Privacy Policy

Last updated: April 2026

This privacy policy applies to Behind Rankings, the publication operating at https://behindrankings.com/ (formerly Behind Rankings). Behind Rankings is operated by Victoria Kurichenko, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

This policy explains what information is collected when you visit or interact with the site, how it’s used, where it’s stored, who has access to it, and what rights you have over your data. By using this site, you consent to the practices described here.

Who we are

Behind Rankings is a practitioner-led SEO media brand operated as a one-person business by Victoria Kurichenko.

Victoria Kurichenko is the data controller responsible for personal information collected through this site under applicable privacy laws, including PIPEDA (Canada), GDPR (EU), CCPA/CPRA (California), and the UK Data Protection Act.

What data we collect and why

Website analytics

This site uses Google Analytics 4 (GA4) and Google Search Console to understand how visitors find and use the site. These tools are deployed via Google Tag Manager.

Google Analytics 4 (GA4) collects:

  • Pages visited and time spent
  • Approximate location (country/region, not precise)
  • Device type, browser, and operating system
  • Referring sources (how you found the site)
  • Anonymized IP addresses

Google Search Console receives data about how the site appears in Google search results, including:

  • Search queries that surface the site
  • Click-through rates and average ranking positions
  • Pages indexed by Google

Search Console data is aggregated and does not identify individual visitors.

Google Tag Manager is used to deploy and manage these analytics tags. Tag Manager itself does not collect personal data; it manages the loading of other scripts on the site.

This data is used to improve content and understand audience interests. It is not used to identify individual visitors. To opt out of Google Analytics tracking, you can install the Google Analytics opt-out browser add-on or use a browser with built-in tracking protection.

Newsletter subscriptions (beehiiv)

When you subscribe to the Behind Rankings newsletter, the following information is collected:

  • Email address (required)
  • Name (if you provide it)
  • Subscription source and date
  • Email engagement data (opens, clicks)

This information is stored and processed by beehiiv, the email service provider used to send the newsletter. beehiiv’s privacy policy governs how your data is handled on their platform: https://www.beehiiv.com/privacy

Your email is used only to send the newsletter and occasional related communications. It is never sold, shared, or rented to third parties. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link at the bottom of every email, which immediately removes you from the list.

Comments

When you leave a comment on the site, we collect:

  • Name and email address (required)
  • Website URL (optional)
  • Comment content
  • IP address and browser user agent (for spam detection)

If you have a Gravatar account, an anonymized hash of your email may be sent to Gravatar to display your profile picture next to your comment. Gravatar’s privacy policy: https://automattic.com/privacy/

Comments and associated metadata are retained indefinitely so we can recognize and approve follow-up comments without holding them in moderation. You can request deletion of your comments at any time.

Cookies

This site uses cookies for the following purposes:

  • Functional cookies: If you leave a comment, you may opt in to saving your name, email, and website in cookies for one year, so you don’t have to re-enter them on future comments.
  • Analytics cookies: Google Analytics and Google Tag Manager set cookies to track visitor behavior across pages and sessions.
  • Affiliate tracking cookies: Some affiliate links set cookies (via Impact, PartnerStack, or direct affiliate programs) that track whether you make a purchase, typically lasting 30–90 days.
  • Payment cookies: Stripe may set cookies during the checkout process for fraud prevention and session management.
  • Login and session cookies: If you have a login (most visitors do not), temporary cookies manage your session.

You can control cookies through your browser settings. Most browsers allow you to refuse cookies entirely or be notified when cookies are set. Note that disabling cookies may affect site functionality.

Embedded content

Articles on this site may include embedded content from other websites — videos (YouTube), social media posts (LinkedIn, Twitter/X), or other media. Embedded content behaves as if you visited those sites directly: the embedding service may collect data, set cookies, and track your interaction with that content according to their own privacy policies.

Affiliate links and partnerships

Behind Rankings uses affiliate marketing as one source of revenue. Some links in articles are affiliate links, which means we earn a small commission at no additional cost to you if you make a purchase through them.

The primary affiliate networks used are:

  • Impact — used for partnerships with brands such as Semrush and other SEO and creator tools
  • PartnerStack — used for partnerships with various SaaS and SEO tools
  • Direct affiliate programs offered by individual brands

When you click an affiliate link, the affiliate network typically sets a tracking cookie that lasts 30–90 days, depending on the program. This cookie identifies that you came through Behind Rankings if you complete a purchase. The affiliate network shares limited information with us, such as whether a sale was made and the commission earned, but not your personal details (name, email, payment information, etc.).

The privacy policies of these affiliate networks are available here:

All affiliate recommendations are based on genuine opinion and experience — we never recommend products or services we don’t believe in. This is required disclosure under FTC guidelines (US), the Competition Act (Canada), and similar regulations in other jurisdictions.

