Your privacy is important to me. This Privacy Policy outlines the types of personal information received and collected on vampstampnews.com and how it is used. This Privacy Policy will be reviewed and revised from time to time. You will want to revisit it regularly. Your use of this site, in any and all forms, constitutes an acceptance of this Privacy Policy.
Log Files
Like many websites, this site uses log files. The information in the log files include:
Internet Protocol addresses (IP)
Types of browser
Internet Service Provider (ISP)
Date and time stamp
Referring and exit pages
Number of clicks
eArticle downloads (Main website pages & Stamp Blog)
I use this information to get a feel for the types of site content that is well-received and for insights into what devices visitors in general are using to view the site (so I can create the best site design for ease of use.) As you will read below, I am currently looking into alternative ways to fulfill these functions.
Cookies & Code
This site uses cookies. A cookie is a piece of data stored on a site visitor’s hard drive to help improve your access to the site and identify repeat visitors to the site. Cookies can also enable me to track and target the interests of visitors to enhance the experience on the site. Usage of a cookie is in no way linked to any personally identifiable information on the site.
This site also uses a few third-party cookies (see below.) Please note that I have no access to or control over third-party cookies. You should review the respective privacy policies on any and all third-party servers for more information regarding their practices and how to opt-out.
If you wish to disable cookies, you can do so through your web browser options. Instructions for doing so and for other cookie-related management can be found on the specific web browsers’ websites.
Google Analytics
This site currently serves Google Analytics cookies. Google, a third party vendor, says, “Google Analytics is Google’s analytics tool that helps website and app owners to understand how their visitors engage with their properties. It may use a set of cookies to collect information and report website usage statistics without personally identifying individual visitors to Google.” You can find more information about this particular Google cookie in the Analytics Cookies category of the “Types of cookies used by Google” page.
SlimStats Analytics
I am currently experimenting with SlimStats Analytics on VSN’s WordPress pages which also serves a cookie. SlimStats is a WordPress plugin that allows sites to collect information on site visits that is only available to the site itself and is not shared with third-parties. It also honors “Do Not Track” internet browser settings. If this trial goes well, I hope to switch away from Google Analytics to this method that I think will provide additional privacy to my visitors while still giving me the information I need about things like how many times a particular blog post is read or how many times an eArticle is downloaded. You can learn more about SlimStats Analytics on their website.
WordPress
My two blogs are built using WordPress, a third party. All WordPress sites use cookies to store session information on users logged into WordPress and/or who leave a comment on the site. WordPress’ Jetpack plugin also collects single session visit information in order to show me basic information like the number of times a post is visited on a given day, the sites that refer visitors to my blog and a general list of any outbound links clicked that day. You can find privacy information at Automatic’s website.
Amazon Affiliates
I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. Amazon is a third party and their program is “an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.” If you use an affiliate link on my site to go to Amazon and make a purchase within 24 hours, I earn a small fee which helps offset blog related costs. I only use these links for products I’ve used myself unless specifically noted otherwise. These links are currently only found on my birding blog. You can read more about Amazon Affiliates on their website.
You may optionally subscribe to either of my two blogs by providing your name and email address. It is a secure opt-in subscription system facilitated through WordPress. The only emails you are likely to receive from me are when a new blog post is published, a new comment is posted on a post you are following or if I am emailing a reply to a note that you sent me via my Birdseed & Binoculars Contact page. I do reserve the right to contact subscribers with information related to the site. Subscribers may unsubscribe anytime and every post or comment notification email delivered will contain an “Unsubscribe” link.
If you require any more information or have any questions about my privacy policy, please feel free to use the Birdseed & Binoculars Contact form to contact me.
Last Updated: May 30, 2018