Privacy Policy

SimpsonScarborough values your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy outlines how we collect, use, and safeguard your data across our website, research activities, and advertising services.

Section 1: Who We Are

SimpsonScarborough is a branding, marketing and research firm specializing in higher education. Our services include the following types of activities:

  • Conducting market research for clients (acting as a Service Provider / Data Processor)
  • Conducting market research for our own purposes (acting as a Data Controller)
  • Providing advertising and marketing services
  • Running and analyzing digital campaigns

SimpsonScarborough acts as either a Data Controller or Data Processor, depending on the situation:

  • When conducting research on behalf of a client, the client controls the data, and SimpsonScarborough acts as a Service Provider/Data Processor.
  • When conducting research for our own purposes, SimpsonScarborough acts as a Data Controller and determines how data is used.
Section 2: Information We Collect

We collect personal data through our website, research studies, advertising services, and direct communications. The types of data we collect include:

SimpsonScarborough Website & General Business Data:

  • Personal identifiers (e.g., name, email, phone number)
  • Professional details (e.g., job title, organization, industry)
  • Communications data (e.g., messages sent via our CRM)
  • Website usage data (e.g., IP address, browser type, referring pages, session duration)
  • Cookies & tracking technologies (for website analytics & targeted advertising)

Market Research Data (Two Types):

1. Market Research Conducted for Clients (Service Provider / Data Processor)

  • Survey responses collected on behalf of a client
  • Demographic or behavioral data, if relevant and opt-ed in to participate in the research
  • Research participation details (e.g., interviews, focus groups), if relevant and consented to

2. Market Research Conducted by SimpsonScarborough (Data Controller)

  • Survey responses collected for our own studies
  • Industry trend analysis and benchmarking data
  • Insights used for thought leadership, whitepapers, and reports

Advertising & Marketing Data:

  • Engagement data from digital advertising campaigns
  • User interactions with ads we run for clients
  • Analytics on website visitor behavior in relation to marketing efforts
  • Cookies and tracking technologies used for ad targeting and effectiveness measurement

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Data:

If you engage with SimpsonScarborough (e.g., fill out a form, download a resource, request a consultation), your information may be stored in HubSpot CRM to track interactions and improve communication.

Section 3: Legal Basis for Processing

We process personal data under the following legal justifications:

  • Contractual necessity – When required to fulfill an agreement.
  • Consent – When you explicitly agree to data collection and processing (e.g., cookies, targeted ads, research participation).
  • Legitimate interests – When processing is necessary for business operations, research, or service improvements.
  • Legal compliance – When required by law.
Section 4: Market Research Conducted for Clients (Service Provider / Data Processor)

SimpsonScarborough conducts market research on behalf of clients. In these cases:

  • The client (e.g., university or organization) is the Data Controller and determines how data is collected and used.
  • SimpsonScarborough acts as a Service Provider / Data Processor and follows the client’s instructions.
  • Research participation is voluntary.
  • SimpsonScarborough is responsible for responding to requests for data access or deletion.

Your Rights & Opt-Out Options for Client Research:

  • If you participated in a research study and want to access, modify, or delete your data, please contact SimpsonScarborough.
  • SimpsonScarborough will assist clients in responding to privacy requests where required by law.

Data Retention for Client Research:

  • Research data is retained only for the duration of the project and is deleted after project completion unless the client requests otherwise.
Section 5. Market Research Conducted by SimpsonScarborough (Data Controller)

SimpsonScarborough also conducts independent research to analyze industry trends and enhance higher education marketing.

  • This research is controlled by SimpsonScarborough, meaning we determine how data is collected and used.
  • We use research findings for reports, insights, whitepapers, and thought leadership.
  • Research participation is voluntary, and personal data is not shared without consent.

Your Rights & Opt-Out Options for SimpsonScarborough Research:

  • You may withdraw from research participation at any time by contacting SimpsonScarborough directly.
  • You can request access, corrections, or deletion of your research data by contacting us.
Section 6:  Advertising & Marketing Services for Clients

SimpsonScarborough provides digital advertising and marketing services on behalf of clients, including universities and other organizations. When running client campaigns, we act as a Service Provider (CCPA) / Data Processor (GDPR) and follow the client’s instructions, and all state, regional, national, and international advertising and data regulations regarding data collection and processing.

How We Run Client Advertising Campaigns:

We manage and optimize digital advertising campaigns for our clients, which may include:

  • Google Ads, Meta (Facebook/Instagram), LinkedIn Ads, Snapchat, TikTok, direct publisher, and programmatic advertising
  • Retargeting and remarketing to re-engage users who have interacted with a client’s content
  • Cross-platform behavioral advertising to deliver personalized ad experiences
  • A/B testing and campaign analytics to improve advertising effectiveness 

Third-Party Data Collection in Client Advertising

  • Client ads may use cookies, tracking pixels, and web beacons from third-party ad networks to measure campaign performance.
  • These third parties may collect, process, and store user data based on campaign interactions.

Your Privacy Rights for Client Advertising:

Data requests related to client advertising campaigns should be directed to the client who commissioned the campaign.

Section 7: Advertising & Marketing for SimpsonScarborough

SimpsonScarborough also conducts its own marketing and advertising to promote our services. In these cases, we act as a Data Controller and determine how personal data is collected and processed. 

How We Advertise Our Services

We run digital marketing campaigns to promote SimpsonScarborough, which may include:

  • Google, Meta (Facebook/Instagram), and LinkedIn Ads promoting our services
  • Email marketing campaigns for thought leadership, events, and industry insights
  • Content marketing and website analytics to understand engagement with our brand

Use of HubSpot for Our Marketing

  • Email & Marketing Automation: We use HubSpot to send email campaigns, manage client communications, and analyze engagement data.
  • Lead Tracking: If you submit a contact form or engage with our website, HubSpot may track user behavior (e.g., email opens, clicks, page visits) to improve marketing outreach.

Your Opt-Out Rights for SimpsonScarborough Advertising:

  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information (for CCPA/CPRA compliance)
  • Opt out of Google Ads: Google Ad Settings
  • Opt out of Meta (Facebook/Instagram) Ads: Facebook Ad Settings
  • Opt out of LinkedIn Ads: LinkedIn Ad Settings
  • Unsubscribe from emails – Click the unsubscribe link in any marketing email.
Section 8:  Third-Party Data Sharing & Compliance

We work with third-party service providers that collect and process personal data, including:

  • Google Analytics, Meta Pixel (website tracking & ad performance)
  • Google Ads, Meta Ads, LinkedIn Ads (advertising & targeting)
  • HubSpot (Manages email marketing, CRM, and lead tracking)
  • Qualtrics (survey distribution & research tools)

We do not sell personal data, but we may share data for cross-context behavioral advertising.

Section 9. Your Rights

Your Privacy Rights Include:

To exercise your rights, contact: hello@simpsonscarborough.com 

Section 10. Children’s Privacy

We do not knowingly collect personal data from children under 13 years old without parental consent. If you believe we have collected such data, please contact us for removal.

Section 11. Marketing & Communication Preferences (CAN-SPAM)

SimpsonScarborough CRM Opt-Out:

  • You can unsubscribe from marketing emails via the link provided in any email.
  • If you want to remove your data from our CRM (HubSpot), you may contact us at hello@simpsonscarborough.com to request deletion. 
12. Contact Information

Email us at: hello@simpsonscarborough.com

Submit a request: Consumer Data Privacy Request

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