Privacy Policy

This policy explains what information The Direct Standard collects, why we collect it, and how we use it. We keep it plain and direct — because that is how we operate.

Who We Are

The Direct Standard is a professional development brand offering digital products and resources for managers and leaders. The website is located at thedirectstandard.com. For privacy-related questions, you can reach us at info@thedirectstandard.com.

This policy applies to information collected through thedirectstandard.com, including newsletter signups, contact form submissions, and product purchases.

What Information We Collect

We collect information in two ways: directly from you when you take an action on our site, and automatically through analytics tools when you browse.

Information You Provide Directly

Newsletter signup: Your name and email address when you subscribe to The Direct Brief.

Contact form: Your name, email address, and any information you choose to include in your message.

Product purchase: Your name, email address, and payment information when you purchase a digital product. Payment details are processed by Payhip and are not stored directly by The Direct Standard.

Lead magnet download: Your name and email address when you request a free resource.

Information Collected Automatically

Usage data: Pages visited, time on site, referring URLs, and general browsing behavior, collected via Google Analytics and Squarespace's built-in analytics.

Device and technical data: Browser type, device type, operating system, and IP address. This data is anonymized and used in aggregate.

Cookies: Small files placed on your device by our analytics tools. See Section 06 for more detail.

How We Use Your Information

We use the information we collect for the following purposes only:

Purposes of Use

To send you The Direct Brief newsletter and related content you have opted into.

To deliver digital products and lead magnets you have requested or purchased.

To respond to contact form inquiries.

To understand how our website is used so we can improve it, using aggregated, anonymized analytics data.

To send relevant product and content updates to existing customers or subscribers, where you have provided consent.

We do not use your information for automated decision-making or profiling that produces legal or significant effects.

How We Share Your Information

We do not sell your personal information. We do not share your personal information with third parties for their own marketing purposes.

We share information only with the service providers necessary to operate our business. Each is listed below:

Third-Party Service Providers

Kit (ConvertKit)

Email marketing platform. Stores subscriber names and email addresses and sends newsletters and automated email sequences on our behalf. Kit Privacy Policy

Payhip

Digital product delivery and payment processing. Handles transactions and file delivery for product purchases. Payhip Privacy Policy

Google Analytics

Website analytics. Collects anonymized browsing data to help us understand site traffic and usage patterns. Google Privacy Policy

Squarespace

Website hosting and built-in analytics. Our website is built and hosted on Squarespace. Squarespace Privacy Policy

If The Direct Standard is ever sold as a whole business, subscriber and customer data may be transferred to the acquiring party as part of that transaction. You will be notified of any such change via email prior to the transfer.

How Long We Keep Your Information

We retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfill the purposes described in this policy, or as required by applicable law.

Retention Periods

Newsletter subscribers: Until you unsubscribe. You may unsubscribe at any time using the link in any email we send.

Customer purchase records: Retained for up to seven years for tax and legal compliance purposes.

Contact form submissions: Retained for up to two years, or until the inquiry is resolved and no longer relevant.

Analytics data: Governed by Google Analytics retention settings, typically 14 months by default.

Cookies

Our website uses cookies — small text files stored on your device — to support analytics and site functionality. We do not use cookies for targeted advertising.

Types of Cookies We Use

Analytics cookies: Placed by Google Analytics and Squarespace to track page views, session duration, and general site usage in aggregate, anonymized form.

Functional cookies: Used by Squarespace to support basic website functionality.

You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings at any time. Disabling cookies may affect certain site functionality. You may also opt out of Google Analytics tracking at tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.

Your Rights and Choices

Depending on where you are located, you may have certain rights regarding your personal information. We will honor reasonable requests from any user, regardless of jurisdiction.

Access

Request a copy of the personal information we hold about you.

Correction

Ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information.

Deletion

Request that we delete your personal information, subject to legal retention requirements.

Unsubscribe

Opt out of marketing emails at any time using the unsubscribe link in any email we send.

Portability

Request your data in a commonly used, machine-readable format where technically feasible.

Objection

Object to the processing of your personal information in certain circumstances.

To exercise any of these rights, email us at info@thedirectstandard.com. We will respond within 30 days.

International Visitors

The Direct Standard is operated from the United States. If you are visiting from the European Union, United Kingdom, Canada, or another jurisdiction with data protection laws, please be aware that your information will be transferred to and processed in the United States.

We take reasonable steps to ensure that your data is treated securely and in accordance with this policy. If you are located in the EU or UK, you have rights under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) including the right to lodge a complaint with your local supervisory authority.

The legal bases we rely on to process your information are: your consent (for newsletter subscriptions and marketing), the performance of a contract (for product purchases and delivery), and our legitimate interests (for analytics and site improvement).

Children's Privacy

The Direct Standard is intended for professional adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from anyone under the age of 16. If we become aware that we have collected information from a minor, we will delete it promptly. If you believe a minor has submitted information to us, please contact us at info@thedirectstandard.com.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. When we do, we will update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page. If changes are material, we will notify active subscribers by email. Continued use of the website after any changes constitutes your acceptance of the updated policy.

We recommend reviewing this policy periodically to stay informed about how we protect your information.

Contact Us

If you have questions about this Privacy Policy or how your information is handled, please reach out directly.

Get in Touch

The Direct Standard
Email: info@thedirectstandard.com
Website: thedirectstandard.com

This Privacy Policy was last reviewed in March 2026. It is intended to provide clear, honest disclosure of our data practices. It does not constitute legal advice. If you have specific legal concerns about data privacy, we recommend consulting a qualified attorney.