fine – we use it to personalize emails)
- Comments and messages (when you share your baking wins or ask for help)
- Recipe ratings and reviews (to help other bakers learn from your experience)
Information We Collect Automatically
Like most websites, we collect some technical information to make the site work better:
- Device and browser info (to make sure recipes display properly on your phone or computer)
- IP address (general location info – we’re not tracking your exact address)
- Pages you visit (helps us understand which recipes are most popular)
- How you found us (Google search, social media, friend’s recommendation)
Cookies and Similar Technologies
We use cookies (the digital kind, not the delicious kind) for:
- Remembering your preferences (like if you prefer metric measurements)
- Keeping you logged in (so you don’t have to enter your info every time)
- Analytics (understanding which content helps our readers most)
- Advertising (showing you relevant content and supporting our free recipes)
You can control cookies through your browser settings, but some features might not work as smoothly without them.
How We Use Your Information
We use your information to:
- Send you the content you requested (newsletter, recipe updates, baking tips)
- Respond to your questions (every email gets a personal response)
- Improve our content (if everyone struggles with the same recipe step, we’ll clarify it)
- Personalize your experience (recommending recipes based on what you’ve enjoyed)
- Protect our community (preventing spam and maintaining quality discussions)
What we DON’T do: We never sell your personal information. Ever. We don’t share your email with other companies for their marketing. Your baking questions stay between us.
Data Protection & Security
We take protecting your information seriously:
- Secure servers with encryption for all data transmission
- Regular security updates and monitoring
- Limited access – only team members who need your info to help you can access it
- Secure payment processing through trusted third-party providers (we never store your payment info)
- Regular backups with encrypted storage
If we ever experience a security issue that affects your personal information, we’ll notify you within 72 hours and explain exactly what happened and what we’re doing about it.
Your Rights (GDPR/CCPA Compliant)
You have complete control over your information:
Access: Want to know what information we have about you? Email privacy@allcupcake.com and we’ll send you everything within 30 days.
Correction: Need to update your email or name? You can do this in your account settings or email us.
Deletion: Want us to delete your information? We’ll remove it within 30 days (except for legal requirements like tax records).
Portability: Want your data in a format you can use elsewhere? We’ll provide it.
Opt-out: Change your mind about our newsletter? There’s an unsubscribe link in every email, or email us directly.
Do Not Sell (California residents): We don’t sell personal information, but you have the right to opt-out if our practices ever change.
To exercise any of these rights, contact us at privacy@allcupcake.com. We’ll respond within 48 hours to confirm we received your request and within 30 days to complete it.
Cookies & Tracking
We use several types of cookies:
Essential Cookies (required for site function):
- Session management
- Security features
- Basic site functionality
Analytics Cookies (Google Analytics):
- Understanding which recipes are most helpful
- Improving site navigation and speed
- Measuring content performance
Advertising Cookies (Google AdSense, Media.net):
- Showing relevant ads that support our free content
- Measuring ad performance
- Frequency capping (so you don’t see the same ad repeatedly)
Social Media Cookies (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest):
- Social sharing buttons
- Embedded social content
- Social media analytics
You can opt out of non-essential cookies through your browser settings or by visiting:
- Google Analytics Opt-out: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
- Google Ads Settings: https://adssettings.google.com
- Facebook Ad Preferences: https://www.facebook.com/ads/preferences
Third-Party Services
We work with trusted partners who help us serve you better:
Email Service (ConvertKit):
- Manages newsletter subscriptions and automated recipe series
- Privacy Policy: https://convertkit.com/privacy
- Your email data stays with us and ConvertKit only
Analytics (Google Analytics):
- Helps us understand what content is most valuable
- Data is anonymized and aggregated
- Privacy Policy: https://policies.google.com/privacy
Advertising Partners (Google AdSense, Media.net):
- Displays relevant ads that keep our content free
- Uses cookies to avoid showing inappropriate ads
- You can control ad personalization through your Google account
Payment Processing (Stripe, PayPal):
- For any paid products or services
- We never store your payment information
- All transactions are encrypted and secure
Social Media Platforms:
- For sharing buttons and embedded content
- Each platform has its own privacy policy
- You control what you share through your own social media privacy settings
Children’s Privacy (COPPA Compliance)
AllCupcake is designed for adults and teens with adult supervision. We don’t knowingly collect information from children under 13. If you’re under 13, please have a parent or guardian help you use our site and handle any email communication.
If we discover we’ve collected information from a child under 13, we’ll delete it immediately and notify the parents if possible.
Parents: If you believe your child has provided us with personal information, contact us at privacy@allcupcake.com and we’ll remove it promptly.
International Users
AllCupcake is based in the United States, but we welcome bakers from around the world! If you’re visiting from outside the US:
- Your information may be transferred to and stored in the United States
- We comply with applicable international privacy laws including GDPR
- You have the same rights and protections described in this policy
- For EU residents: Our legal basis for processing is legitimate interest and consent
Changes to This Policy
We’ll update this privacy policy as needed to reflect changes in our practices or legal requirements. When we make changes:
- We’ll update the “Last Updated” date at the top
- For significant changes, we’ll notify you via email if you’re subscribed to our newsletter
- We’ll post a notice on our homepage for 30 days
- You can always find the current version at www.allcupcake.com/privacy-policy
Data Retention
We keep your information only as long as needed:
- Newsletter subscribers: Until you unsubscribe
- Comments and reviews: Indefinitely (they help other bakers), but we’ll remove them if you request
- Contact form messages: 3 years for customer service purposes
- Analytics data: Anonymized data kept indefinitely; personal identifiers removed after 26 months
- Account information: Until you request deletion or 2 years of inactivity
Contact for Privacy Concerns
Questions about this privacy policy or how we handle your information? We’re here to help:
Privacy Coordinator: April Simmons
Email: privacy@allcupcake.com
Response Time: Within 48 hours for acknowledgment, 30 days maximum for resolution
Mailing Address: AllCupcake Privacy Team, [Physical address available upon request]
For EU residents with unresolved privacy concerns, you have the right to file a complaint with your local Data Protection Authority.
