Legal

Privacy Policy

What we collect on bestof614.com, the tracking tools that may run here, and how to change your cookie choices.

Updated Sep 16, 2026

Effective September 16, 2026

Best of 614 ("we", "us") publishes local rankings, guides, events and news for Columbus, Ohio and the 614. This policy explains what we collect when you use bestof614.com, how we use it, and the choices you have. Placeholders in square brackets should be completed by the site owner before publishing.

Who is responsible for this site

This website is operated by [Legal entity name], [address], Columbus, Ohio. Questions about this policy or your data: [contact email].

What we collect

Information you give us. When you submit a nomination, news tip or contact form we receive what you type: typically a place name, a neighborhood, your note and, if you include it, your email address. Forms are processed by our hosting provider, Netlify, and stored in our Netlify account.

Information collected automatically. Like most websites, our hosting provider records server logs (IP address, browser type, pages requested, time of request) to run and secure the service. If you allow analytics or marketing cookies, the tools listed below may also collect device identifiers, approximate location, pages viewed, links clicked, referring site and similar usage data.

Cookies and similar technologies

We use cookies, local storage and similar technologies in three groups. You can change your choice at any time through Cookie settings in the footer.

  • Necessary. Required for the site to work: for example, remembering your cookie choices. These cannot be turned off.
  • Analytics. Help us understand how the site is used so we can improve it. Off until you turn them on.
  • Marketing. Used to measure the effectiveness of promotions and to show relevant content on other platforms. Off until you turn them on.

Tracking and analytics tools we may use

Depending on your cookie choices, some or all of the following third-party tools may run on this site. Each provider has its own privacy policy, linked here for reference.

  • Google Tag Manager (Google LLC): loads and manages the other tags on this site. Google Tag Manager itself does not collect personal information, but the tags it loads may. Google privacy policy.
  • Google Analytics 4 (Google LLC): measures traffic and usage. IP addresses are not logged or stored by GA4. How Google uses data from sites that use its services.
  • Google Ads and conversion tracking (Google LLC): measures whether visits from Google advertising lead to actions on the site.
  • Meta Pixel (Meta Platforms, Inc.): measures visits and actions on the site to report on and improve advertising on Facebook and Instagram. Meta privacy policy.
  • Microsoft Clarity or Hotjar: session replay and heatmap tools that record how visitors interact with pages (scrolling, clicks, taps). Keystrokes in form fields are masked.
  • Netlify (Netlify, Inc.): hosting, server logs and form handling. Netlify privacy policy.
  • Email newsletter provider [name, if used]: stores your email address if you subscribe, and measures opens and clicks.

We use Google's Consent Mode so that analytics and marketing tags respect your choices. When those categories are off, the tags either do not load or run without storing identifying cookies.

How we use information

  • To publish and improve the site, and to understand which content people find useful.
  • To review nominations and tips, and to reply to you if you asked us to.
  • To measure and, if we run promotions, to improve advertising.
  • To keep the site secure and to comply with legal obligations.

Sharing

We do not sell personal information. We share it only with the service providers named above, when required by law, or if the site changes ownership. Providers may process data outside the United States under their own safeguards.

Your choices and rights

  • Cookies. Use Cookie settings to turn analytics and marketing on or off. Your browser can also block or delete cookies; the site will still work.
  • Do Not Track and Global Privacy Control. If your browser sends a Global Privacy Control signal we treat it as opting out of analytics and marketing cookies.
  • Access and deletion. Email [contact email] to ask what we hold about you, to correct it, or to have it deleted. Depending on where you live (for example, California, Virginia, Colorado or the EU/UK) you may have additional rights, and we will honor them.
  • Google Analytics opt-out. Google offers a browser add-on to opt out of GA measurement everywhere.

Children

The site is not directed at children under 13 and we do not knowingly collect personal information from them.

Retention and security

Form submissions are kept as long as needed to act on them and then deleted. Analytics data is retained according to each provider's settings, which we set to the shortest practical period. We use reasonable technical measures to protect data, but no website can guarantee absolute security.

Changes

We may update this policy as the site and the tools we use change. The effective date at the top shows the latest version.