Ebook purchases

When you purchase the Behind Rankings SEO ebook and any other products or services, the payment is processed through Stripe, our payment processor.

Stripe collects:

  • Name and billing address
  • Email address
  • Payment card details (processed and stored by Stripe, never by us)

Stripe is PCI-DSS Level 1 compliant — the highest security standard for payment processors. Their privacy policy is available at: https://stripe.com/privacy

We receive from Stripe only the information necessary to fulfill your purchase and provide customer support: your name, email address, and confirmation of payment. We never receive or store your full payment card information.

Purchase records are retained as required by Canadian tax and legal obligations (typically 7 years).

Brand partnerships

When companies sponsor content or enter partnership agreements with Behind Rankings, those engagements are governed by separate contracts. Personal information of business contacts is used only for the purposes of fulfilling those agreements and is not shared further.

Contact form submissions

When you contact us via the contact form, the information you provide (name, email, message) is used solely to respond to your inquiry. Inquiry data is retained for up to 12 months unless you request deletion.

How long we retain your data

Different types of data are retained for different periods:

  • Newsletter subscribers: Until you unsubscribe, plus 30 days after for technical processing
  • Analytics data (GA4): 14 months
  • Search Console data: Up to 16 months (Google’s default retention)
  • Comments: Indefinitely, unless you request deletion
  • Contact form submissions: Up to 12 months
  • Affiliate tracking cookies: 30–90 days depending on the program
  • Ebook purchase records: 7 years (per Canadian tax obligations)
  • Brand partnership records: As required by tax and legal obligations (typically 7 years in Canada)

Who has access to your data

The following parties may have access to your information:

  • Victoria Kurichenko (site operator)
  • Service providers processing data on our behalf:
    • Google — Analytics, Search Console, Tag Manager
    • beehiiv — newsletter
    • Stripe — payment processing for ebook purchases
    • Cloudways — web hosting
    • Automattic — Gravatar (for comment profile pictures)
  • Affiliate networks — Impact, PartnerStack, and direct affiliate programs (only when you click affiliate links)
  • Legal authorities, when required by law

Data is not sold, rented, or shared with third parties for marketing purposes.

Where your data is stored

Your data may be transferred to, processed in, and stored in countries outside your own, including the United States and Canada, depending on the service provider:

  • Website data: Stored on servers operated by Cloudways
  • Analytics data (GA4, Search Console): Google servers, primarily in the United States
  • Newsletter data: beehiiv servers, primarily in the United States
  • Payment data: Stripe servers, primarily in the United States

By using this site, you consent to the transfer of your data to these jurisdictions, which may have data protection laws different from those in your country of residence.

Your rights over your data

Depending on where you live, you have specific rights regarding your personal information:

If you are in the European Economic Area or the UK (GDPR / UK GDPR)

You have the right to:

  • Access the personal data we hold about you
  • Rectify inaccurate or incomplete data
  • Erase your data (“right to be forgotten”)
  • Restrict how your data is processed
  • Object to processing based on legitimate interests
  • Data portability — receive your data in a machine-readable format
  • Withdraw consent at any time, where processing is based on consent
  • Lodge a complaint with your local data protection authority

If you are in California (CCPA / CPRA)

You have the right to:

  • Know what personal information is collected about you
  • Delete your personal information
  • Correct inaccurate personal information
  • Opt out of the sale or sharing of personal information (we do not sell or share personal information for advertising purposes)
  • Limit the use of sensitive personal information
  • Non-discrimination for exercising your rights

If you are in Canada (PIPEDA)

You have the right to:

  • Access your personal information
  • Correct inaccurate information
  • Withdraw consent for ongoing collection or use
  • File a complaint with the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada

How to exercise your rights

To make any of the requests above, email [email protected] with the subject line “Privacy Request” and a description of what you’re requesting. We will respond within 30 days.

Children’s privacy

This site is not directed at children under the age of 13 (or 16 in some jurisdictions). We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe a child has provided personal information through this site, please contact us so we can delete it.

Security

We take reasonable measures to protect your information, including:

  • SSL/TLS encryption for all site traffic
  • Secure hosting infrastructure (Cloudways)
  • Limited access to administrative systems
  • Regular software updates

However, no method of transmission over the internet is 100% secure. We cannot guarantee the absolute security of data sent to or stored on this site.

Changes to this policy

This privacy policy may be updated from time to time. Material changes will be communicated through:

  • Updating the “Last updated” date at the top of this page
  • For significant changes, a notification in the newsletter or on the homepage

Continued use of the site after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact

For questions about this privacy policy or to exercise any of the rights described above:

Email: [email protected] Subject line: “Privacy Inquiry” or “Privacy Request”

We aim to respond to all privacy-related communications within 30 days.